Khushoo‘ (proper focus and humility) in prayer

Praise
be to Allah

What is required
of the worshipper is to show humility [khushoo‘] in his prayer and to have
complete focus of mind, because Allah, may He be exalted, says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“Certainly
will the believers have succeeded:

They who are
during their prayer humbly submissive [khaashi‘oon]”

[al-Mu’minoon
23:1-2].

Focusing on
prayer and being humble therein are among the most important issues, and
this is the essence of the prayer. Therefore we must pay attention to
focusing with proper humility in the prayer and performing it in a tranquil
and unhurried manner, when prostrating and bowing, between the two
prostrations, and after bowing when standing up again; it should be done in
a tranquil and unhurried manner.

If the
worshipper fails to focus his mind and show humility in such a way that it
is as if he is pecking his way through the prayer and is too hasty, then his
prayer becomes invalid.

But if he is at
ease and performs his prayer in an unhurried manner, but sometimes his mind
wanders and sometimes he forgets, this does not render his prayer invalid,
but he will not have any reward for his prayer except inasmuch as his mind
was focused and he showed proper humility and mindfulness of Allah; he will
have the reward for that, but as for the parts in which he was not focused,
he will miss out on the reward thereof. Therefore he should focus on his
prayer and do it in an unhurried manner, showing humility towards Allah, may
He be glorified and exalted, so that he will have the reward thereof in
full. But his prayer is not rendered invalid unless he prays in a hasty
manner, such as if he bows but does not take the time to do it properly, so
he does it in a hasty manner and the movement does not reflect proper
humility. What he should do is move with ease, so that he adopts the right
posture with every vertebra in place and so that he will have enough time to
say Subhaana Rabbiy al-‘Azeem (Glory be to my Lord the Almighty) when
bowing and to say Rabbana wa laka’l-hamd (my Lord and to You be
praise) when standing up straight after bowing, and to say Subhaana
Rabbiy al-A‘la (Glory be to my Lord Most High) when prostrating, and to
say Rabb ighfir (Lord forgive me) between the two prostrations.

When the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) saw a man who did not pray in a
calm and unhurried manner – rather he pecked his way through the prayer – he
instructed that man to repeat his prayer, and said: “Pray, for you have not
prayed.” Praying in a calm and unhurried manner is one of the most important
aspects of khushoo‘, and this is something that is required in the prayer,
when bowing and prostrating, between the two prostrations, and when standing
up straight after bowing. This is called tama’neena, which means being calm
and at ease, proceeding in an unhurried manner. It is also called khushoo‘,
which means having proper focus and humility when praying. It is essential
to pray in this calm and unhurried manner, so that at every stage of the
prayer, the vertebrae may settle into place. So when the worshipper bows, he
should do so in an unhurried manner, so that every part of his body may
settle into place, and when he stands up from bowing, he should do it in
such a manner that every vertebra will settle into place when he is standing
after bowing; and when he prostrates, he should do it in a calm and
unhurried manner, and should not be hasty, so that every bone may settle
into place (as he prostrates). End quote.

Shaykh ‘Abd
al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him).