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