As a Shia Muslim, I want to encourage two close friends to pray Salah, but they doubt its importance in daily life. What are effective ways to convey the benefits of Salah for both this world and the hereafter?
Every Muslim who believes in Allah (SWT) will clearly understand from Quran the great importance of praying Salah. Allah (SWT) Says in Sura Al-Room: Estabkish Salah and don't be from the polytheists (Mushrikeen) (Verse 31). Those who don't perform Salah are like the Mushrikeen. The Prophetic Hadeeth says: The difference between us (Muslims) and non Muslims is Salah, anyone who leaves Salah becomes like them.
Salah is the main link between human being and his Creator Allah which must be performed as Allah (SWT) Has ordered as an obligatory worship to remember Allah (SWT) as He Said in Quran (And establish Salah to remember Me) (Sura Taha, verse 14). Those who ignore Salah are ignoring Allah's order and disrespecting Him like telling Him: We have no time to talk to you !!!
Salah is like the Oxygen for our hearts and souls and minds and we can never live a peaceful life with out Salah which is the compulsory link between us and our Clreator Allah (SWT).
There are many Quranic verse and hundreds of Hadeeths about Salah which can help guiding Muslims to the crucial importance of Salah.
Wassalam.