Chapter on the Merit of Prayer, and What is Obligatory and Recommended from It

Al-Husayn ibn Muhammad ibn Sama‘ah said: Ibn Ribat narrated to me from Ibn Miskan from Sulayman ibn Khalid: Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: “A man came to the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family,) and said; “O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, inform me about Islam, its root, its branch, its peak, and its summit.” He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Its root is prayer, its branch is zakat, and its peak and summit is striving in the way of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted.” He (the man) asked: “O Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, inform me about the gates of goodness.” He صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم said: “Fasting is a shield, charity erases sin, and the standing of a man in the depths of the night while he privately converses with his Lord عز وجل.” Then the Prophet صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم recited: ‘Their sides forsake their beds, they call upon their Lord عز وجل in fear and hope, and from what We have provided them, they spend’ (Surah Al-Sajdah 32:16).