The word · The heart
خُشُوعُ القَلْب
Khushu' al-Qalb
The heart's stillness and lowering before Allah, of which focus in prayer is one part.
Also written · Khushu · Khushoo · Khushu' · Khusu · Khushuu · Kushu · Humility of the heart · Awe · Reverence · Softness of heart · Khushu outside prayer
The meaning
What Khushu' al-Qalb means in Islam
The Qur'an asks whether the time has not come for the hearts of the believers to soften at the remembrance of Allah (Qur'an 57:16), which is khushu' outside the prayer as well as inside it. It is closer to a lowering than to an emotion: the heart stops standing up straight in front of its Lord. For khushu' specifically during salah, see the separate entry under worship.
Evidence · Qur’an · Stated directly in the Qur’an
Read beside it
Words that sit beside it
- Khushu'Stillness of the body and attention of the heart during prayer.خُشوع
- QalbThe heart: in the Qur'an the seat of understanding and intention, not the organ alone.القَلْب
- Qaswat al-QalbHardness of heart: the state in which reminders arrive and nothing moves.قَسْوَةُ القَلْب
- DhikrRemembrance of Allah, in set phrases and in the wider habit of not forgetting Him.الذِّكْر
More from The heart
- 'AfwPardon: dropping a wrong you are owed, without the other person having to earn it.العَفْو
- GhaflahHeedlessness: not the denial of the truth, but the habit of never getting round to it.الغَفْلَة
- IstiqamahStaying straight: keeping to the path steadily, over years, without dramatic swings.الاسْتِقَامَة
- MuraqabahLiving with the awareness that Allah sees you, at the moment you are acting.المُرَاقَبَة
- Sakha'Generosity: giving easily, before being asked, without making the receiver pay in dignity.السَّخَاء
- TafakkurDeliberate reflection on creation and on your own life, treated as an act of worship.التَّفَكُّر