Prayer and KhushuWhat Is Khushu in Prayer and How Can You Achieve It?
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and companions.
Prayer is the greatest pillar of Islam after the two testimonies. It is the servant’s connection with his Lord, the measure of his rectitude, and the first matter a Muslim should preserve and care for. One of the greatest things prayer needs is khushu, because prayer is not merely movements performed by the body; it is worship in which the servant stands before Allah with a present heart, still limbs, a remembering tongue, and a soul humbled before its Lord.
{قَدْ أَفْلَحَ المُؤْمِنُونَ . الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ}Successful indeed are the believers, those who are humble in their prayer. [Al-Mu'minun 23:1-2]
{وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الخَاشِعِينَ . الَّذِينَ يَظُنُّونَ أَنَّهُمْ مُلَاقُو رَبِّهِمْ وَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ}Seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed it is difficult except for the humble, those who are certain that they will meet their Lord and that to Him they will return. [Al-Baqarah 2:45-46]
Khushu is not a mere outward form. It is from the life and soul of prayer. The more truthful the heart is in standing before Allah, the greater the effect of prayer on the soul and behavior.
DefinitionWhat Does Khushu Mean in Prayer?
Khushu in prayer means the presence of the heart before Allah, honoring the station of standing before Him, stillness of the limbs, and reflecting as much as one can on what is recited and said.
The one who has khushu knows that he is standing before his Lord, privately conversing with Him, reciting His words, bowing to Him, prostrating to Him, and asking Him for guidance, forgiveness, and mercy.
When one of you stands to pray, he is privately conversing with his Lord.
Agreed upon.
Important DistinctionThe Difference Between Khushu and Tranquility
Khushu is an action of the heart whose effect appears on the limbs, such as presence of heart, stillness of the body, honoring the prayer, and reflecting on recitation and remembrance.
Tranquility means that the worshipper becomes still in every pillar of the prayer: standing, bowing, rising from bowing, prostrating, and sitting. He does not peck through the prayer quickly.
Tranquility is a pillar without which the prayer is not valid. As for the perfection of khushu, it increases the reward and completeness of the prayer, and the reward decreases as the heart drifts away. Passing distraction, however, does not invalidate the prayer by itself.
EvidenceBegin With Tranquility
The Prophet ﷺ taught the man who prayed incorrectly:
When you stand for prayer, say takbir, then recite what is easy for you from the Quran, then bow until you are tranquil in bowing, then rise until you stand upright, then prostrate until you are tranquil in prostration...
Agreed upon.
Whoever wants khushu should begin with tranquility, because rushing through prayer is one of the greatest causes of losing presence of heart.
BenefitsThe Effect of Khushu in Prayer
Khushu is important for many reasons:
- It is one of the qualities of the successful believers.
- It helps a person leave immorality and wrongdoing.
- It makes prayer affect the heart and behavior.
- It trains the servant to be mindful of Allah.
- It protects prayer from fidgeting, rushing, and heedlessness.
- It increases the reward and completeness of prayer.
VersePrayer Prevents Immorality and Wrongdoing
{اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الفَحْشَاءِ وَالمُنْكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ}Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prevents immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows what you do. [Al-Ankabut 29:45]
The closer prayer is to its reality of presence, reverence, and following the Sunnah, the stronger its effect will be in restraining its performer from sins by Allah’s permission.
PreparationPrepare Before the Prayer Time
One of the greatest causes of khushu is for the Muslim to prepare for prayer with heart and body: performing wudu calmly, leaving distractions before prayer, walking to it with serenity, and avoiding entering it while scattered as much as possible.
When you hear the iqamah, walk to the prayer with tranquility and dignity, and do not rush...
Agreed upon.
WuduPerfecting Wudu
Wudu is an act of worship and a preparation for standing before Allah. It is not merely washing the limbs.
No Muslim person attends an obligatory prayer, perfects its wudu, khushu, and bowing, except that it becomes an expiation for the sins before it, so long as no major sin is committed...
Narrated by Muslim.
Remove DistractionsLeave What Distracts the Heart
A Muslim should not enter prayer while attached to his phone, occupied by a message, very hungry while food is present, or needing to relieve himself when he is able to remove that distraction.
There is no prayer when food is present, nor while one is resisting the two impurities.
Narrated by Muslim.
UnderstandingKnow the Meaning of What You Recite and Say
One of the greatest causes of khushu is understanding the meanings of Al-Fatihah, takbir, tasbih, tahmid, tashahhud, and the adhkar said in prayer. When saying, “You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help,” one remembers his need of Allah. When saying in prostration, “Glory be to my Lord, the Most High,” one remembers Allah’s greatness and the greatness of prostrating to Him.
Private ConversationRemember That You Are Standing Before Allah
When the worshipper says the opening takbir, he should remember that he has entered a great act of worship, left the world behind, and stood before his Lord. Whoever remembers this private conversation will be shy to fidget excessively or let his mind wander everywhere.
Al-FatihahReflect on Al-Fatihah
Al-Fatihah is the greatest surah in the Quran, and it is a pillar of prayer. Reflecting on it is one of the greatest doors to khushu.
I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he asks...
Narrated by Muslim. Whoever knows that Allah responds to him as he recites Al-Fatihah will have greater presence of heart in it.
StillnessTranquility in Bowing and Prostration
Rushing removes khushu and weakens the effect of prayer. The worshipper should be tranquil in bowing, prostrating, standing, and sitting, giving each pillar its due.
