Khushoo can be translated as humility
and devotion in prayer. It is also often
translated as sincerity and concentration during Salah. It means wholeheartedly
fighting off any distractions or insinuating thoughts (waswaas) that enters our
minds when we should be entirely focused on worshiping Allah.
Uthman bin 'Affan reported: I heard
Messenger of Allah (SAW) saying, “When the time for a prescribed Salat is due
and a Muslim performs its Wudu' and its acts of bowing and prostration properly
with khushoo, this Salat will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he
does not commit major sins, and this applies for ever.” Reported by Muslim, Riyad as-Salihin, Book 9,
Hadith 1046
When Iblis, the enemy of Allah, vowed
to mislead and tempt the sons of Adam (peace be upon him) he said, “Then I will
come upon them from their front side and from their behind, and from their
right and from their left. You will not find most of them grateful.”
(7:17)
The Shaytan is our enemy, and one of
the aspects of his enmity is his whispering insinuating thoughts (waswaas) to
the worshiper at prayer so as to take away his khushoo, confuse him in his
prayer, cause him to lose the reward for it and deprive him of the joy of worship.
Allah say’s in the Quran: “Success is
really attained by the believers. Who concentrate their attention in humbleness
when offering Salah (prayers)” (23:1-2)
The reward recorded is in proportion
to the degree of khushoo. Narrated by Ammar b. Yasir said: I heard the apostle
of Allah (SAW) say: “A man returns after saying his prayer while a tenth part
of his prayer, or a ninth part, or an eight part, or a seventh part, or a sixth
part, or a fifth part, or a third part, or half of it, is recorded for him.” Sunan
Abu Dawud, Book 2, Hadith 789
Ibnul Quyyim (Allah have mercy upon
him) who is known to be the ‘spiritual’ heart doctor said, explaining the
difference between the Khushoo of true faith and the Khushoo of hypocrisy, “The
Khushoo’ of true faith is when the heart feels aware and humble before the
greatness and glory of Allah, and is filled with awe, fear and shyness, so that
the heart is utterly humbled before Allah and broken, as it were, with fear,
shyness, love and the recognition of the blessings of Allah and its own sins.
So no doubt the Khushoo of the heart is followed by the Khushoo of the body. As
for the Khushoo of hypocrisy, it is something that is put on with a great show,
but there is no Khushoo in the heart.”
Allah says in the Quran, “And seek
help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer) and truly it is extremely heavy and
hard except for Al-Khashi'un” (2:45)
Here are a few tips to gain Khushoo:
Prepare Yourself
- Repeat the words of the Muaddhin during the Adhan
- Say the dua after the Adhan
- Perform proper Wudu with care
- Wear nice and clean clothes, you are presenting yourself in front of your Creator
- Cover your awrah properly
- Go early if you can
- If you need to answer the call of nature, get that done
- If you are hungry and food is ready, eat first and do not rush
- If you are extremely tired, get some rest first
- Move calmly to the place of prayer
- Ensure that the place of prayer is clean and tidy
- Use a simple prayer mat without prints or designs
- Pray (if possible) with a sutrah in front of you
- Avoid places where there is a lot of noise or distractions
During your Salah
- Recite in proper order in a distinct and measured tone - And recite the Qur’an clearly with tartil (73:4). Narrated Al-Bara' ibn Azib: The Prophet said: Beautify the Qur'an with your voices. Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 8, Hadith 1463
- Pause at the end of each ayah
- Reflect upon the meanings of the words which are related to the prayer
- Keep your gaze at the place of prostration
- Do not steal from your Salah, move at a measured pace during prayer
- Do not yawn
- Remember death and what awaits us after death
- Pray with Ihsaan, you are speaking to your Lord
- Pray As If It's Your Last Prayer
Additional Tips
- Learn to recite with proper tajweed
- Try to learn and recite various surahs, adhkaar and duas recited in prayer
- Do not being excessively occupied with the affairs of the world
- Try not to be distracted, by sights, sounds or thoughts and minimize any likelihood of disturbance
- Do not recite in a way that you disturb others in Salah
- Be humble at the Masjid, you are there to pray Salah, not pick a fight
- Be patient with other
- If you are forgetful at anytime during your Salah, do Sajda al-sahw (two prostrations of forgetfulness)
The one who prays with khushoo will
feel lighter at the end of his prayer, as if his burdens have been lifted and
he is refreshed.
Narrated
Jubair bin Nufair: .. The first knowledge to be removed
from the people will be Khushoo
Jami at-Tirmidhi, Vol. 5, Book 39,
Hadith 2653
It was narrated from Anas that: The
Prophet (SAW) used to say in his supplication: “Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min
'ilmin la yanfa'u, wa qalbin la yakhsha'u, wa du'a'in la yasma'u, wa nafsin la
tashba'u.
(O Allah, I seek refuge with You from
knowledge that is of no benefit, a heart that has no khushoo, a supplication
that is not heard and a soul that is not satisfied.)”
Then he would say: 'Allahumma inni
a'udhu bika min ha'ula'il-arba' (O Allah, I seek refuge with You from these
four.)'" Sunan an-Nasa'i, Vol. 6, Book 50, Hadith 5472
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