What is Khushu'?

What is Khushu'?
Khushu' during Salah is misunderstood by some people as crying and weeping. Rather, it is the presence of the heart during an act of 'Ibadah. When a person's heart is fully occupied of what he says or hears, he is in a true state of Khushu'. The concept of Khushu' in Salah is very essential.
1- It is a vital factor in making a person successful in this life and in later life.
"Indeed, the believers, who have Khushu' in their Salah, are the winners." [Noble Quran 23:1-2]
2-It is a contributing factor for the acceptance of Salah.
3- It is a way to gain more rewards from the Almighty Allah; the more the Khushu' a person has, the more rewards he gets.
4- Without Khushu' the heart cannot easily be purified.
May Almighty ALLAH help us all to develop Khushu in our salah...Ameen
Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For you are the All-Hearing, the All-knowing. (Al Qur'an 2:127)

Dua when it rains

Read this Dua when it rains-Allaahumma sayyiban naafi'an (O Allah bring beneficial rain clouds) (Bukhari) Remember & thank Allah for it
Read this Dua after it rains- Mutirnaa bifadhlillaahi wa rahmatihi- it has rained by the bounty of Allah & his Mercy (Bukhari)
Dua when it is thunder- Subhaanal-lathee yusabbihur-ra'du bihamdihi walmalaa'ikatu min kheefatihi- Glory is to him whom thunder & angels glorily due to fear of him (muwatta)

Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad)

Fighting for the Cause of Allah (Jihaad)

Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 164Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
The Prophet , while in a tent (on the day of the battle of Badr) said, "O Allah! I ask you the fulfillment of Your Covenant and Promise. O Allah! If You wish (to destroy the believers) You will never be worshipped after today." Abu Bakr caught him by the hand and said, "This is sufficient, O Allah's Apostle! You have asked Allah pressingly." The Prophet was clad in his armor at that time. He went out, saying to me: "There multitude will be put to flight and they will show their backs. Nay, but the Hour is their appointed time (for their full recompense) and that Hour will be more grievous and more bitter (than their worldly failure)." (54.45-46) Khalid said that was on the day of the battle of Badr.

Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 166Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "The example of a miser and the one who gives in charity, is like the example of two men wearing iron cloaks so tightly that their arms are raised forcibly towards their collar-bones. So, whenever a charitable person wants to give in charity, his cloak spreads over his body so much so that it wipes out his traces, but whenever the miser wants to give in charity, the rings (of the iron cloak) come closer to each other and press over his body, and his hands gets connected to his collar-bones. Abu Huraira heard the Prophet saying. "The miser then tries to widen it but in vain."

Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 167Narrated Al-Mughira bin Shu'ba:
Allah's Apostle went out to answer the call of nature and on his return I brought some water to him. He performed the ablution while he was wearing a Sha'mi cloak. He rinsed his mouth and washed his nose by putting water in it and then blowing it out, and washed his face. Then he tried to take out his hands through his sleeves but they were tight, so he took them out from underneath, washed them and passed wet hands over his head and over his leather socks

Ways to Gain Khushu: Pre-Salah

Ways to Gain Khushu: Pre-Salah
1- A Muslim should know his Lord very well. Knowing whom one worships makes a person a better worshiper. Having clear and authentic knowledge about ALLAH increases His love in our hearts. Consequently, faith also increases.
2- Avoiding major and minor sins is very helpful in gaining Khushu', as the heart becomes more receptive to the words of ALLAH during and after Salah.
3- Reciting the Quran frequently and consistently softens the hearts and prepares it for Khushu'. Hard hearts do not gain Khushu'.
4- Minimize attachment to worldly matters. Gearing one's intentions towards the Afterlife helps against the temptations of life.
5- Avoid excessive laughter and useless arguments as they harden the heart and lead to heedlessness.
6- Stop working as soon as you hear the Adhan. When you listen attentively to the call of Salah repeat after the muezzin then offer the relevant supplication. This prepares you for a smooth transition from the business with worldly matters to the business with Salah.
7- Performing Wudu' immediately after hearing the Adhan prepares you for the pending Salah. Wudu' also works as a buffer zone before engaging in Salah.
8- Going to the mosque early for praying and continuing mention of ALLAH drives Satan away and help gain concentration.
9- The waiting time for the congregational Salah helps create a buffer zone between the state of mind before Salah and the state of during Salah.
Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us: For you are the All-Hearing, the All-knowing. (Al Qur'an 2:127)

Wear silken shirts

Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 168
Narrated Anas:
The Prophet allowed 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Auf and Az-Zubair to wear silken shirts because they had a skin disease causing itching.

Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 170
Narrated Anas:
Abdur Rahman bin 'Auf and Az-Zubair complained to the Prophet, i.e. about the lice (that caused itching) so he allowed them to wear silken clothes. I saw them wearing such clothes in a holy battle.

Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 173
Narrated Umaiya Ad-Damri:
I saw the Prophet eating of a shoulder (of a sheep) by cutting from it and then he was called to prayer and he prayed without repeating his ablution. Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 176 Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: Allah's Apostle said, "You (i.e. Muslims) will fight wi the Jews till some of them will hide behind stones. The stones will (betray them) saying, 'O 'Abdullah (i.e. slave of Allah)! There is a Jew hiding behind me; so kill him.' "

Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 177
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle said, "The Hour will not be established until you fight with the Jews, and the stone behind which a Jew will be hiding will say. "O Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, so kill him."

Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 180
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "The Hour will not be established till you fight with people wearing shoes made of hair. And the Hour will not be established till you fight with people whose faces look like shields coated with leather. " (Abu Huraira added, "They will be) small-eyed, flat nosed, and their faces will look like shields coated with leather.")

Ways to Gain Khushu - During Salah

1- The Iqamah itself is a final signal to the mind to be well prepared for performing the actual Salah. Remember what the messenger of Allah said to Bilal "Let us enjoy the comfort of the Salah."
2- When you stand facing the Qiblah remember the following:
a. It might be the last Salah in your life. There is no guarantee to live longer to catch the next Salah.b. You are standing between the hands of Allah, the Lord of the worlds. How can you be busy with something else?c. The angel of death is chasing you.
3- Do not forget to make Isti'adthah. It wards off Satan's whispers.
4- Keep your eyes focused on the place of Sujud. This helps you gain more concentration.
5- When reciting the Fatihah, try to recall the response of Allah to you after every Ayah you say. (When you say: "al-Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil 'Alamin) Allah responds: "My servant praised me." etc. This feeling of speaking to Allah puts you in the right mood of Khushu'.
6- Beautifying the recitation of the Quran has a positive impact on the heart.
7- Recite the Quran slowly and reflect upon its meaning deeply.
8- It is recommended to change the Surah that your recite from time to time to avoid the mechanic-like state of repetition.
9- Alternate between the various authentic Sunan such as proclaiming a different opening supplication in every Salah.
10- Undoubtedly, understanding Arabic helps you focus on the intended meaning.
11- Interact with the recited Ayahs;
a. if you hear an Ayah about Allah, glorify Him by saying "Subhanallah";b. If you hear an Ayah about Hellfire, say "A'udthu Billahi Minan-Nar".c. If you hear a command to make Istighfar, do it.d. If you hear an Ayah that requests Tasbih, make Tasbih.
12- These forms of interactions are very helpful in keeping you focused.
13- When you prostrate, remember that this position brings you closer to Allah. Seize the opportunity to make sincere Du'a'. Invest these moments in making sincere supplications.

The Swift-Taker of Accounts

Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 182

Narrated 'Ali:

When it was the day of the battle of Al-Ahzab (i.e. the clans), Allah's Apostle said, "O Allah! Fill their (i.e. the infidels') houses and graves with fire as they busied us so much that we did not perform the prayer (i.e. 'Asr) till the sun set."

Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 184

Narrated 'Abdullah bin Abi Aufa:

Allah's Apostle invoked evil upon the pagans on the ay (of the battle) of Al-Ahzab, saying, "O Allah! The Revealer of the Holy Book, the Swift-Taker of Accounts, O Allah, defeat Al-Ahzab (i.e. the clans), O Allah, defeat them and shake them."

Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 185

Narrated Abdullah:

Once the Prophet was offering the prayer in the shade of the Ka'ba. Abu Jahl and some Quraishi men sent somebody to bring the abdominal contents of a shecamel which had been slaughtered somewhere in Mecca, and when he brought them, they put them over the Prophet Then Fatima (i.e. the Prophet's daughter) came and threw them away from him, and he said, "O Allah! Destroy (the pagans of) Quraish; O Allah! Destroy Quraish; O Allah Destroy Quraish," naming especially Abu Jahl bin Hisham, 'Utba bin Rabi'a, Shaiba bin Rabi'a, Al Walid bin 'Utba, Ubai bin Khalaf and 'Uqba bin Abi Mitt. (The narrator, 'Abdullah added, "I saw them all killed and thrown in the Badr well).

Bukhari :: Book 4 :: Volume 52 :: Hadith 186

Narrated 'Aisha:

Once the Jews came to the Prophet and said, "Death be upon you." So I cursed them. The Prophet said, "What is the matter?" I said, "Have you not heard what they said?" The Prophet said, "Have you not heard what I replied (to them)? (I said), ('The same is upon you.')"