Prayer is the most important thing after Tawheed. Tawheed then the prayer.
The prayer is the only compulsory ordainment upon the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in heaven, everything else was ordained on Earth, however the obligation of prayer, Allah had the prophet ascend to heaven and then He enjoined the prayer upon him in heaven. This shows the importance of the prayer!
Four out of five pillars of Islam were enjoined to the prophet on Earth, only the prayer was enjoined upon the prophet in heaven. Allah called up the prophet and he went to heaven, then the prayer was enjoined upon him. That shows how important it is.
Imagine, Allah called upon the prophet, the prophet ascended up to heaven andthen the prayer was enjoined!
The prayer has so many Hadiths regarding it because after Tawheed it's the prayer. The most important action after Tawheed is the prayer!
The prophet sent Mu'adh رضي الله عنه to Yemen and told him you are going to find the people of the book there (the Christians and the Jews), the first thing to call them to is the oneness of Allah, there is no God but Allah. If they obey you then tell them about the prayer.
• The first thing is the oneness of Allah, laa ilaha ilAllah - the forbiddance of shirk.
• The second after it which is most important is the salaah (prayer).
The prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said command them with the oneness of Allah, if they obey it then go to the second one in importance, the prayer.
Be from among those who are prosperous and guided, those who are loved by Allah via maintaining your prayers.
- Shaykh Musa Jibril حفظه الله
