The status of prayer in Islam is indicated by the following: 1- Prayer is the pillar of the religion, which cannot stand without it; 2- Prayer is second in status to the Shahadatayn; 3- Prayer occupies a special position because of the way in which it was enjoined; 4- Allah erases sins by means of prayer; 5- Prayer is the last part of religion to be lost, and if it is lost, the whole religion is lost; and 6- Prayer is the first thing for which a person will be brought to account on the Day of Resurrection.

1. Turning away physically by turning one’s chest away from the direction of the Qiblah invalidates the prayer because facing towards the Qiblah is one of the conditions of the validity of prayer being. 2. Turning away one’s head or eyes only, while the body remains facing towards the Qiblah is disliked, unless the Muslim does it because he needs to. 3. There is another type of turning away, which is turning away whilst praying in one’s heart, through thoughts that distract a person so that he does not focus and reflect on his prayer.

It is recommended to recite Surat al-Kafirun and Surat al-Ikhlas in the two Sunnah rak‘ahs of Fajr and Maghrib.

If a person offers an obligatory prayer sitting when he is able to stand, his prayer is invalid. Whoever is not able to stand, bow, and prostrate because of sickness or old age, it is Sunnah for him to sit on the ground or on a chair. If the worshipper is going to pray on the chair from the beginning of the prayer until the end, then he should make the place where he will sit level with the row. If he is going to pray standing, but he will sit on the chair when he bows and prostrates, then what matters here is the standing position, so he should be level with the row when standing.

There is no basis for shaking hands or saying “Taqabbal Allah” after finishing the prayer; that was not narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) or from his Companions.