Salaah

Q: After fard prayer, do you have to send salutation on Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) by reading the durood shareef? Every masjid do that but when I am doing research, in no place it is mentioned that after fard prayer, you have to send blessings on Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) (i.e Allahumma swaliraswayyidinamuhammadinwwaralaalimuhammadinwwabaarikwasallim)? Or is it that they do this because they make the congregational dua after that because durood should be recited before making dua? According to my knowledge, after fard prayer, you have to read ayat ul kursi, tasbeen e fatihi and make your own dua and some but this recitation of durood is confusing.

Q: What is the definition of sunrise/shurooq? When the sun slightly appears on the horizon or when the sun completely is visible on the horizon?

Q: I know I have missed prayers before and now that I want to make up for it, when is the best time to pray the missed prayers?

Q: Can we offer Salaah while wearing socks?

Q: I performed Salaah not knowing that there was mazi on my clothes. It was only a few hours after performing the Salaah that I realized that my clothes has been soiled. Is that Salaah valid or do I have to repeat it?

Q: In jalsa between two sajdah, can we read dua allahummaghfirlee warhamnee in short?

Q: Upto how many minutes before Ghurub aftab, Salatul-asr can be prayed and how many minutes before ghuroob aftaab, makrooh time for salatul asr starts?

Q: Can we start Surah Bakarah in the second rakaat when we recite Suraha Naas in the first rakaat?

Q: My question is about differing start and finish times for Salaah. The mosques I have near to me have different times for Salaah. For example one mosque start time for esha is 9:30pm and another is 10:20pm. If I usually pray in one mosque can I follow the timing for the other, again as an example I follow the mosque with the 10:20pm start but offer my esha prayer before that as the other mosque clearly starts at 9:30pm. Is this permissible?

Q: My mum wishes to travel to Zambia for a period exceeding 14 days. She will be staying with her friends (all woman). My mum is 67 years old. I've told her I will accompany her during her journey i.e from Johannesburg to her destination drop her off and do the same for her return journey. Please advise if this is acceptable?