Method of Salaah

Keeping the back stright in ruku'

Q: Sometimes in rukoo' I do the thikr and then I straighten myself a bit and hear a crack, so does that mean my back only became straight when it cracked? If so do I do the thikr again? Must the back in sujood rukoo sitting and standing always be straight or at ease straight? Is the neck or head considered in this?

Sitting and performing Fardh and Waajib Salaah without a valid excuse

Q: If a person prays a fardh or waajib  prayer sitting down, without a valid excuse, is his prayer considered invalid? I recently heard from a Mufti that the prayer itself would be valid, since he did not miss a fardh element of prayer by sitting down (and not standing). What is the position of the Hanafi madhab in this regard?

Questions relating to qiraat in Salaah

Q:

  1. I have been told that if, for example one reads surah Nasr in the first rakaat, then in the next rakaat one cannot read surah Ikhlaas - it has to be the next surah, or a gap of 2 surahs. Please clarify this rule for me (e.g., does it apply only to short surahs, does it apply to 4 rakaat salaah as well, etc.)
  2. For long surahs, can one read from different parts of the surah in consecutive rakaats. Eg., 1st rakaat beginning verses of surah Najm, and 2nd rakaat ending verses of surah Najm.

Reciting ربنا و لك الحمد حمدا كثيرا طيبا مباركا فيه in fardh Salaah

Q: Can a person read the following Dua in his Fard Salaah:  حمدا كثيرا طيبا مباركا فيه after reading: ربنا و لك الحمد, in ruku', similarly can he read in jalsah: اللهم اغفرلي و ارحمني و عافني و اجبرني و ارزقني and if he is a muqtadi can he read these two dua's?