Various masaail of Salaah

Q: I find it hard to motivate myself to do what is right for me and my religion.

Example, I wake up three consecutive days and pray tahajjud. After that I am unable to even wake up. The same applies to the five times Salaah and seeking knowledge. I become lazy and end up forfeiting all these acts of virtues for a long period of time. When I do end up starting again, I do it for another three days and leave it again. I wish to be consistent in Allah's obedience and worship.

Q: When I start offering salaah, I start yawning frequently. How can I get rid of it?

Q: Does a person's prayer count when he sexually assaults a family member (niece) when he pray's 5 times a day?

Q: What does Islam say about someone (a Muslim) offering prayers in a gurdwara, temple or church? Is it allowed? If so, then in what conditions?

Q: A person has to offer salaah and feels the urgency to go to the washroom. However, if he relieves himself, his prayer will become qadha. What should he do in such a situation?

Q: Where should one keep his hands during the Iqaamah?

Q: I pray in the female prayer room in the university I go to, so there’s usually a lot of people around me praying with me. Unfortunately, my brain keeps focusing on their salah and judging how they pray, instead of focusing on my own salah and my own mistakes. It’s a terrible habit I have and I’m really disappointed in myself for having these thoughts. Please, any tips to stop this from happening? Should I pray on my own next time, just to avoid passing judgements on others?

Q: Some Tijaniyya, not the entire group says:

Salat al-Fatih: "This prayer is 'equivalent to the recitation of all prayers of glorification to God (tasbih) that have ever been said in the universe, all Sufi prayers or remembrance of God (dhikr), every invocation (du’a) long or short . (Jawahir, p. 57.)

What is the fazaa'il of that, is it correct?

Q: My husband insists that my 9 year old son cannot offer salaah in loose shorts which are below the knee. He insists upon trousers quite recklessly and even makes him wear a thobe on top of his T-shirt and shorts. I am concerned that he is overcomplicating simple guidelines on which he can create lots of confusion in a developing childs brain.

Isn't this an innovation? It's not a precaution, but more of an obsession as people all over the world offer salaah in loose shorts below the knee.

Q: If a Muslim gets a tatoo done, are you allowed to read salaah with it? Will it be a problem?