Originally posted 2024-01-21 22:33:27.

Khushu‘ is a state of mind marked by serenity, tranquility, dignity, and humility during prayer. It springs from the heart that stands before Allah in submission and reverence.

Sometimes, we experience moments of deep devotion in prayer where we feel every word. At other times, prayer may feel like a series of ritual movements lacking spiritual depth. In sha’Allah (God willing), I will try to summarize the key points of this series each week.

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The Story of the Ansar and the Muhajirun

In the Sunan of Abu Dawud, a narration with a sound chain of transmission tells of an incident during one of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) battles. The Prophet appointed two guards: one from the Muhajirun (those who emigrated to Madinah) and one from the Ansar (the residents of Madinah).

At one point, the Ansari stood to pray while the Muhajir rested. A nearby disbeliever noticed the Ansari in prayer and shot him with an arrow. Though struck, the Ansari removed the arrow and continued his prayer, blood dripping from the wound. A second arrow struck him, and again he pulled it out and carried on. But when the third arrow hit, the pain overcame him, and he fell into ruku‘ and sujud (bowing and prostration). This woke the Muhajir, who rushed to his companion, only to find him bleeding heavily. The attacker fled.

The Muhajir exclaimed, “SubhanAllah! Why didn’t you alert me when he first struck you?”

The Ansari replied, “I was reciting a surah (chapter of the Qur’an) that I love, and I did not wish to cut it off.”

Allahu Akbar — imagine such presence of heart in prayer!

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The Sweetness of Prayer

Prayer is one of the most beautiful acts of worship. When one finishes with the tasleem, there is often a profound sense of peace.

Ibn al-Jawzi said about prayer:

“We are in a garden, where our food is khushu‘, and our drink is the tears that flow.”

And Ibn Taymiyyah said:

“The soul of one who truly has khushu‘ in prayer is not even with him; it is circling the Throne of Allah.”

Some may say, “That was long ago; no one feels that way today.” But this isn’t true. When one realizes the importance of prayer and unlocks the secrets of khushu‘, they can taste its unique sweetness. Prayer becomes a refuge, a relief from distress — something to long for and never want to end.

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Step One: Rethinking Khushu‘

We must first redefine our understanding of khushu‘. It’s not just about avoiding distractions — having a present heart is only the beginning. It’s like entering the doorway of a house; beyond lies depth upon depth.

Many people say it’s hard enough just to focus. But think of it this way: if each prayer takes around ten minutes, that’s fifty minutes a day — less than one hour out of twenty-four. Can we not dedicate just this one hour entirely to Allah, without letting the distractions of dunya (worldly life) intrude?

Remember: the sweetness of standing before Allah far exceeds the fleeting enjoyment of worldly distractions.

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Going Deeper: Understanding and Contemplation

Deeper khushu‘ comes from truly understanding and reflecting upon what we recite. On his show, Kuwaiti da‘iya Mishary Al-Kharaz introduced one of our biggest “competitors” in prayer: a pillar in the masjid. Why?

Because it stands longer. When you go into sujud, it’s “in sujud” longer. When you glorify Allah, it “glorifies” Him more. How is that possible?

Allah says:

“There is not a thing except that it exalts [Allah] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting…” (Al-Israa’ 17:44)

And again:

“Do you not see that to Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth — the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures and many of the people? But upon many, the punishment has been justified…” (Al-Hajj 22:18)

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Yes, You Can!

Never say, “But I can’t.” Would Allah command khushu‘ in prayer and then make it impossible? Even if Arabic isn’t your first language, did Allah not know that Islam would spread across nations and tongues?

‘A‘udhubillah (I seek refuge in Allah) from such thinking.

Yes, you can. Strive, and you will succeed in sha’Allah. Allah is more Generous than we can imagine. When you take a step toward Him, He comes to you with speed. He says:

“And those who strive for Us — We will surely guide them to Our ways.” (Al-`Ankabut 29:69)

So — bismillah! Let’s begin this journey. And in sha’Allah, by the end of it, we will all have more khushu‘ than ever before.

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Source: Suhaibwebb.com.