KHUSHOO' IN SALAAH

The following Aathaar of the Pious Predecessors and the Manner of their prayer have been extracted from “Al-Khushoo’ fis Salaah Written by Ibne Rajab and Mukhtasar Minhaaj ul-Qaasideen written by Ibne Qudaamah.

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) said:
The Believers will prosper. Those who are humble and submissive in their prayers (khaashi’oon).

Below are some examples which we should read with contemplation and thought so that we see the manner of offering the Salaah of those who have been set as an example for us.

One of the Taabi’een, Hadhrat Hasan, said:
When you stand for the Salaah, stand with a devout frame of mind as Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) has commanded you. Beware of forgetfulness and turning (your attention) away so that while Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) looks at you, you are looking at other things besides Him. You ask Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) for Paradise and seek refuge in Him from the Hell fire while your heart is not present and you are not aware of what your tongue is uttering.

Imam Ibne Seereen said:
They (those before him from among the Sahaabah and Taabi’een) used to love that a man looks at the place of Sajdah i.e., prostration, in his Salaah.

Hadhrat Maimoon bin Mahraan said:
I never saw Muslim bin Yasaar turning around in his Salaah. Once a section of the Masjid fell down. The people in the market got scared on account of that yet he was still in the Masjid engaged in his Salaah and did not turn away from it (his attention did not escape from it).

In another narration: Hadhrat Muslim bin Yasaar was offering Salaah one day in the Masjid of Basrah and a part of the Masjid fell down. The people gathered around due to it and he did not even realize until he had finished his Salaah.

When Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Zubair used to pray it was as if he was a branch of a tree due to his Khushoo’, and birds used to stop on him thinking he was a branch.

People used to think that Hadhrat ar-Rabee’ bin Haitham, due to his constant lowering of the gaze and keeping his head low (in Salaah), was blind. He used to live behind the house of Hadhrat Abdullaah ibne Mas’ood for twenty years and when his slavegirl used to see him she would say: Your blind friend is coming, and Hadhrat Abdullaah used to laugh at her words.

Hadhrat Ali bin al-Humraan would turn red whenever he performed Wudhoo. It was said to him: What is it that you recall while performing Wudhoo? He said: Do you know in front of whom I wish to stand?

It was said to Hadhrat ‘Aamir bin Qais: Do you not forget in Salaah? He said: Are talks more loved by me than the Quraan that I become more occupied with it? Having secret conversations with the Beloved drowns all other feelings.

Some of the Salaf used to say: Salaah is from the Hereafter so when you enter it you leave the world.

Among the things that bring about Khushoo’ in Salaah:

Remembrance of Death
Hadhrat Anas said: Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) said: “Remember death within your Salaah because when a man remembers death in his Salaah, he strives to beautify his Salaah and offer the Salaah of a man who does not think that he will perform another Salaah after it. Take caution and an excuse is sought for every affair.”

Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam) has ordered the Muslim to remember death during his Salaah. This is because it is a means of beautifying the Salaah. The thought of death creates apprehension in the souls and by it the actions are sealed. What comes after it is even more frightening. Where is the escape from the compression of the grave? And what will our response be when we are questioned in the grave? Furthermore, we do not know where our destination is, to a garden whose width is as that of the heavens and the earth or to the fire whose fuel is men and stones.

Thus does the servant imagine the visions of death and what comes after it, so he offers the Salaah of a man who doesn’t think that he will perform a Salaah after it. He, therefore, beautifies his Salaah, counts himself amongst the dead, prepares his shroud, writes his will and returns the rights to those who own them. When he wakes up he does not wait for the evening and when he reaches the evening he does not wait for the morning.

In this manner, he comes to perform the Salaah, humble, submissive and weeping. Between fear and hope, he faces the Hereafter and he bids farewell to the world. It is a farewell Salaah and a Salaah of farewell. By it, he says farewell to his family, parents, brothers and his dearest and nearest ones, in fact the whole world.

And here he says “Allahu Akbar” - Allah is the Greatest - indeed He is greatest of all. He belittles this world and deems it insignificant. Then he makes one of the opening supplications and says “O Allah! Make my sins distant from me as you have made the east and west distant from each other.” He visualizes the remoteness of the east from the west then he brings to mind whatever he can from among his sins and mistakes which his back carries. He fears that he will meet Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) in this state and that death will pass him before he has repented; so he calls with this supplication, certain and convinced that it will be answered.

He reflects upon the meaning of all that he utters during his Salaah, bringing to mind the greatness and might of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) in his heart, tears felling from his eyes because Paradise and Hellfire have become evidently closer to him than his shoelace. He personifies the saying of the Messenger (SallAllaho alaihe wa sallam): “Offer a farewell Sallah as if you see Him and though you do not see Him, He certainly sees you.”

It is essential to be observant of Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa) so that the matter of Salaah is set aright and that the world is placed behind our backs. If a person knew that his words are being heard and that they reach the King without a doubt what then will he say? And how will he speak? Will you not see him weighing his letters and words? How will it be for the one who stands erect in front of the All-Hearer, the All-Seer and the All-Knowing Lord, Allah (Subhaanahu wa Ta’aalaa), the One from Whom no secret is hidden?