The word · Worship
خُشوع
Khushu'
Stillness of the body and attention of the heart during prayer.
Also written · Khushu · Khushoo · Khusu · Khushuu · Kushu · concentration in prayer · focus in salah · humility in prayer
The meaning
What Khushu' means in Islam
The Qur'an opens its description of successful believers with those who have khushu' in their prayer. It is not an emotion you must manufacture; it is mainly the practice of returning your attention each time it wanders, and of not fidgeting. Losing focus does not invalidate the prayer, which is why nobody should stop praying out of a feeling that their prayer is not good enough.
Evidence · Qur’an · Stated directly in the Qur’an
Read beside it
Words that sit beside it
- SalahThe formal Muslim prayer, performed five times a day at set times, facing Makkah.الصَّلاة
- NiyyahThe intention in the heart that turns an ordinary act into an act of worship.نِيَّة
- QiyamThe standing part of the prayer, where al-Fatihah and other verses are recited.قِيام
More from Worship
- AdhanThe call announcing that a prayer time has entered, given aloud before each obligatory prayer.أَذان
- HalqShaving the head after the rites, which releases the pilgrim from the state of ihram.حَلْق
- KaffarahA fixed expiation owed for certain deliberate breaches, heavier than simply making the act up.كَفّارَة
- QasrShortening the four-rak'ah prayers to two while travelling, and combining two prayers in one time.قَصْرُ الصَّلاة
- SiwakA twig used to clean the teeth, recommended before prayer, wudu, and on waking.سِواك
- TaqsirTrimming the hair rather than shaving it, the alternative way to leave ihram.تَقْصير