Prayer is the cornerstone of religion. In this context, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Prayer is the cornerstone of religion…” In Islam, Prayer stands as the second pillar of Islam after testifying that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His final Messenger. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Islam is built upon five pillars: testifying that there is no true god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, performing Prayer, paying the Zakah, making the pilgrimage to the Sacred House (Hajj), and fasting the month of Ramadan.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
Prayer has a certain time in which a Muslim should offer it. Allah says, “Worship at fixed hours hath been enjoined on the believers.” (An-Nisa’: 103) Also, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, warned against ignoring offering Prayers in their due times.
As for Jum`ah Prayer, Allah says in the Qur’an: “O believers! When the call for the Prayer is heard on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and cease your trading. That is better for you if you but knew.” (Al-Jum`ah: 9)
It is clear from this verse that all Muslims, who are eligible to attend the Jum`ah, must cease all their activities and respond to the call of the Mu’adhin (prayer caller).
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states: “First and foremost, the duty of a Muslim in Islam is to establish Prayer, after which come other pillars of Islam such as Zakah, Fasting and Hajj.
Consistency in Prayer and attendance of Jum`ah Prayers are absolute requirements of faith. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Prayer is the thing that sets apart a believer from a non-believer.” He is also reported to have said, “Prayer is the cornerstone of religion; whoever establishes it, establishes religion; whoever undermines it, undermines religion.”
Concerning attendance of the Jum`ah Prayer, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever leaves three Jum`ah Prayers consecutively out of neglect on his part, Allah will put a seal on his heart.”
In light of such solemn warnings, no Muslim can neglect Jum`ah Prayers without his faith becoming tarnished.