Persevering in the Prescribed Prayers

Be ever mindful and protective of the Prescribed Prayers, and the Middle Prayer (the Morning or Afternoon Prayer), and stand in the presence of Allah in utmost devotion and obedience. (al-Baqarah 2:238)

If they repent and (mending their ways) establish the Prescribed Prayer, and pay the Prescribed Purifying Alms, let them go their way. (at-Tawbah 9:5)

532. Mu’adh, may Allah be pleased with him, said,

“The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent me to Yemen and said, ‘You are going to a people who have a Book. When you come to them, call on them to testify that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. If they obey you in respect of that, then tell them that Allah has made the five Prayers obligatory for them every night and day. If they obey you in respect of that, inform them that Allah has made it obligatory for zakah to be taken from their property and given to their poor. If they obey you in respect of that, beware of the things on which people place great value and beware of the supplication of the wronged. There is no veil between him and Allah.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Zakah, 41; Sahih Muslim, Iman, 29–31).

533. Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said, 

“I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say, ‘All that lies between a man and shirk (associating partners with Allah) and disbelief is abandoning the Prayer.’” (Sahih Muslim, Iman, 134).

Annotation: If somebody abandons Prayer, no veils remain between them and unbelief. It is such a dangerous and momentary issue to step into the side of unbelief. Since the veil is removed, they do not even realize that.