Muslims: A Q About Namaaz?

Question

Salaam,
I have a few questions I would like to clarify to satisfy myself.
Is Sunnat and Fard namaaz completed the same thing? Or is it only in Fard that you only read Sura Al-Fatiha without any suras on the last 2 rakats? Or do you do that for both 4 rakat sunnat and Fard salaat?

-When I go to the mosque to perform salaat, I realize that instead of folding the hands onto the chest, some women cross it around their stomachs. Is this the Shi'ite way?

-Some girls at the mosque read the Qur'an and just leave it on the floor. The floor wasn't that clean, since people had brought food and left papers and scraps all around.
This other girl just read it from the floor.
Another girl read it in her hands, but as she got up, she dragged it onto the floor and picked it up, instead of just picking it up while she got up. Isn't that gunnah since it is showing no respect for Al-Qur'an. The floor was obviously unclean.
Thank you to anyone who answers these for me.
Wa'salaam,
-Ash

Answer 1

first, namaaz isn't an internationally known word. u shud have said solat or salaah instead. less ppl would get confused.

sunnat and fard namaaz are completely different. u get good returns when u do both. but in sunnat salaat, u don't get sins when u leave it. u get sins when u leave fard salaat.

sunnat salaat is usually 2 rakaats (odd number for salaatul witr) while fard salaat is 2 (for subh), or 4 (for zuhr, 'asr & isya'), or 3 (for maghrib). i dont know any sunnat salaat with 4 rakaat continuously. 2 rakaat, then another 2 rakaat is possible for sunnat salaat like tahajjud. and yes, it is only in fard salaat (with 4 rakaats) that u read the al-fatihah without any suras in the last 2 rakaats.

and about the folding of the hands, the right way is: -to fold the hands BETWEEN the chest and the stomach. so both ways u mentioned in your question are right.

i agree with you about the Qur'an. it's time we educate these people to respect the Holy Qur'an.

hope i helped. feel free to ask me anything.

salaam.

Answer 2

I once burned a Qur'an for kicks. There's a video on YouTube of a guy spitting in one, and another one of a guy throwing one in a toilet. Personally, I think leaving a Qur'an on the floor is way too good for it.

What's the penalty for Qur'an desecration, anyway? Flogging, limb removal, beheading, stoning, hanging, firing squad? Some combination of those?