Is this statement authentically attributed to ‘Umar.
“Hold on to salah, for if you lose it, you will lose everything”?
Answer
Yes. Imam Malik (rahimahullah) has recorded this statement of Sayyiduna ‘Umar ibn Al Khattab (radiyallahu ‘anhu).
(Muwatta Imam Malik, Hadith: 6. See here for more information regarding this chain.)
The part in question is as follows:
Sayyiduna ‘Umar ibn Al Khattab (radiyallahu ‘anhu) wrote to his his governors saying, “In my view, the most important of your affairs is Salah. Whoever protects it and performs it [habitually and timeously], is protecting his Din. Whoever is negligent about it will be even more negligent about other matters…”
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar