What is the status of the following famous narration?
الصَّلاةُ عِمادُ الدِّينِ مَنْ أقَامَها فَقدْ أقَامَ الدِّينَ وَمنْ هَدمَها فَقَد هَدَمَ الدِّينَ
Salah is the pillar of Din. Whoever establishes it has established Din and whoever neglects and destroys it has destroyed Din
Answer
I have not come across these words as one Hadith.
The first part, ‘Salah is the pillar of Din’ has been recorded by Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) with a weak chain.
Imam Abu Nu’aym Al Fadl ibn Dukayn (rahimahullah) has recorded these words as a mursal report from Rasulullah (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam). ‘Allamah Sakhawi (rahimahullah) has stated that the narrators are reliable.
(Shu’abul Iman, Hadith: 2550, Al Maqasidul Hasanah, Hadith: 632)
Imam Tirmidhi (rahimahullah) has also recorded a similar narration:
Sayyiduna Mu’adh ibn Jabal (radiyallahu ‘anhu) reports that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
“…The main matter is Islam, and its pillar is Salah…”
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadith: 2616. Declared authentic by Imam Tirmidhi)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar