1) "Guard your salats"

[Soorah Baqara, ayah 238]

Narrated by Abu Zubair that he heard Jabir b. 'Abdullah saying. I
heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallaho aleihi wsalam) saying this:

2) "The difference between man (Muslim) and shirk & kufr is the
abandoning of salat".
[Saeeh Muslim, kitab ul Iman: Book 001, Number 0147]

Prophet Muhammad (sallallaho aleihi wsalam) said:

3) "The difference between us and them (Non-muslims) is that of salat,
so whoever abandons salat he certainly commits kufr"
[Tirmizi, kitab ul Iman, Declared saeeh by Imam Tirmizi, Imam Nisai
and Allama Iraqi]

Prophet Muhammad (sallallaho aleihi wsalam) said:

4) "The difference between a slave (or servant) and shirk is the
abandoning of salat. When he leaves salat, he commits shirk''
[Narrated by Anas in Ibn Maja, Saheeh Jama ul Sagheer part 2 pg 95,
Sanad: Saheeh]

From the above hadiths it is clear that leaving of salat is kufr and
shirk.

5) "If kafirs repent and establish salat and give zakat, then they are
your brothers in faith"
[ Soorah Taubah (9), ayah 11]

From this ayah we can conclude that in order for a person to become
brother in deen he has to establish salat aswell.

Narrated Ibn 'Umar:

6) Allah's Apostle (sallallaho aleihi wsalam) said: "I have been ordered (by Allah) to fight against the people until they testify that:

1) None has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle (sallallaho aleihi wsalam),

2) and offer salat

3) and give zakat,

so if they perform this, then they save their lives and property from
me except for Islamic laws and then their reckoning (accounts) will
be done by Allah."
[Saeeh Bukahri, kitab ul Iman: Volume 1, Book 2, Number 24]

We must examine this hadith and see what criteria Prophet Muhammad
(sallallaho aleihi wsalam) gave for fighting people.

This hadith should specially be examined by those people who claim to
be Muslims but do not establish salat, if the Prophet (sallallaho
aleihi wsalam) would have been present then he would have fought such
people.


Narrated by 'Auf b. Malik that the Messenger of Allah (sallallaho
aleihi wsalam) said:

7) "The best of your rulers are those whom you love and who love you,
who invoke Allah 's blessings upon you and
you invoke His blessings upon them. And the worst of your rulers are
those whom you hate and who hate you and
whom you curse and who curse you."

It was asked (by those present):"Shouldn't we overthrow them with the
help of the sword?"

He said: "No, as long as they establish salat among you. If you then
find anything detestable in them. You should hate their
administration, but do not withdraw yourselves from their obedience."
[Saheeh Muslim: Book 020, Number 4573]

No matter what the Ameer (ruler of the Muslimeen) is doing he is to
be obeyed in matters of administration till he establishes salat, if
he doesn't establish salat he is no longer a valid Ameer.

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle (sallallaho aleihi wsalam) said:

8) "By Him in Whose Hand my soul is I was about to order for collecting fire-wood (fuel) and then order Someone to pronounce the Adhan for the prayer and then order someone to lead the prayer then I would go from behind and burn the houses of men who did not present themselves for the prayer."
[Saheeh Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 11, Number 617]

Praying salat in congregation is compulsory and can't be left without a
valid escuse.

8) "Salat restrains from shameful and unjust deeds"
[Soorah Ankaboot (29), ayah 45]

Salat helps a muslim from refraining in a wrongful act.

The Prophet said (sallallaho aleihi wsalam):"Pray as you have seen me
praying"
[Saheeh Bukhari: Volume 1, Book 11, Number 604]


Pls pray salat according to what the Prophet (sallallaho aleihi wsalam)
has taught, if you consider that there are many ways for that then
all should be practiced as all would be sunnah way, dont leave one
sunnah and adhere to one.
We havn't seen the Prophet pray salat but we can atleast read hadiths
to find out his way.
The most easiest source for reading salat is Saheeh Bukhari and
Saheeh Muslim, as all hadiths narrated in it are Saheeh.