English Translation of Al-Quran
[29].Surah Al-Ankabut [The Spider]
Ayat 45. Recite (O Muhammad SAWW(PBUH) what has been revealed to you of the Book (the Quran), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat As-Salat). Verily, As-Salat (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahsha’ (i.e., great sins of every kind, unlawful out of marriage relationships, etc.) and Al-Munkar (i.e., disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed, etc.) and the remembering (praising, etc.) of (you by) Allah (in front of the angels) is greater indeed [than your remembering (praising, etc.) Allah in prayers, etc.]. And Allah knows what you do.
Tafseer of Surah Al-Ankabut (The Spider) Ayat 45. Recite what is sent of the Book by inspiration to thee, and establish regular Prayer: for Prayer restrains from shameful and unjust deeds; and remembrance of Allah is the greatest (thing in life) without doubt. And Allah knows the (deeds) that ye do. The tilawat of the Qur’an implies: (1) rehearsing or reciting it, and publishing it abroad to the world; (2) reading it to ourselves; (3) studying it to understand it as it should be studied and understood (2:121); (4) meditating on it so as to accord our knowledge and life and desires with it. When this is done, it merges into real Prayer, and Prayer purges us of anything (act, plan, thought, motive, words) of which we should be ashamed or which would work injustice to others. Such Prayer passes into our inmost life and being, for then we realize the Presence of Allah, and that is true Dhikr (or remembrance), for remembrance is the bringing to mind of things as present to us which might otherwise be absent to us. And that is the greatest thing in life. It is subjective to us: it fills our consciousness with Allah. For Allah is in any case always present and knows all.
English Translation of Hadith
Hazrat Buraidah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah [SAWW](PBUH) said, “That which differentiates us from the disbelievers and hypocrites is our performance of Salat. He who abandons it, becomes a disbeliever.”
[At-Tirmidhi Hadith # 2621]
Lesson : as mentioned above in Surah Al- Ankabut Ayat 45. “And perform As-Salat (Iqamat As-Salat). Verily, As-Salat (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahsha’” This Hadith makes the importance of Salat in Islam abundantly clear. The opinion of the Companions of the Prophet [SAWW](PBUH) was based on the information contained in the Hadith which have been mentioned above. They did not take the Hadith which interpreted the leaving of Salat as Kufr mere scolding or reproof. They considered slackness and negligence in Salat as Kufr and apostasy and regarded Salat a symbol of Islam.