After one pronounces the Shahada, the declaration to become a Muslim, the first obligation imposed on him is to offer five obligatory prayers between pre-dawn to later after dusk timeframe. This highlights the importance of As Salat, without observing which one's faith in Allah cannot be cemented.
The observance of Salat is the key to other acts of worship. The Muslim worshipper, who observes the Salat at the right time and in the manner in which it has been stipulated or prescribed, positions himself for a series of blessings from Almighty Allah. In fact, Salat provides an excellent means of communication between a believer and God. Each word of Salat is in fact a form of a supplication to invoke countless blessings of Allah. During Salt, a believer opens up his heart to Allah and can make any legitimate request to Allah for realization. However, care must be taken not to address Allah during Salat to ask for anything which is not legitimate or calls for harming someone.
Thus, the goal of Salat is to bring the Muslims closer to Allah. By attending prayers in the masjid, one also gets closer to other members of the community which furthers add up to building of a bondage between believers and make them a useful member of community. By getting together, one can share each other's happiness and grief, and may come to know of suffering of someone who can then be helped through obligatory and voluntary charity, that is Zakat and alms.
The importance of Salat can be known from the fact that even during war believers are asked to make two groups: While one group offers Salat, the other guards them against any surprise by the enemy. And when one group finishes, they replace their positions so that the second group too gets to offer their prayers.
Even during travel, one is not absolved of this obligatory act. However, due to discomfort of travel, the even number cycles of the prayer are cut to half.
Throughout Qur'an, the emphasis on observing Salat, followed by Zakat, is in abundance. It has been amply highlighted that those who do not guard their prayers slowly and gradually drift away from remembrance and evil overshadows him from whose shackles it becomes difficult to free oneself. Thus, it is only adherence to Salat regularly five times a day that one can avert the enticement of the Evil and remain steadfast.
We have already compiled all matters related to As Salat in our Reference Page: As Salat (Prayers), which contains reference to posts already published on all queries regarding Salat and general information.
This reference page is a compilation of verses from Qur'an on the subject of As Salat. This is just the beginning and in time we add more verses to make it a comprehensive compilation and to serve as a ready reckoner:
We will keep adding more verses so as to make this collection wholesome.