The Chapter on Obligatory Prayers
Man Lā Yaḥḍuruh al-Faqīh|Volume 1|Book 1|Chapter 30
وَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ اَلْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ يَقُولُ: «إِنَّ أَفْضَلَ مَا يَتَوَسَّلُ بِهِ اَلْمُتَوَسِّلُونَ اَلْإِيمَانُ بِاللَّهِ وَ رَسُولِهِ وَ اَلْجِهَادُ فِي سَبِيلِ اَللَّهِ وَ كَلِمَةُ اَلْإِخْلاَصِ فَإِنَّهَا اَلْفِطْرَةُ وَ إِقَامُ اَلصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّهَا اَلْمِلَّةُ وَ إِيتَاءُ اَلزَّكَاةِ فَإِنَّهَا مِنْ فَرَائِضِ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ اَلصَّوْمُ فَإِنَّهُ جُنَّةٌ مِنْ عَذَابِهِ وَ حِجُّ اَلْبَيْتِ فَإِنَّهُ مَنْفَاةٌ لِلْفَقْرِ وَ مَدْحَضَةٌ لِلذَّنْبِ وَ صِلَةُ اَلرَّحِمِ فَإِنَّهَا مَثْرَاةٌ فِي اَلْمَالِ وَ مَنْسَأَةٌ فِي اَلْأَجَلِ وَ صَدَقَةُ اَلسِّرِّ فَإِنَّهَا تُطْفِئُ اَلْخَطِيئَةَ وَ تُطْفِئُ غَضَبَ اَللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ صَنَائِعُ اَلْمَعْرُوفِ فَإِنَّهَا تَدْفَعُ مِيتَةَ اَلسَّوْءِ وَ، تَقِي مَصَارِعَ اَلْهَوَانِ أَلاَ فَاصْدُقُوا، فَإِنَّ اَللَّهَ مَعَ اَلصَّادِقِينَ وَ جَانِبُوا اَلْكَذِبَ فَإِنَّهُ يُجَانِبُ اَلْإِيمَانَ أَلاَ إِنَّ اَلصَّادِقَ عَلَى شَفَا مَنْجَاةٍ وَ كَرَامَةٍ، أَلاَ إِنَّ اَلْكَاذِبَ عَلَى شَفَا مَخْزَاةٍ وَ هَلَكَةٍ أَلاَ وَ قُولُوا خَيْراً تُعْرَفُوا بِهِ وَ اِعْمَلُوا بِهِ تَكُونُوا مِنْ أَهْلِهِ وَ أَدُّوا اَلْأَمَانَةَ إِلَى مَنِ اِئْتَمَنَكُمْ وَ صِلُوا أَرْحَامَ مَنْ قَطَعَكُمْ وَ عُودُوا بِالْفَضْلِ عَلَى مَنْ حَرَمَكُمْ.
The Commander of the Faithful Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib عليه السلام used to say: "The best means by which those seeking nearness (to Allah سبحانه وتعالى) may draw near are; Faith in Allah سبحانه وتعالى and His Messenger, Striving in the way of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, Word of sincerity (testifying that there is no god but Allah سبحانه وتعالى), for it is the natural disposition (fitrah), Establishing prayer for it is the religion, Giving zakat (alms) for it is one of the obligations of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic; fasting, for it is a shield from His punishment, Fasting as it is a shield from His punishment, Pilgrimage to the House (Hajj), for it is a means of dispelling poverty and washing away sins, Maintaining family ties increases wealth and prolongs life, Charity given in secret extinguishes sin and appeases the wrath of Allah سبحانه وتعالى Almighty, Acts of kindness for they repel a bad death and protect against disgraceful situations. So, be truthful, for Allah سبحانه وتعالى is with the truthful. Avoid lying, for it distances one from faith. Know that the truthful one stands on the brink of salvation and honor, while the liar stands on the brink of disgrace and ruin. Say good words so that you are recognized by them, and act upon them so that you may be among the people of virtue. Return trusts to those who have entrusted you, maintain kinship ties even with those who cut them off, and show favour to those who deprive you”.
- Ṣaḥīḥ al-Faqīh