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TAG: Khushoo

Develop Khushoo In Salah

  1. Striving to gain that which gives and strengthens Khushoo.
  2. Preparing oneself properly for Prayer.
  3. Moving at a measured pace during Salah
  4. Remembering death while praying
  5. Thinking about the Aayath and Adhkaar being recited during Salah and interacting with them.
  6. Pausing at the end of each Aayah.
  7. Reciting in a slow, rhythmic tone (Tarteel) and making one’s voice beautiful while reciting.
  8. Knowing that Allah responds to Salah
  9. Praying with a barrier (sutrah) in front of one and praying close to it.
  10. Looking at the place of prostration.
  11. Varying the Surahs, Ayahs, Adhkaars, and Duas recited in Salah.
  12. Performing Sujood al Tilawah when reciting an ayah where this is required.
  13. Seeking refuge with Allah from the Shaytaan.
  14. Thinking of how the Salaf were when they performed Salah.
  15. Striving to offer duas at the appropriate times during Salah, especially in Sujood.
  16. Adhkaar is to be recited after prayer.
  17. Removing anything that may distract the worshipper.
  18. Not praying in a garment that has decorations, writings, or pictures that will distract the worshipper.
  19. Not praying when food is prepared when one wants to eat.
  20. Not praying when one needs to answer the call of nature.
  21. Not praying when one feels sleepy.
  22. Not praying behind someone who is talking or sleeping.
  23. Not occupying oneself with smoothing the ground in front of one.
  24. The Prophet (SAW) said: Do not wipe the (ground) when you are praying, but if you have to do then do it only once. (Abu Dawud:946)
  25. Not disturbing others with one’s recitation.
  26. Not turning around during prayer.
  27. Not raising one’s gaze to the heavens.
  28. Not spitting in front of one when in Salah.
  29. Trying not to yawn when in Salah.
  30. Not putting one’s hands on one’s hips when in Salah.
  31. Not letting one’s clothes hang down (Sadl) during Salah.
  32. Not rembling like animals in Salah.

Are You A Muslim Who Steals?

Some Muslims today often display an admirable zeal in applying some parts of Islam that may not even be obligatory while they take on a complacent, self-satisfied attitude with respect to the essentials of the Religion. In one particular area, this results in stealing.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The worst thief among men is the one who steals from his prayer.” When his companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah, how does he steal from his prayer?”, he replied, “He does not complete its Ruku’ (bowing) and Sujood (prostration).” (Ahmad and Al-Hakim)

In a related report, the Prophet (peace be upon him), observing a man not completing his Ruku’ properly, and pecking in his Sujood, warned that if the man were to die in that state, he would die on a faith other than Islam.

In any mosque, one can observe Muslims pecking, bobbing down and quickly back up in Ruku’ and Sujood. Some of us move so impatiently through our prostrations that one is left wondering how it was humanly possible for an individual to have said “Subhana Rabbi Al-A’laa” the minimum three times! And even if this was accomplished, what was its significance? Can we really reflect on our relationship with the Creator if we move through our prayer so quickly? Have we understood and pondered about what was said during any part of our Salah?

Allah says, “Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their prayers with humility and attentiveness (khushoo’).” (Qur’an, 23:1-2)

If we rush through our Ruku’ and Sujood but spend long hours in idle talk or even in meetings regarding some activity we usually have, then what have we achieved?

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The first matter that the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is defective, then the rest of his deeds will be defective.” (Al-Tabarani, authenticated by Al-Albani)

If our prayer is no more than a no-impact, mildly aerobic workout, is it any wonder that the rest of our deeds, individual and collective, are often ineffective? Ruku’ and Sujood are symptomatic of the problems we have with our Salah as a whole.

The important thing to keep in mind is that each and every one of us, scholar or student, experienced Imam or newcomer to Islam, man or woman, can and should improve our prayer from the day we learn it to the day we die. So the next time we prepare to bow down, let’s make sure we don’t get caught stealing.

– by Adil Salahi

Concentration In Prayers

Prayer helps people to avoid profanity and sins and to uproot evil from their souls. Prayers must be performed with complete khushu (concentration) and recited with sincerity to Almighty Allah. However, if someone does not have khushu during their prayers, their prayers would not be invalidated although their reward would be reduced. Hence, Muslims should try to avoid any distractions as much as they can during their prayers and should focus their concentration.

