The meaning of Khushu (hearts humbled)
The basic meaning of Khushu’ in Islam is the softness of the heart, it’s being gentle, still, submissive,
broken, and yearning.
The messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said,
“Both legal and illegal things are evident but in between,
there are doubtful (suspicious) things and most of the people have no knowledge about them.
So whoever saves himself from these suspicious things saves his religion and his honor. And
whoever indulges in these suspicious things is like a shepherd who grazes (his animals) near the
Hima (private pasture) of someone else and at any moment he is liable
to get in it. (O people!) Beware! Every king has a Hima and the Hima of Allah on the earth is His
illegal (forbidden) things. Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed)
the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.”
When the heart is humble, so also the hearing, seeing, head, and face, indeed, all the limbs and their
actions are humbled, even speech. This is why the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would say in his bowing
(Ruku’), “My Sight and hearing and marrow are humbled to You.” Another narration, “and whatever
my foot carries” One of the Salaf saw a man fidgeting in prayer, he said “If the heart of this person
was humble, so too would his limbs are.”
Allah says in Surah Al-Mu’minun: 2
“They who are during their prayer humbly intent.”
This verse according to Islamic scholars refers to:
The one whose heart is in humility, his shoulder is softening, and he doesn’t look here and therein
his prayer.
Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness.
Those who are fearful and still.
Who their hearts had taken root in humility so their gazes were lowered and their limbs became
subservient.
Mujahid said: “The foundation of Khushu’ (hearts humbled) is in the heart and quietude in prayer.”
Al-Khurasani said: “Khushu’: refers to the hearts humbled of the heart and the subservience of the
limbs.”
Zuhri said: “It is the quietude of the servant in his prayer.
Qatada said: “Khushu’ of the heart the fear and lowering the gaze in prayer.”
Mujahid(may Allah have mercy on him), said concerning the words of Allah عزوجل “…and they were
to Us humbly submissive.”: 90 being humble and Modest.
Allah عزوجل has described the earth as in Khushu’ in His words:
“And of His signs is that you see the earth stilled, but when We send down upon it rain, it quivers
and grows.” Surah Fussilat: 39 Its bareness and stillness have been removed in its place vegetation
grows.
It was Khushu’s, stillness, lowness, and lack of growth. The same to the hearts, their desires, and
thoughts arising from the following of carnal lusts are laid to rest and it submits to Allahعزوجل.
Khushu’ replaces the heart’s haughtiness and arrogance. When Khushu’ settles in the heart, organs,
and motions even the voice is still.
Allahعزوجل says about Khushu’:
“And [all] voices will be stilled before the Most Merciful, so you will not hear except a whisper [of
footsteps].” The source of Khushu’
It is in accordance to the hearts humble witnessing the attributes of Allah that lead to Khushu’.
Some hearts are humbled by the strength of their perceiving Allah’s closeness to His servants, and His seeing
their secrets which lead to being shy of Him عزوجل.
Some hearts are humbled by:
they’re perceiving the magnificence of Allahعزوجل, His greatness which leads to being in awe of Him
and magnifying Him Only.
they’re perceiving His perfection which leads to the desire to meet Him
they’re perceiving the enormity Of His vengeance and punishment which leads them to fear Him.
10 ways to attain Khushu’ in your Salah
“Certainly will the believers have succeeded: They who are during their prayer humbly Intent.” Al-
mu’minun:10-2
1- Pay attention to the Quran you are reciting in Salah: Try to understand the meaning of the part
you are reciting.
2- Empty out your mind and heart before you start.
3- Seek refuge in Allahعزوجل from satan before and during Salah.
4- Read about the meaning of Surah Al-Fatiha (the opener of the Book and the first Surah recited in
full in every prayer cycle rakah)
5- Eliminate external and internal distractions.
6- Remember Death before and during Salah.
7- Make Du’a in prostration. When prostration, we convey our desires to Allah عزوجل, The
Prophetصلى الله عليه وسلم said,
“Young man, I will teach you some words. Be mindful of God, and He will take care of you. Be
mindful of Him, and you shall find Him at your side. If you ask, ask of God. If you need help, seek it
from God. Know that if the whole world were to gather together in order to help you, they would not
be able to help you except if God had written so.
And if the whole world were to gather together in order to harm you, they would not harm you
except if God had written so.” Related by Tirmidhi
8- Take your time in Salah.
9- Read different Surahs and Du’as so as not to be repetitive. Just to have the opportunity to have a
new conversation with Allahعزوجل.
10- Stay a little bit after you pray for Zikr. Learn praise the Quality and attributes of Allahعزوجل.
We can think that without khushu’ our Salah and other forms of worship are incomplete and
unacceptable.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) entered the mosque and a person followed him. The man prayed and went to
the Prophet and greeted him. The Prophet (ﷺ) returned the greeting and said to him, “Go back and
pray, for you have not prayed.”
The man went back prayed in the same way as before, returned and greeted the Prophet who said,
“Go back and pray, for you have not prayed.” This happened thrice. The man said, “By Him Who
sent you with the Truth, I cannot offer the prayer in a better way than this. Please, teach me how to
pray.” The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “When you stand for Prayer says Takbir and then recite from the Holy
Qur’an (of what you know by heart) and then bow till you feel at ease. Then raise your head and
stand up straight, then prostrate till you feel at ease during your prostration, then sit
with calmness till you feel at ease (do not hurry) and do the same in all your prayers.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 757
Allah says in Surah Az-Zumar: 22-23
“So is one whose breast Allah has expanded to [accept] Islam and he is upon [i.e., guided by] a light
from his Lord
[like one whose heart rejects it]? Then woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the
remembrance of Allah. Those are in manifest error. Allah has sent down the best statement: a
consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver therefrom of those who fear their Lord; then
their skins and their hearts humbled to relax at the remembrance [i.e., mention] of Allah. That is the
guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills.”
And in Surah Maryam: 58
“When the verses of the Most Merciful were recited to them, they fell in prostration and weeping.”
Surah Al-Isra: 109
“And they fall upon their faces weeping, and it [i.e., the Qur’an] increases them in heart humble
submission.”
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