Male and Female Salaat Difference

Q. In The Shariah Vol.2 No.4 in an article in response to the Salafis you state that there is difference in the Salaat of a man and a woman. Please correct me, but what I have understood is that Salaat means to recite the Takbeer, the Qiyaam, Qiraat, Ruku, Sujood and Qa’dah Akheerah. And in these acts there is no difference between the Salaat of a male and the Salaat of a female.

Raising the hands up to the ears or to the chest are Sunnat acts ommision of which do not render the Salaat null and void. Yes, the thawaab of the Salaat is reduced.

A. Salaat is what Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) taught the Ummah. Salaat is not just the Faraaidh of Salaat as you have apparently understood. Salaat is the complete and perfect ritual of Ibaadat as practically and verbally conveyed to us by the Rasool of Allah. It contains acts which are fardh, acts which are waajib and  acts which are sunnat. Omitting any of the acts mentioned militates against the Salaat taught by Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). If a person, for instance, refrains from reciting the Tasbeehaat of Ruku’ or Sujood, then regardless of the Salaat being discharged, such a ‘salaat’ will not be designated as the Salaat which Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was sent to teach mankind. Omission of the sunan of Salaat without a valid reason is a grave matter disqualifying such a person from the shafaa’ah or intercession of Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam on the Day of Qiyaamah. And this is indeed a terrible deprivation.

A person has a head, but no eyes, no ears, no nose. Is such a head worthy of being called a head, and will you or anyone be willing to have and live with such a ‘head’? Similarly, a Salaat devoid of the Sunan will not meet with acceptance in the Court of Allah Ta’ala regardless of the technical Fiqhi classification  of the Salaat having being discharged.

Furthermore, you seem to be unaware that even in the Arkaan of Salaat there are differences in the postures of males amd females. Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) told some Sahaabiyyaat to perform sajdah in a constricted manner keeping the body parts touching. This is in stark contrast to the Salaat of males who are instructed with tajaafi or keep the limbs apart and away from the stomach.