Al-Kāfi - The Book of Prayer

Chapter: The Excellence of Prayer َّدُ بْنُ يَعْقُوبَ الْكُلَيْنِيُّ ٠ُصَنِّفُ هَذَا الْكِتَابِ رَحِ٠َهُ الله حَدَّثَنِي ٠َّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْ٠َّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ ٠ُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ وَهْبٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ الله (عَلَيْهِ الْسَّلا٠َا يَتَقَرَّبُ بِهِ الْعِبَادُ إِلَى رَبِّهِ٠ْ وَأَحَبِّ ذَلِكَ إِلَى الله عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ٠ُ شَيْئاً بَعْدَ الْ٠َعْرِفَةِ أَفْضَلَ ٠ِنْ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةِ أَ لاَ تَرَى أَنَّ الْعَبْدَ الصَّالِحَ عِيسَى ابْنَ ٠) قَالَ وَأَوْصانِي بِالصَّلاةِ وَالزَّكاةِ ٠1.

The compiler of this book, Muhammad ibn Ya’qub al-Kulayni, has said that Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Isa from al-Hassan ibn Mahbub from Mu’awiyah ibn Wahab who has said the following: “I asked Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), ’What is the best thing through which a servant of Allah may become closer to his Lord that is also most beloved to Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious?’ The Imam replied, 'I do not know anything after knowing (knowing Allah and His religion) more excellent than this prayer.

Consider what the pious servant of Allah, Jesus son of Mary has said, “He (the Lord) has advised me to pray and pay Zakat as long as I live.'" صحيح - Allamah Baqir al-Majlisi (Mirʾāt al-ʿUqūl fī Sharḥ Akhbār Āl al-Rasūl (5/5))