Almighty Allah ordains Muslims to perform prayer and urges them to do this with complete concentration and true sincerity. In the Qur an, Allah Most High says:
Guard Strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawat (the prayers) especially the middle Salat (i.e. the best prayer – Asr). And stand before Allah with obedience [and do not speak to others during the Salat (prayers)]. (Al-Baqarah 2:238).

The midmost prayer is usually described by scholars as the most praiseworthy of being performed with khushu .

Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness. (Al-Mu minun 23:1-2).

Prayer helps people to avoid profanity and sins and to uproot evil from their souls. Prayers must be performed with complete khushu (concentration) and recited with sincerity to Almighty Allah.

Warding Off Distractions In Prayer

Allah has specified the qualities of successful believers who will inherit the Highest Paradise, Jannah Al-Firdous, in the Qur’an. One of them is Khushoo’.

“Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness (Khushoo’).” (Qur’an, 23:1,2)

The term ‘Salah’, is derived from the root word ‘Silh’ which means connection i.e. the connection between us and Allah.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “When anyone of you stands for prayer, he is conversing with his Rabb, so let him pay attention to how he speaks to Him.” (Al-Hakim, Al Mustadrak, 1/236; Sahih Al-Jami’ no.1538)

Consider three types of houses:

• A king’s house: filled with treasures, but with guards on all four corners.

• A haunted house, which is very dark.

• A common man’s house: filled with his savings and treasure.

Now, if a thief comes to steal from one of the three houses which one will he choose? Obviously, the house of the common man because it has something of value and is not guarded.

This is the example of our hearts. The first is similar to the hearts of prophets i.e. well-guarded, the second is the heart of those who don’t believe in Allah as He deserves, and the third is similar to the heart of common believer like you and me. This is why Shaitan attacks our hearts and that’s why we sometimes find ourselves praying with Khushoo’ and sometimes not.

Solution
The Prophet (peace be upon him) has asked us to seek refuge in Allah from Satan.

Abul Aas once asked, “O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), the Shaitan interrupts me when I pray, and I get confused in my recitation.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “That is Shaitan (whose name) is Khanzab. If you sense his presence, seek refuge with Allah from him (i.e. say A’oodhu billaahi min-ash-Shaitaan-ir-rajeem), and spit (dry spitting) towards your left three times.” Abul Aas said: “I did that and Allah took him away from me.” (Sahih Muslim, no. 2203)

Apart from this, try to prepare for Salah in advance. Have Wudhu before the Adhan. Answer the Adhan and say the Du’a the Prophet (peace be upon him) taught us to say after hearing the Adhan. Go to the mosque in advance. Avoid unnecessary talk before prayer, instead try to be busy with Tasbeeh and Istighfar. When you’re praying at home, recite different Surahs and not just the smallest ones you keep repeating all the time.

And most importantly think about the greatness of Who you are going to stand in front of in prayer.

How To Attain ‘Al-Khushoo’ In Our Prayers

How is it possible for us to gain ‘Al-Khushoo’ (Humility) in and outside of the prayer and during the recitation of the ‘Quran’?

‘Al-Khushoo’ is the essence and core of the prayer. And it means the presence and attendance of the heart! And that the heart of the person who is praying does not wander left and right.

However … if the person senses something that will divert him away from (this) Al-Khushoo’ then he must seek refuge with Allah from the Outcast Shaytaan just as the *Prophet*…[sallahu ‘alayhi wasallam ]instructed us to do!

And there is no doubt that the ‘Shaytaan’ is extremely assiduous in spoiling all acts of worship, especially the ‘Salah’ which is the most superior act of worship after the Two Testimonies.

Thus, the ‘Shaytaan’ comes to the ‘Musalli’ (Praying individual) and says …or whispers Remember this and that and he causes him to indulge in thoughts and ideas that are of no benefit and which leave his head soon as he concludes from the prayer…

Therefore it is upon a person that he strives with the… utmost ambition to devote himself towards Allah the Mighty and Majestic, and if he feels anything from these misgivings and devilish insinuations to seek refuge with Allah from the Outcast ‘Shaytaan’ whether he is Raki’ (bowing), in the ‘Tashahhud’, sitting, or standing or in any position from his prayer.

Lastly, the greatest means that will aid one in attaining Al-Khushoo’ in the prayer is … that he Visualizes himself standing in front of Allah and that he is confiding in his Lord ALLAH {Subhanahu wa Ta’ala.}

{‘In Shaa Allah’}

[Source:-Footnotes:*Muslim( 2203).*Bukhari #608 and *Muslim #291 ]