Table of Contents
Introduction
This is the twelfth part in a series of articles that discuss the prayer in Islam, its correct form, how it should be performed correctly, and ways to attain khushu (devotion and humility) in prayer. You can click here to read the full series, ALLAH willing.
Feeling Deprived of Khushu in Prayer?
Have you ever found yourself thinking, after reading the previous articles, “The state these people have reached is so beautiful. I long to experience it, but I feel like it’s beyond my reach. It seems like such a high level, and maybe I’m too far from it because of my sins, or perhaps I haven’t prepared myself enough. Maybe there’s something missing within me, or I just don’t feel the faith needed to attain this level of khushu“.
Or perhaps you tell yourself, “I see people praying, and I enjoy watching them. They stand with such firmness, as if they are in another world, fully immersed in their prayer. Meanwhile, others around them are either waiting for the prayer or engaged in conversation, yet these individuals are in a completely different state”. You wonder how you can prepare yourself to reach this level of khushu in prayer. While stories about it are inspiring and easy to appreciate, the practical part seems to be the most challenging.
Seeking the Path to True Khushu
Let us now ask ourselves: “How can we strive to be like the Messenger of ALLAH, who said, ‘…and my comfort has been provided in prayer‘?1” “How can I be so exhausted, yet when I begin to pray, I no longer feel the presence of anyone else, consumed by the khushu in my prayer?” “How can the burdens of this world weigh heavily on my heart, yet the moment I start praying, all these worries melt away like ice, because of the khushu I experience?” “How can we attain the same understanding and realization of khushu that the righteous predecessors achieved?”
Understanding: The Greatest Key to Khushu in Prayer
The greatest key to achieving khushu in prayer is not just having a present heart. Yes, your heart must certainly be present, but the true key to khushu lies in understanding—understanding everything from the start of the prayer to its end. And what is the real beginning of the prayer? Is it the Takbir? No. The beginning of the prayer starts when you rise to perform Wudu (ablution), realizing that you are preparing to meet ALLAH Almighty. This awareness sets the foundation for khushu in prayer.
We will delve deeper into the topic of Wudu in the next article, ALLAH willing.
Sources:
- Dr. Ahmed ElAraby. فاهم 36 | سلسلة تذوق العبادات – (1) الصلاة | مع د. أحمد العربي. YouTube Video.
- Sunan an-Nasa’i ↩︎
