Prayer is light, charity is proof, and patience is illumination.

Abu Malik al-Ashari - Sahih Muslim

The first matter that the servant will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is corrupt, then the rest of his deeds will be corrupt.

Abu Hurairah - Sunan al-Tirmidhi

Pray as you have seen me praying.

Malik ibn al-Huwayrith - Sahih Bukhari