'Umar b. al-Khattab's Words on Salah

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)said, while standing on the podium,


"A man might have white hair in Islam (i.e. reaches in old age while Muslim), yet has not completed even one prayer for Allah, the Exalted!"


He was asked, "Why is that?"


He said, "He does not perfect the prayer's required Khushu`, solemness and attending to Allah with his heart." [Al-Ihya 10/202]


`Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) became unconscious after he was stabbed, and according to Al Miswar bin Makhramah, it was said: "Nothing would wake him up except the call to prayer, if he is still alive."

They said to him, "The prayer has finished, O Chief of the Faithful!"

He woke up and said, "The prayer, by Allah! Verily, there is no share in Islam for whoever abandons the prayer."

He performed the prayer while his wound was bleeding.