Salah and a good Muslim

A good Muslim must practice his five times Salah daily. As far as possible, he must perform it in a Masjid with Jamaat. It is a great shortcoming to neglect performing Salah with Jamaat without a valid reason as this symbolises turning the back against the Mubarak Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam). If ever, a person could not perform it in the Masjid, he must not neglect it. He must perform it wherever he gets the opportunity to perform it. He must be punctual in his Salah. Without a valid reason, he must not delay his Salah. Very often, one hears people saying, "I will replace my Salah". When it was not performed in its prescribed time, then it should absolutely be replaced. However, it is a very grave sin to allow the situation to become such that one is unable to perform the Salah in its prescribed time. Therefore, a person should not allow himself to neglect his Salah in its prescribed time, with the intention of replacing it later on. This is because to delay Salah after its prescribed time is a great sin. Replacing the Salah does not justify delaying the Salah. Hazrat Umar (Radiyallahu Anhu) said: "In my opinion, the most essential responsibility for you is Salah. The one who safeguards his Salah will observe other things better. And the one, who neglects it, will neglect other things even more.''

[English version of "Namaz et ene bon musulman" – Al Jamiat – Vol.1 No.12]