Hakeem-ul-Ummah, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na’eemi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states: A non-Salah offering person does not stay under the refuge of Allah Almighty. By the virtue of the blessing of Salah, a person remains protected from calamities in this world, a bad end at the time of his death, failing (the test of) grave, and severities of the Judgement Day by the grace of Allah Almighty. (Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 1, pp. 79; summarised)

صَـلُّوا عَلَى الْـحَـبِيْب                                                                                                                 صَـلَّى الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَـالٰى عَـلٰى مُـحَـمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! Being heedless in regards to Salah is a means of Allah Almighty’s displeasure, being deserving of the Hell and blessings being taken away from the households and wealth. While commanding us to punctually offer our Salah, Allah Almighty says in Part 2, Surah e Baqarah, Ayah no. 238:

حٰفِظُوْا عَلَى الصَّلَوٰتِ وَ الصَّلٰوةِ الْوُسْطٰىۗ-وَ قُوْمُوْا لِلّٰهِ قٰنِتِیْنَ(۲۳۸)

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: Guard all your Salahs and (particularly) the middle Salah, and stand with devotion before Allah.

Importance of Salah can also be judged from the fact that Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَـلَيْـهِ الـسَّـلاَم supplicated for Salah to remain established for himself as well as his offspring. It has been mentioned in Part 13, Surah Ibraheem, Ayah no. 40 in the following way:

رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِیْ مُقِیْمَ الصَّلٰوةِ وَ مِنْ ذُرِّیَّتِیْ ﳓ رَبَّنَا وَ تَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ(۴۰)

Translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: ‘O my Lord! Make me the one who keeps Salah established, and (also) to some of my offspring. O our Lord! And answer my supplication.’

Remember! Even on the Day of Judgement, the first question will be regarding Salah. It is stated in a Hadees: ‘اَوَّلُ مَایُحَاسَبُ بِہِ الْعَبْدُ یَوْمَ الْقِیَامَۃِ صَلَا تُہٗ   i.e. On the Day of Judgement, the first thing a bondman will be questioned about is his Salah’. Under this Hadees, ‘Allamah Abdul Rauf Manaawi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه states: ‘Undoubtedly, Salah is the symbol of Iman [faith] and essence of worship.’ (At-Tayseer, vol. 1, pp. 391)