Qushu'a in Salah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Hmm.. So how do I start?
قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Indeed successful are those believers
الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ
who are humble in their Salah (prayers)
Indeed successful are those believers
الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ
who are humble in their Salah (prayers)
The best way to start any ariticle is to say bismillah ir rahman nir raheem. And the next best thing is to quote a verse from the Quran. And i chose the first two verses from Surah Al-Muminoon where Allah describes the people with Iman, i.e, Mu'minoon who are successful. Interesting enough, 'Aflaha' comes from the word 'falah' which means to continually remain successful. Not just be successful but to remain successful. And those are the people who pray Salah with Qushu'a.
Also, at one other place Allah says guard your prayers.
وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَوَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ
and who are diligent about their Salah (prayers).
<or> and they who carefully maintain their prayers. {Surah Al-muminoon, ayat 9}
But Salah is not the artificial salah. No. Salah means the real true prayer like we are having a conversation with our Lord. It is said that, the heart of the prayer is "The slave genuinely
turning towards his Lord".
turning towards his Lord".
Often, we are tied up in our own worldly "self acclaimed priorities" and give a very little time to the prayers. We say takbir, bang our heads on the floor a couple of times, say salam
twice and thats it! we're good to go. Done with my daily obligation.
twice and thats it! we're good to go. Done with my daily obligation.
Yes. That is the prayer we are required to pray. But the real prayer - Salah - comes actually from the heart. We need to pray Salah as if we can actually see Allah. Or may be atleast
be conscious that Allah is seeing us. We need to truly connect to Allah.
be conscious that Allah is seeing us. We need to truly connect to Allah.
Also, Salah comes from the word "sila" which literally means to bond, connect.
Allah asked us to give just a few minutes to the prayer every few hours. Furthermore, Salah is a way of remembering Allah - to do zikr of Allah.
إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي
It is Me, Allah; there is none worthy of worship except Me, so worship Me and establish Salah for My remembrance. {Surah Ta-ha, Ayah 14}
The verse mentioned in the beginning says "salathi him qashi'oon" .
Surah Al-Muminun Ayah 2
الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ
who are humble in their Salah (prayers),
الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ
who are humble in their Salah (prayers),
Now what is Qushu'a? What does it mean when Allah says pray your Salah with Qushu'a?
Qushu is a fear that is manifest not only in your heart but actually takes up whole of your face and your limbs. That the qushu comes out of the heart and it starts affecting other limbs of the body.
Qushu'a means to lower yourself or humble yourself. Qushu'a is a kind of a fear that shows up on your face and your limbs. Its overpowering. Its still in kind of fear. This is the fear we are supposed to have in our salah. Our faces have qushu, not just our hearts.
So, in Salah when a slave is standing before his Rabb, his eyes are dropped, out of humility which is the first aspect of Qushu'a. The second aspect is when you cant even raise your
voice, out of fear and out of the realisation that something bigger is in front. Likewise the positions of Salah are also Qushu'a as in leaning in Ruku, falling in Sajda, etc.
voice, out of fear and out of the realisation that something bigger is in front. Likewise the positions of Salah are also Qushu'a as in leaning in Ruku, falling in Sajda, etc.
All these actions of the body start from the heart where we feel Qushu'a. Our hearts is the place where our Iman rests. Now how do we get Qushu'a in Salah? Qushu'a on the bodily side is quite easy to achieve but what about Qushu'a in the innerside? We need to put in all our efforts to pray that real prayer. And its not that difficult.
First, we need to remove ourself from distraction, give salah its time. Ponder over each word that comes out of our mouth. Those are not just words, we are conversing with Allah
Almighty as we say in the Fatiha, Rabbul Alimeen. We are conversing wiht Rabbul Alimeen. When we say Allahu akbar, we have exalted our Rabb. Again and again in prayer we are
declaring Allah's perfection and praising Allah.
Almighty as we say in the Fatiha, Rabbul Alimeen. We are conversing wiht Rabbul Alimeen. When we say Allahu akbar, we have exalted our Rabb. Again and again in prayer we are
declaring Allah's perfection and praising Allah.
One another way of having Qushu'a in Salah is to make sure to learn and understand the tafsir of each Surah we recite in our Salah. This will create the love for Allah and love for Allah's book in our hearts.
أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَاWill they not ponder upon the Qur'an? Are there locks upon their hearts? {Surah Muhammad, Ayat 24}
Allah also gives another secret to having Qushu'a in Surah Al-Araf. Dress up! Beautify yourself and pick the right clothes so that you become aware that you are presenting yourself in front of Allah.
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِنْدَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ
O Children of Adam! Put on your adornment (decent proper dress) when you attend your Masjid at the time of every prayer. {Surah AL-A'raf, Ayat 31}
O Children of Adam! Put on your adornment (decent proper dress) when you attend your Masjid at the time of every prayer. {Surah AL-A'raf, Ayat 31}
"Beautify yourself when you pray"
All this while we need to keep in mind that standing in salah is a rehearsal of the day when we are actually standing in front of Allah. Talk to Allah in Salah today and tomorrow so that on the day of judgement it will be like going back to an old friend.
Praying with Qushu'a might not happen instantly but Inshallah it will increase as we constantly keep trying. Say audhu billahhi min ash shaitanir rajim, in the beginning and
in between if needed.
in between if needed.
We really take our Salah for granted. We must put in all our efforts to reap maximum blessings from our act of Salah with Qushu'a. But, it wont happen everytime. We're all human after all. Know this, that no matter how perfect our ibadah are, it is still not enough because Allah deserves much more. So, It is only by the mercy of Allah that our not-so-perfect ibadah are accepted. What is important is the persuit !!!
So, next time we finish our Salah we are rejuvinated and feel satisfied (INSHALLAH) instead of doubting the number of rakahs prayed.
One another ayah which is so amazing,
وَاسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلَّا عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ
Seek Allah's help with patience and Salah: it is indeed hard to be patient and to be punctual in offering Salah except for those who fear Allah, {Surah Al-Baqara, Ayah 45}
Seek Allah's help with patience and Salah: it is indeed hard to be patient and to be punctual in offering Salah except for those who fear Allah, {Surah Al-Baqara, Ayah 45}
was ta inu bis sabri wa salah
"Seek assistance using patience and salah"
"Seek assistance using patience and salah"
Seek help by using patience and prayer. Salah is the way with which any person can get help from Allah. Every believer needs Allah's help. Infact every believer begs for Allah's help through the Fatiha "iyyaka nasta in ". We say it every single time. Allah is now telling us, that if you want my help, you have to show me two things. If you show me these two things, i am guaranteeing you my help.
What are those two things? As-sabar and As-salah. In other words, Allah is actually telling that sabar and salah is something He already gave you. Every thing else he will give
you once you use these two things. Every human being was made capable of sabar and every human being was made capable of salah. And when they exercise these two things, then
Allah's help descends.
What are those two things? As-sabar and As-salah. In other words, Allah is actually telling that sabar and salah is something He already gave you. Every thing else he will give
you once you use these two things. Every human being was made capable of sabar and every human being was made capable of salah. And when they exercise these two things, then
Allah's help descends.
When a difficulty becomes overwhelming for you and you cant stand it anymore, then you need to refuel. How will you refuel? By what? Salah.
Allah gives this same exact advice to anyone who is under a difficuly, starting with the man who had the biggest burden (sallahu alaihi wa salam) himself.
فَاصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ
Therefore, O Prophet, bear with them in patience whatever they say, and keep on glorifying your Rabb before sunrise and before sunset. {Surah Qaf, Ayah 39}
Allah says, be patient over whatever they say to you. When their cusrses and thier accusations and their hatred becomes overwhelming, be patient. And when that gets out of hand, go declare the perfection of allah and praise him while you stand which is a reference to salah. Go find strength in your salah.
Anas bin Malik (RA) narrates that the Prophet (PBUH) said:
“The coolness of my eyes lies in Salah.” (Nasai, Baihaqi & Musnad Ahmad).
“The coolness of my eyes lies in Salah.” (Nasai, Baihaqi & Musnad Ahmad).
This expression actually means the relaxation, the calm and the refuge from the storm in my life is the prayer. Thats the place I find refuge, thats what protects me and gives me
strength. Rasulalllah (S) , when an issue became overwhelming for him, pressured him, put a burden on him, he used to run desperately towards the prayer.
strength. Rasulalllah (S) , when an issue became overwhelming for him, pressured him, put a burden on him, he used to run desperately towards the prayer.
