Recently my Imaan has dropped to an all time low. I feel I have no Khushoo in the things I do. Please can you give me some practical advice on how I can increase my Imaan.  

Brother Faysal Mahmood

(Barnsley) 

Answer    

Let’s start by looking briefly at the definition of ‘Khushoo’. It is quite often noticeable by suggesting that Khushoo literally means humility, humbleness or tranquility. But, in English, the meaning of 'submission', for example, is closer to the Arabic Istislaam (submission and surrender). The true meaning of Khushoo is closer to ‘a state of total humility to the extent of becoming motionless, silent, fearful and subservient’. What makes a person have this Khushoo is fear of Allah Taa’la and the sense that He (Allah Taa’la) is always watching. Allah Taa’la says: “Successful indeed are the believers, those who offer their Salaah with all solemnity and full submissiveness.” (Al-Mu’minoon 23:1-2)

Khushoo is a serious, major issue, which is most impossible to achieve without the help of Allah Taa’la. Being deprived of Khushoo is nothing short of a catastrophe. Hence, the Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to recite this Du’aa: “ALLAAH HUMMA INNEE A’OODHU BIKA MIN QALBIN LAA YAKHSHA.” (O Allah (Taa’la)! I seek refuge with You from a heart that has no Khushoo’).  (Al-Tirmidhi) Shaykh Ibn Taymiyyah (Alayhi Rahmah) explained that there are two things that will help us develop Khushoo and these are, a strong desire to do what is obligatory and weakness of distractions. Those who have Khushoo are varying of levels or degrees. Khushoo is an act of the heart that may increase or decrease. Some people have Khushoo as great clouds of the sky whilst others may finish their prayer without having understood anything at all.

As you requested, some practical advice to increase your Iymaan and to develop Khushoo will be to 1) repeat the words of the Adhaan after the Muezzin; 2) by pronouncing the Du’aa to be recited after the Adhaan: (O Allah, (Taa’la), Lord of this perfect call and the prayer to be offered, grant (Hadhrat) Muhammad (-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) the privilege (of interceding) and also the eminence and resurrect Him to the praised position that You have promised); 3) reciting Du’aa between the Adhaan and the Iqaamah; performing Wudhu properly, saying Bismillaah before it and making Dhikr and saying the Du’aa after it, (I bear witness that there is no god except Allah (Taa’la) alone, with no partner or associate, and I bear witness that Muhammad (-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is His Devotee and Messenger) and (O Allah (Taa’la), make me of those who repent and make me of those who purify themselves) and by using the Miswaak to cleanse and perfume the mouth that is going to recite the Holy Qur’an in a short while, because the Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasullullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: “Purify your mouths for the (Holy) Qur’an.”

I would recommend you read, ‘THIRTY-THREE SABABUN LIL KHUSHOO FI SALAAH’ (Thirty-three ways of developing Khushoo in Salaah) written and which has now been translated in to English by                                Shaykh Muhammad Saalih Al- Munajjid.

Finally, let’s ask Allah Taa’la to make us among those who have Khushoo and to accept our repentance. Aameen!

(VERILY, ALLAH TAA’LA IS ALL-KNOWING!) 

Shaykh Hafeezud Din