:salam2:
Forgive me my dear sister, as I was compelled to change your title to your thread! It was such a good and important question, that I didn't think it deserved that title. If you want the old one though, please just drop me a note and I'll change it back inshaAllaah.
Having said that the question comes to -- why do we pray?
Now, being short on time this is going to be a summary, and probably really lacking, but you have to realize that prayer is basically what makes us Muslim!
You see the Shahadah brings us into Islaam but prayer is the first thing that Allaah mentions after it. It has great importance in Islaam. We have been told in the Qur'aan in Surah Dhaariyaat : 56 that Allaah says in the interpretation of the meaning, “And I (Allaah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).”
That is the purpose of our creation, and by doing Salaah we are fulfilling the obligation of worship. The requirement of this is so strong that although there is a slight difference of opinion, many scholars say that it is the defining line between Islaam and kufr, based on ahadeeth from the Messenger of Allaah
Such as when he 'alayhi salaatu wa salaam said, “Between a man and shirk and kufr there stands his giving up prayer.” Narrated by Muslim, 82.
As well as, “The covenant that stands between us and them is prayer. Whoever gives it up is a kaafir.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2621; al-Nasaa’i, 463; Ibn Maajah, 1079; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.
Even the Sahabah considered forsaking Salaah as the only sin which would take a person out of Islaam.
‘Abd-Allaah ibn Shaqeeq said: “The companions of Muhammad did not think that giving up any deed would make a person a kaafir – apart from giving up prayer.”
SubhanAllaah.... after this can we imagine? Why do we pray? Because that is our distinguishing mark, THAT is what makes us Muslims, that is what will be accounted for first on the Day of Judgment, after which everything else will be taken to account.
The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad." [Recorded by al-Tabarani. According to al-Albani, it is sahih. Al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami, vol.1, p. 503
I don't have really the ability to go much further at the moment, and like I said my words will still probably be insufficient so have a look at this link and it might bring some other things to light inshaAllaah.
Importance of Prayer
wasalam
