Ibaadat only comes into place after Imaan and Aqeeda, and the greatest of all Ibaadaat is Salaah. It is also the first Fardh in Islam after Imaan and Aqeeda. The excellence of Salaah can be derived from this, that all the other Faraa'idh were revealed on earth, but Namaaz was granted to Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) on the night of Me'raj even further than the Arsh and Qursi. Namaaz is that Ibaadat which was performed by every Nabi in his time and in his way. It is the only Ibaadat which is performed five times daily by men, women, old, young travellers, the rich and the poor. Namaaz spiritually exalts man and cures his physical and spiritual illnesses. It protects man from sins and vulgarism.  

Huzoor (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) once asked the Sahaba if any dirt would remain on the body of a person who bathed five times daily in a stream in front of his home. They said that no dirt would remain. He then said: "This is the example of the five daily Salaah. Any person who reads his five daily Salaah, is purified of his sins and bad doings by Allah".  

Hazrat Abu Zar (radi allahu anhu) states that it was winter and the Holy Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) came out of his Hujra. He went to a tree, held it's branch and shook it. This caused it's leaves to fall off easily. He then said, "O Abu Air and I replied, 'I am present Ya Rasoolallah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam)'". He said: "When a Muslim reads Namaaz for Allah, then his sins fall like the leaves of a tree".  

Rasoolullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) was questioned concerning which actions were the most loved and closest to Allah. He replied by saying: "To perform Namaaz in its appointed time, and he who leaves Namaaz has no Deen." Namaaz is the pillar of Deen, the Me'raj of a Mu'min and a sign of success. An intelligent man is one who goes from a low position to a higher position, and an ignorant man is one who proceeds from a high position to a low position. Mustahab is greater than Mubah. Sunnah is greater than Mustahab. Waajib is greater than Sunnah. Fard is greater than Waajib. Greater than all Faraa'idh is Namaaz. Even though we make Urs, Fateha, etc, we should remember that the greatest Ibaadat is Namaaz. Without this, all our other Ibaadaat is incomplete. The Prophet (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) has stated: "When your child reaches the age of seven teach him Salaah. When he reaches ten, shun him if he does not read his Salaah". He also said: "Read your Salaah before your Janazah is read".