A.) Existence of salaah:

Salaah is the pillar of din. It is amongst the most honourable acts of worship and the greatest means of acquiring closeness to Allaahd. Allaahd has combined for us in salaah the worship of all the angels; including standing, ruku’, sajdah, dhikr, istighfaar, qiraa’ah, duaa, and salawaat upon Nabig. In salaah, different actions which are similar to the aspect of zakat, fasting, hajj and jihaad are found. Salaah in Islaam is like the position of the head in a body. It has been stated, “Whoever does not perform salaah, has been deficient in fulfilling his responsibility to all Muslims.” The reason for this is that a person performing salaah makes duaa for himself, his parents, all the Muslims and the pious servants of Allaahd. The person abandoning salaah is deficient in fulfilling the right of Allaahd, the right he owes to his own body, the right of his parents, the right of Rasulullaahg, and the rights of all Muslims, past, present and future. Therefore, there are great harms in not performing salaah.

B.) Qadha salaahs:

Ensure that you do not have qadha salaahs. If you do, then endeavour to cover them as quickly as possible. On the Day of Judgement, the first thing to be questioned will be about salaah. If it is correct, then reckoning will be easy for other matters. If the salaah is not correct, one will be in difficulties in all matters.

C.) Outward form of salaah

1. Must be performed on time: “Safeguard your salaah and (especially) the middle salaah (Asr).” (Aal-Imraan)
2. Must be performed at home - It is reported from Abdullah ibn Ma’sood ý that Rasulullah r said, “The salaah of a woman in her bedroom is more rewarding than her salaah in her courtyard of the house and the salaah she performs in the inner most portion of the bedroom (i.e. a small room within the bedroom) is greater and more rewarding than her salaah in her bedroom.” (Abu Daawood)
3. Ummu Humaid, the wife of Abu Humaid As-Saa’idi  once came to Rasulullah r and said, “O Rasulullah r, I long to perform salaah behind you.” Rasulullah r replied, “I am aware that you long to perform salaah behind me, however your salaah in your bedroom is more rewarding than your salaah in any other part of your home. The salaah in any other part of your home is more rewarding than the salaah in your courtyard. The salaah in your courtyard is more rewarding than the salaah in the musjid of your locality. The salaah in the musjid of your locality is more rewarding than your salaah in my musjid (i.e. Musjid Nabawi). Ummu Humaid ý (in compliance with the blessed desire of Rasulullah r instructed that a small place be reserved for her salaah in the innermost and darkest portion of her bedroom, and she would devotedly perform all her salaah here until the end of her life. (Sahih Ibn Hibbaan)
4. Know masaail well
5. Correct recitation (wordings and tajweed) of Quraan and duas – if not correct, sin will be incurred.
6. Clothing
   1. Decent loose fitting and non-transparent clothing
   2. No clothing with pictures or inscriptions especially Nike
   3. No see-through or tight-fitting clothing
   4. Must be covered including every strand of hair. Only the face, palms and feet may be exposed, if there are no men around.
7. Wudhu and ghusl must be correct – The more properly performed, the better the concentration in salaah.

Takbire-tahreemah

1. To utter takbire-tahreemah is fardh upon every individual, otherwise the salaah will not commence. One should ensure that one can hear oneself.
2. Do not lower the head. Raise both hands up to the shoulders, under the burqa. The palms should face Qiblah, not towards the ears. The fingers should be moderately kept, not closed nor spread part.

Qiyaam

1. After Allahu-Akbar, place the hands on the chest by placing the palm of the right hand over the back of the left palm till the wrists. The fingers should be placed close together.
2. The feet should be kept close together. They should face the Qiblah and be in a straight line. There should be no gap between the two feet. One should not sway the body.
3. The gaze should be towards the place of sajdah.

Qiraat

1. There must be lip movement. If one recites in the mind, the salaah will not be accepted.
2. Thanaa, ta’awwuz (a’oozu billahi) and tasmiyah (bismillah) will be recited before Surah Faatihah in the first rak’at. After Surah Faatihah, say aameen. Thereafter, read Bismillah if starting a Surah. Otherwise, just read the verses, a minimum of three short verses or one long verse.
3. In all rak’ats of salaah, Surah Faatihah and a surah must be recited. The only exception is the third and fourth rak’at of Fardh salaah, wherein only Surah Faatihah is recited.

Ruku’

1. One should bend only so much in ruku’ that one is able to place her hands on her knees. The bending will be slight (and not like men whose back is straightened.) Both hands should be placed on the knees whilst keeping the fingers closed together. The fingers should not be spread apart. The forearms should be kept close to the sides and the ankles should be kept together.
2. The feet should be kept straight facing the Qiblah. The gaze should be on the feet. The knees will be slightly bent.
3. Subhaanarabbiyal-azeem should be recited at least thrice. Care should be taken to recite the ظ correctly.

Qaumah and jalsah

• Qaumah is the standing posture after ruku’ and jalsah is the sitting posture between two sajdahs. It is waajib to perform the ruku’, qaumah, sajdah and jalsah calmly. Minimum duration is the reciting of subhanallah once. By reciting the relevant duaas therein, one will not perform these postures too quickly.

Sajdah

1. When going into sajdah, the chest should not go forward. Only the knees should be bent until they touch the ground.
2. First the hands should be placed on the knees. Then the knees should be placed on the ground, followed by the hands, the nose and forehead.
3. The fingers should be kept close together. They should face the Qiblah, including the thumb. The belly will touch the thighs and the forearms will touch the sides. The forearms will be placed on the ground.
4. Both the feet will be placed flat on the ground facing the right. The feet should not be kept upright. However the toes should face the Qiblah. The foot should not be raised off the ground.
5. The head should be placed between the hands in such a way that the tip of the thumbs are in line with the earlobes. The gaze will be towards the tip of the nose.
6. Subhaana-rabbiyal-a’laa should be recited at least thrice.

Qa’dah and jalsah

1. Say Allaahu-Akbar and sit with ease. Sit on the left posterior with both feet protruding to the right. Place the right thigh on the left thigh and the right shin on the left one. The left buttock will be on the ground.
2. The hands will be placed on the thighs with the fingers closed together facing the Qiblah. On reaching ashhadu, form a ring with the thumb and middle finger, and join the small and ring finger attaching the tips of it to the palm. The index finger will then be lifted towards the Qiblah (not the sky.) When reading illallah, the finger will be dropped. The remaining fingers will remain as they are till the end of salaah.
3. The gaze will be towards the lap.
4. The following duaa can be read in jalsah (i.e. between the two sajdahs.):

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَارْحَمْنِي، وَاهْدِنِي، وَعَافِنِي، وَارْزُقْنِي

Salaam and duaa

1. Turn to the right and left to such an extent that the person at the rear can see one’s cheeks. Commence the salaam with the face in the direction of Qiblah. Complete the salaam when the face is fully turned to the right. Then bring the face back towards the Qiblah and commence the second salaam from there.  
2. The gaze should be towards the shoulders. Intend greeting the angels  on either side.
3. Whilst making duaa, the hands should be lifted until they are in line with the chest. There should be a slight gap between the two hands.

D.) Create reality of salaah

Perform your salaah as if it is ‘a farewell salaah.’ Ponder over what is being read.

E.) Tabligh

Make an effort to establish salaah in the whole world, starting with our homes.