One of the most common reasons khushu is lost in salah is also one of the most overlooked — rushing. When the body hurries through the positions of prayer, the heart has no opportunity to settle, to reflect, or to be present. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was explicit about this.
The following is an excerpt from Developing Khushu in the Prayer by Muhammad Salih al-Munajjid, pages 24–25, published by Dar As-Sunnah.
Moving at a Measured Pace During Prayer
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to move at a measured pace during salah, allowing every bone to return to its place.
Abu Qatadah, radiyAllahu anhu, said that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
"The worst type of thief is the one who steals from his prayer."
He was asked: "O Messenger of Allah, how can a person steal from his prayer?"
He replied: "By not doing ruku and sujud properly."
Abu Abd-Allah al-Ash'ari, radiyAllahu anhu, said that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
"The one who does not do ruku properly, and pecks in sujud, is like a starving man who eats only one or two dates — it does not do him any good at all."
The one who does not move at a measured pace in his prayer cannot have khushu, because haste is a barrier to khushu, and pecking like a crow is a barrier to reward.
A Reflection
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, called the person who rushes through their prayer a thief — one who steals from themselves. Every ruku that is not completed properly, every sujud that is rushed through, is a portion of the prayer that has been taken away from its rightful owner: the worshipper themselves.
Khushu cannot coexist with haste. The body and the heart need time to settle into each position, to feel the weight of what they are doing, to be present before Allah. This is why tuma'ninah — stillness and calmness in each position — is not merely recommended but obligatory according to the majority of scholars.
Slow down. Let every bone return to its place. Let the heart catch up with the body. That is where khushu lives.
This same presence of heart — found in patience and stillness rather than haste — is the very essence of what we explore in Servitude in al-Sujud.
About the Book
Developing Khushu in the Prayer by Muhammad Salih al-Munajjid is one of the most practical and comprehensive guides to attaining presence of heart in salah. Published by Dar As-Sunnah. Available at The Islamic Book Cafe for $10.00.
Baarakallahu feekum — The Islamic Book Cafe | Portland, Oregon
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