It is narrated from Sayyiduna Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The covenant (that distinguishes) between us and them (the disbelievers) is the prayer; so whoever abandons it has disbelieved." This hadith has a sahih chain, and we do not know of any hidden defect ('illah) in it from any angle; both of them used the narration of Abdullah bin Buraydah from his father as evidence, and Imam Muslim also used al-Husayn bin Waqid as evidence, but they did not record this hadith with these words. This hadith also has a sahih corroborating narration (shahid) on the condition of both of them.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) did not regard the abandoning of any deed as disbelief except the prayer.