What is the correct prayer, and what are the mistakes of those who pray?

The complete and correct prayer is that which resembles the prayer of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, according to his saying: "Pray as you have seen me praying." The minimum acceptable prayer requires maintaining purity from ritual impurity (hadath) and physical impurities (khabath), covering the 'awrah, facing the Qiblah, performing the prayer within its prescribed time, completing the bowing (ruku'), prostration (sujood), and standing (qiyam), and reciting Al-Fatiha along with whatever else is easy from the Qur'an. Among the common mistakes are negligence in purification, not completing the bowing and prostration, fiddling and lack of devotion (khushu'), and failing to attend congregational prayers. A Muslim must seek religious knowledge to know what is obligatory upon him.