the first introduction to the book: All praise is due to Allāh, who has made prayer obligatory upon His servants and commanded them to establish it and perform it well. He has linked success and prosperity to humility in it and made it a distinction between faith and disbelief, and a deterrent from immorality and wrongdoing. And may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muḥammad, who was addressed by the words of the Almighty: "And We have sent down to you the message that you may make clear to the people what was sent down to them" (Sūrah al-Naḥl, 44). So he (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) fulfilled this duty perfectly, and prayer was among the greatest matters he explained to the people, both in word and deed. He even once prayed on the pulpit, standing and bowing on it, then said to them: "I did this so you may follow me and learn my prayer" (al-Bukhārī and Muslim). He obligated us to follow him in it, saying: "Pray as you have seen me pray" (al-Bukhārī and Muslim). He gave glad tidings to those who pray like him that they have a covenant with Allāh to enter Paradise, saying: "Ṣaḥīḥ Ṣaḥīḥ Abū Dāwūd: Five prayers Allāh has made obligatory. Whoever performs them well, at their times, completing their bowing, prostration, and humility, has a covenant with Allāh that He will forgive him. And whoever does not do so has no covenant with Allāh; if He wills, He will forgive him, and if He wills, He will punish him."