The worst thief is the one who steals from his prayer... He does not complete its bowing or prostration.
Narrated by Ahmad, and authenticated by a number of scholars.
Eyes and LimbsLook Toward the Place of Prostration and Avoid Turning Around
One cause of preserving khushu is avoiding turning around in prayer without need, because turning is something the devil snatches from the servant’s prayer.
It is a snatching that the devil snatches from the prayer of the servant.
Narrated by Al-Bukhari.
WaswasahSeek Refuge When Whisperings Come
Whisperings in prayer are from the devil. They may affect a Muslim, but he should not surrender to them or repeat the prayer because of every passing thought.
That is a devil called Khinzab. When you sense him, seek refuge in Allah from him and spit lightly to your left three times.
Narrated by Muslim.
FarewellRemember Death and Pray as If It Is Your Last Prayer
One beneficial meaning for khushu is for the Muslim to pray a farewell prayer, as though he does not know whether he will live to reach another prayer.
When you stand in your prayer, pray the prayer of one bidding farewell.
Narrated by Ibn Majah, and graded hasan by a number of scholars.
RulingDoes Mental Distraction Invalidate Prayer?
Mental distraction does not invalidate the prayer by itself, but it decreases khushu and reward. The Muslim strives against himself and does not despair. If his heart wanders, he returns it to the prayer. If the devil whispers, he seeks refuge in Allah. He should not make this a door to waswasah and repeating prayer without evidence.
The Muslim should distinguish between tranquility in the pillars, which is necessary for the validity of prayer, and complete presence of heart, which is a great goal whose deficiency decreases the reward but does not invalidate prayer merely due to passing thoughts.
TreatmentHow Does a Muslim Treat Waswasah About Khushu?
- Do not pay attention to waswasah or excessively audit yourself after every prayer.
- Do not repeat prayer because of passing distraction.
- Seek refuge in Allah from the devil.
- Learn the correct manner of prayer so you worship Allah with clarity.
- Ask the people of knowledge if a real issue occurs, and do not build rulings on fear and doubt.
The devil may come to a Muslim through his concern for khushu in order to push him into waswasah. So the Muslim should be balanced: striving with his heart, not surrendering to passing thoughts, and not opening the door to extremism.
QuestionIs khushu obligatory in prayer?
Khushu is commanded and is one of the qualities of the successful believers. It is the soul and perfection of prayer. As for tranquility in the pillars, it is a pillar without which prayer is not valid.
QuestionIs my prayer invalid if I think about worldly matters?
The prayer is not invalidated by passing thoughts or unintended thinking, but the Muslim should strive against himself and return his heart to the prayer.
QuestionHow can I have khushu in Al-Fatihah?
Learn the meaning of Al-Fatihah, recite it slowly, and remember that Allah responds to you as mentioned in the hadith qudsi. When you ask for guidance, remember that you are asking for the greatest need in your life.
QuestionDoes closing the eyes help khushu?
The basic practice is to pray with the eyes open while looking toward the place of prostration. If something in front of a person is severely distracting, some scholars allowed closing the eyes for need, without making it a permanent habit.
QuestionDoes excessive movement invalidate prayer?
Slight movement for a need does not invalidate prayer. But much continuous movement without need, to the point that it removes the prayer from its proper appearance, is serious and may invalidate prayer according to scholars.
QuestionWhat should I do if I enter prayer while my heart is busy?
Seek Allah’s help, say takbir calmly, return your heart to the meanings of Al-Fatihah, and do not despair. If you can remove the cause of distraction before prayer, do so, such as closing your phone or relieving yourself.
QuestionDoes khushu mean crying in prayer?
Crying out of fear of Allah is a great blessing when it occurs sincerely, but it is not the whole meaning of khushu. A person may have khushu through a present heart, reverence for Allah, stillness in prayer, and reflection on what he says, even if he does not cry.
QuestionHow can someone who does not know Arabic well have khushu?
Begin by learning the meanings of the words repeated in every prayer, such as takbir, Al-Fatihah, the tasbih of bowing and prostration, and tashahhud. Every meaning learned increases presence by Allah’s permission.
QuestionDoes khushu come all at once?
Usually it needs striving and gradual progress. A Muslim begins by improving wudu, tranquility, understanding Al-Fatihah, and leaving haste, then his heart becomes more present little by little by Allah’s permission.
QuestionDo sins affect khushu?
Yes. Sins harden the heart and weaken the sweetness of worship. Among the greatest causes of khushu are repentance, seeking forgiveness, and leaving sins, especially private sins.
Practical SummaryIf You Want Khushu, Begin With These Matters
- Pray on time.
- Perfect your wudu.
- Pray calmly and do not rush.
- Understand Al-Fatihah and the adhkar of prayer.
- Be tranquil in bowing and prostration.
- Leave turning around and fidgeting.
- Seek refuge in Allah from waswasah.
- Repent from sins that weaken your heart.
- Ask Allah for a humble heart.
ConclusionConclusion
Khushu in prayer is a tremendous blessing. It is the life and soul of prayer, and the servant does not attain it by wishful thinking alone, but through striving, knowledge, tranquility, leaving the causes of heedlessness, and frequently asking Allah.
Whoever has weak khushu should not despair. Let him begin today: preserving the prayer time, perfecting wudu, reflecting on Al-Fatihah, being tranquil in bowing and prostration, and frequently supplicating: O Allah, grant me a humble heart, a remembering tongue, and accepted deeds.
