While we’re sure you’ve mastered the rules of Salat, here are a few tips to help you perfect it.

Do not perform a hasty salat especially slow down your sujoods and ruku’us remember you are prostrating before Allah.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) saw a man who did not complete his rukoo’ [bowing], and made a very short sujood [prostration] ; he (SAW) said: ‘If this man dies while praying in this manner, he would die upholding a religion other than the religion of Muhammad.’ Abu Hurairah (RA) said: ‘My beloved friend, Muhammad (SAW) forbade me to perform postures of prayer copying the picking of a rooster; (signifying fast performance of prayer), moving eyes around like a fox and the sitting like monkeys ( i.e. to sit on thighs).’ (Imam Ahmad & at-Tayalisi) The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: ‘ The worst thief is the one who steals from his own prayer.’ People asked, ‘Messenger of Allah! How could one steal from his own prayer?’ He (SAW) said: ‘By not completing its rukoo’ and sujood.’ (At Tabarani & al-Hakim).
To complete ruku’u is to stay in that posture long enough to recite ‘Subhana rabbiyal Adtheem’ three times, SLOWLY, and ‘Subhana rabbiyal-a’ala’ three times, SLOWLY, in sujood. He (SAW) also announced: ‘He who does not complete his rukoo’ and sujood, his prayer is void.’ (Abu Dawood & others)

To read the whole article buy the August 2009 edition of Daily Hijabi or order the pdf.