Those who said: the best prayer is the one offered at its proper time

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) says: I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): Which deed is the best? He said: "The prayer that is offered on time."

Concerning the verse of the Qur'an "Those who are constant in their prayer" [Al-Ma'arij: 23], Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that it means offering the prayer on time.

Muhammad (bin Sirin) said: I have been told that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to teach people: Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him, and establish the prayers that Allah Almighty has made obligatory at their times, for in neglecting them lies destruction.

Masruq said: Guarding the prayer means offering it on time.

Umarah said: Al-Aswad was nothing short of a monk. He would fall behind (the travelling party), and it was evident that he was praying; when the time of prayer came, he would make his camel kneel down, even on stony ground!

Ja'far bin Burqan says: Umar bin Abd al-Aziz wrote a letter to us in which was written: To proceed: The perfection of the religion and the strength of Islam lie in faith in Allah Almighty, establishing the prayer, and giving zakah. So offer the prayers at their times and be constant in them.

Qatadah says: Al-Hasan was very fond of offering the prayers at their times even when on a journey.

Ma'mar bin Musa says: I asked Abu Ja'far: Which prayer is the best? He said: The one offered at the beginning of its time.

Sayyiduna Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Sahw (heedlessness about the prayer) is neglecting it until its time has passed."

Sayyidah Umm Farwah (may Allah be pleased with her) asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) which deed, or which prayer, is the most virtuous. He said: "Performing the prayer at the beginning of its time."