Additional info on the topic of Khushoo and how to develop it can be read in my entry "Khushoo - Strengthening the Connection,"
Salaah (prayer) and Sabr (patience) go together. They are the weapons of a believer against all calamity. Prayer, however, is difficult because it calls for 100% sincerity of the heart, soul, and mind. Khushoo, in prayers, is a state of utmost devotion and concentration that one needs to develop within the heart and translate into thoughts, words, and actions to offer a 100% successful prayer. It is not simply the idea of completing the rituals of a prayer, but it is a method of instilling heartfelt emotion into the act of praying.
The Plot of Shaytaan (Satan) and Signs of Qayamat (Day of Judgment)
Shaytaan is on a lifelong motive to divert the believers from believing in, and submitting to One God i.e. Allah (swt). He attacks those who are the most devoted in towards Allah (swt), and who allot great importance to their prayers. Khushoo is born from the fear of Allah (swt), and fear does not mean negative feeling of terror but one's will to submit before the Omnipotent. The obvious sign of the Day of Judgment drawing close is the disappearance of Khushoo from prayers. A point worthy of being noted is that prayer itself will not disappear. People will continue to pray but their Khushoo would vanish. They would be merely performing the rituals, and not feeling the connection with their Lord. Shaytaan will be enjoying victory at this point.
Two Types of Khushoo
1- Khushoo of True Faith
It is a sincere state of utmost concentration and devotion that one feels inside the heart for his Creator. It translates naturally into a person's thoughts, words, and deeds.
2- Khushoo of Hypocrisy
It is a play that a person puts up to show to the world that he is sincere to his Lord. It is similar to cheating.
Ways to Develop Khushoo in Prayers
- Prepare for Prayers*Listen to, and reply to the Azaan*Perform proper Wudu (ablution) and say Bismillah before you begin*Ensure that your cloths are clean and fragrant*Know in your mind that you are going to face the King of All Kings
- Move at a Measured Pace During Prayer*Prophet (saww) said that a worst thief is one who steals from his prayers*Give Sujood and Rukuh their due time
- Remember Death*Pray like it's your last prayer
- Think and Interact with the Ayaat and Adhkaar*Recite the verses with full meaning*Do your homework of knowing the meaning before praying*Pause in between verses to ask for Paradise, for refuge from Satan
- Pause at the End of Each AyatIt is Sunnah to pause between each Ayaah
- Recite Slow and Beautifully*Recite beautifully but without adding a musical tune to it* Pronounce properly (improve Tajwid)
- Know that Allah (swt) Responds*Have a firm conviction that Allah (swt) is hearing your words when you're reciting. He's aware of your presence and you should be aware of His.
- Position the Sutraah (physical barrier object before you) Closeby*A Sutraah protects your vision from Shaytaan*Position it comfortably close enough to stop people from crossing over*It could be a purse (for ladies), a pillow, a bag, and etc.
- Placing Right Hand over the Left*It's a position of submission - the folding of hands
- Look at the Place of Prostration*When you look away, Allah (swt) looks away from you*Closing one's eyes is Makrooh, as mentioned in Hadith*Watch your finger when you raise it during Tashahhud
- Varying Suraahs, Ayaahs, and Adhkaars*Build your collection of ayaahs and adhkaars by memorizing them*Recite them variably in your prayers*Just like you vary the combination of your jewelry, your menu of food, add variety to your prayer
- Performance of Sajdah Tilawa*Perform the Sajdah Tilawa when it comes between an ayaah
- Seek Refuge from Shaytaan (Khanzab, in particular)*Khanzab is a Shaytaan who particularly attacks during prayers*He works by bringing the most irrelevant of thoughts to your mind*"Did I lock the door?," "What should I cook for dinner?," and etc.*He also confuses and mizes up your count of Rakaah*Turn head to your left, recite Aa'uzubillahi minashaytaan irrajeem 3 times and blow air three times (dry spitting) to get rid of Khanzab
- Seek Inspiration from Sahaabas (r.a.)*Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (r.a.) asked the companions to remove a spear from his body when he was deep in prayer. This was the intensity of his Khushoo, he felt no worldly feeling when he was in communion with Allah (swt)*Imam Zain al Abideen (r.a.) the grandson of Ali ibn Abi Talib (r.a.)'s facial color used to change when it was time for prayer from the fear and accountability of standing before the Lord of the Worlds.
- Know the Advantages of Khushoo in Prayer
- Offer Dua'a in Sujood*Learn the dua'as that can be recited in sujood
- After-Prayer Adhkaar*They help preserve and reinforce the goodness of prayers
- Remove Distractions*Pray in a place that is well lighted, airy, and comfortable*Avoid keeping distracting objects like printed fabric, cell phones, and etc. closeby
- Avoid a Distracting Garment*Slippery, excessively shabby, short or tight garments should be avoided
- No Prayer When Food is Served*If hungry, eat a little to satisfy the hunger before you pray
- No Prayer When There's a Bathroom Need
- No Prayer When Sleepy*Take a short nap if you're sleepy, so you can concentrate better
- No Prayer Behind Someone Who's Talking
- Not Occupying Oneself in Smoothing the Ground
- Not Disturbing Others With Recitation
- Not Turning Around During Prayer
- Not Raising One's Gaze to the Heavens
- Not Spitting in Front of Yourself*If something has to be spitted out, do so in a tissue or cloth and place between the feet
- Stifle the YawnsShaytaan enjoys and laughs when somebody yawns because it signifies being bored in prayer
- Not Putting Hands on the Hips
- Not Letting Clothes Hang Down
- Do not Cover Face When Praying
- Do Not Resemble Animals*The posture during prostration should not resemble the sitting position of a dog, or the standing position of four-legged animals.
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