Most beloved deed
أَيُّ الْعَمَلِ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: الصَّلَاةُ عَلَى وَقْتِهَا
Ayyu-l-'amali ahabbu ila-llah? Qala: as-salatu 'ala waqtiha.
"[I asked]: What deed is most beloved to Allah? He said: Prayer at its time. I said: Then what? He said: Kindness to parents. I said: Then what? He said: Jihad in the path of Allah."
Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud. Sahih al-Bukhari 527, Sahih Muslim 85
A short reflection
The order itself is the lesson: salah on time, parents, then jihad. Everything that matters begins with a prayer said when it should be.