How does one develop khushoo’ in his or her prayer?
Question:
"How does one develop khushoo’ (الخشوع –tranquility and humility before Allaah) in his or her prayer?"
Answer:
"The person that wants to obtain this khushoo’ in Salaah has to picture in his mind that he is having a conversation in his Salaah between himself and his Lord. He has to picture that he is having a conversation with the Creator that created him and the Sustainer that sustains him. And he has to picture the honor, the level that this Creator has, who created him and that he is talking to him, and at what level the Creator Allaah سبحانه و تعالى is. And what He has over him of rights and what He has blessed him with from blessings. He has to go back to Allaah سبحانه و تعالى in all his affairs when he is a young man and strong or when he is old and weak. When he has money or when he is poor, he has to return to Allaah. When he is powerful or when he is weak, when he is at a time of ease or when things are getting tough. When he (the one praying) says:
{All the praises and thanks be to Allaah, the Lord of the 'Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists} [Al-Faatihah 1:2]
He is thanking Allaah سبحانه و تعالى for all the blessings He has blessed him with and then goes on to:
{The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful} [Al-Faatihah 1:3]
Where Allaah has had, in so many situations over him, Rahmah and Mercy. And the day that he will stand in front of Allaah, as he goes to:
{The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)} [Al-Faatihah 1:4]
The day that he stands in front of Allaah and he is brought to reckoning. And then when he goes to:
{You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).} [Al-Faatihah 1:5]
Then this need is for Allaah in all his affairs. Allaah is the one that keeps his life sustained. He has to always remember these things when he is in Salaah. He has to picture these things. Picture if you were in front of a king from the greatest of kings or presidents, then you would like to be in front of that creation from the creation of Allaah in the best way. You would have the best manners, you would be in the best shape, and you would have high Himmah ( همّة ). That means you would be very eager in front of this person. So imagine when you are in front of the One Who created all of the creation, Allaah سبحانه و تعالى."
Shaykh Saalih bin Muhammad al-Luhaydaan, may Allah preserve him
Source: Questions and Answers Session, delivered on the 11th of September, 2004.
"How does one develop khushoo’ (الخشوع –tranquility and humility before Allaah) in his or her prayer?"
Answer:
"The person that wants to obtain this khushoo’ in Salaah has to picture in his mind that he is having a conversation in his Salaah between himself and his Lord. He has to picture that he is having a conversation with the Creator that created him and the Sustainer that sustains him. And he has to picture the honor, the level that this Creator has, who created him and that he is talking to him, and at what level the Creator Allaah سبحانه و تعالى is. And what He has over him of rights and what He has blessed him with from blessings. He has to go back to Allaah سبحانه و تعالى in all his affairs when he is a young man and strong or when he is old and weak. When he has money or when he is poor, he has to return to Allaah. When he is powerful or when he is weak, when he is at a time of ease or when things are getting tough. When he (the one praying) says:
{All the praises and thanks be to Allaah, the Lord of the 'Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists} [Al-Faatihah 1:2]
He is thanking Allaah سبحانه و تعالى for all the blessings He has blessed him with and then goes on to:
{The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful} [Al-Faatihah 1:3]
Where Allaah has had, in so many situations over him, Rahmah and Mercy. And the day that he will stand in front of Allaah, as he goes to:
{The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)} [Al-Faatihah 1:4]
The day that he stands in front of Allaah and he is brought to reckoning. And then when he goes to:
{You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).} [Al-Faatihah 1:5]
Then this need is for Allaah in all his affairs. Allaah is the one that keeps his life sustained. He has to always remember these things when he is in Salaah. He has to picture these things. Picture if you were in front of a king from the greatest of kings or presidents, then you would like to be in front of that creation from the creation of Allaah in the best way. You would have the best manners, you would be in the best shape, and you would have high Himmah ( همّة ). That means you would be very eager in front of this person. So imagine when you are in front of the One Who created all of the creation, Allaah سبحانه و تعالى."
Shaykh Saalih bin Muhammad al-Luhaydaan, may Allah preserve him
Source: Questions and Answers Session, delivered on the 11th of September, 2004.