Thirty Three Ways of developing Khushoo’ in Salaah

Name: Thirty Three Ways of developing Khushoo’ in Salaah
Author: Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Writer: Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid • Sections: 1

Section 26

Not praying when one needs to answer the call of nature

No doubt one of the things that can prevent proper khushoo’ is praying when one needs to go to the washroom. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade praying when one is suppressing the urge to urinate or defecate. (Reported by Ibn Maajah in his Sunan, no. 617; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 6832).

If anyone is in this position, he should first go to the bathroom and answer the call of nature, even if he misses whatever he misses of the congregational prayer, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If any one of you needs to go to the toilet, and the prayer has begun, he should go to the toilet first.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, no. 88; Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 299)

If this happens to a person whilst he is praying, he should stop praying, go and answer the call of nature, purify himself then pray, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “There is no prayer when there is food prepared or if one is suppressing the urge to expel waste matter.” (Saheeh Muslim, no. 560). Without a doubt, this trying to suppress the urge takes away khushoo’. This ruling also applies to suppressing the urge to pass wind.

Introduction

Concealment of Khushoo'

Rulings on Khushoo'

The means of developing Khushoo'

Preparing oneself for prayer properly

Moving at a measured pace during prayer

Remembering death whilst praying

Thinking about the aayaat and adhkaar being recited during the prayer and interacting with them

Pausing at the end of each aayah

Reciting in slow, rhythmic tones (tarteel) and making one’s voice beautiful when reciting

Knowing that Allaah responds to prayers

Praying with a barrier (sutrah) in front of one and praying close to it

Placing the right hand on the left hand on the chest

Looking at the place of prostration

Moving the index finger

Varying the soorahs, aayaat, adhkaar and du’aa’s recited in prayer

Performing sujood al-tilaawah when reciting an aayah where this is required

Seeking refuge with Allaah from the Shaytaan

Thinking of how the salaf were when they prayed

Knowing the advantages of Khushoo' in Salaah

Striving to offer du’aa’ at the appropriate times during the prayer, especially in sujood

Adhkaar to be recited after prayer

Warding off distractions and things that adversely affect khushoo

Not praying in a garment that has decorations, writing, bright colours or pictures that will distract the worshipper

Not praying when there is food prepared that one wants to eat

Not praying when one needs to answer the call of nature

Not praying when one feels sleepy

Not praying behind someone who is talking (or sleeping)

Not occupying oneself with smoothing the ground in front of one

Not disturbing others with one’s recitation

Not turning around during prayer

Not raising one's gaze to the heavens

Not spitting in front of one when praying

Trying not to yawn when praying

Not putting one’s hands on one’s hips when praying

Not letting one’s clothes hang down (sadl) during prayer

Not resembling animals

When a person suffers a great deal of waswaas

Conclusion

Thirty Three Ways of developing Khushoo’ in Salaah

Not praying when one needs to answer the call of nature