So, for a believer whose going through any kind of difficulty, first of all he has to persevere and when they feel like they are going to crack, then they need to increase their salah.
I found something interesting about few things we say in Salah.
I'd like to share it with you.
I'd like to share it with you.
Praising Allah in Salah - Allahu Akbar.
We say Allahu akbar because Allah is infact akbar. Allah is the biggest priority. Allah is the greater priority. Allahu akbar is not just something you say from your mouth but it is something that you live. We truly declare Allah's greatness in the way that He guided us. We make ourselves smaller in life and make Allah the greater in our lives. Also, not just in Salah, even after Salah, in everything that we do, we must compare ourself and
compare our priorities with what Allah gave. What does Allah want and what do we want.
compare our priorities with what Allah gave. What does Allah want and what do we want.
Tashahud-Attahiyat Dua
Something that really touched my heart is that Attahiyat is actually a part of the conversation between Our Creator Allah swt, and our beloved Prophet Muhammad (s) during his journey of Al Isra Wal Miraj....
When Prophet Muhammad (s) met Allah swt, he didn't say 'Assalam aleikum'. What is someone going to say when he meets Allah swt? We can't wish Him peace because all sources of peace are through Him.
So Prophet Muhammad (s) said:
"Attahiyyaatu Lillahi Was Salawatu Wattayyibatu" (All compliments, all prayer and worship are for Allah)
Allah swt replied: "Assalamu Alaika Ayyuhannabiyyu 'Warahmatullahi Wabarka'tuhu" (Peace be upon you, Oh Prophet and Allah's Mercy and Blessings).
To this, Prophet Muhammad (s) replied: "Assalamu Alaina Wa'ala'Ibadillahis Saa'liheen" (Peace be on us and on all good slaves of Allah)
And listening to this conversation between Allah swt and His Messenger (s), the Angels said: "Ash'had'u'un La ilahaillallahu Wa Ash'hadu Anna Muhammadun Abd'uhu Wa Rasooluh" (I bear witness that no one is worthy of worship except Allah And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger)
"Attahiyyaatu Lillahi Was Salawatu Wattayyibatu" (All compliments, all prayer and worship are for Allah)
Allah swt replied: "Assalamu Alaika Ayyuhannabiyyu 'Warahmatullahi Wabarka'tuhu" (Peace be upon you, Oh Prophet and Allah's Mercy and Blessings).
To this, Prophet Muhammad (s) replied: "Assalamu Alaina Wa'ala'Ibadillahis Saa'liheen" (Peace be on us and on all good slaves of Allah)
And listening to this conversation between Allah swt and His Messenger (s), the Angels said: "Ash'had'u'un La ilahaillallahu Wa Ash'hadu Anna Muhammadun Abd'uhu Wa Rasooluh" (I bear witness that no one is worthy of worship except Allah And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger)
So, that makes up our Attahiyat Dua which we recite in every even and last rakah.
Tasbih in Ruku and Sujud
We do ruku and sujud in front of our Rabb- our Master. We are His slaves. Allah is the master of all of creation. We are enslaving ourselves to someone who is all-powerful , all-mighty.
'Subhanallah' means 'Glory be to Allah' and it implies declaring perfection of Allah. He is pure and perfect.
The word 'Tasbih' that we do - Subhanallah, subhanallah, subhanallah... - is deriverd from the idea of 'sabh' or 'sabaha' which means to float or to swim. What it means is that we learn somethings about Allah- that Allah is one, Allah has no child, Allah is eternal, Allah is perfect and much more. So, these thing and everything that we learn about Him, now we declared a certain status for Him.
And when we say "Subhanallah" it is the declaration of that status of Allah. We are declaring how absolutely perfect Allah is. We declare Him to be above any fault, shortcoming, corrupt notions or false idea.
So, everytime in prayer, when we do ruku, we say "subhana-rabbi-al-azeem" which means "Glory be to our Rabb who is the great". And when we do Sajdah, we say "subhana-rabbi-
al-ala" which means "Glory be to our Rabb who is the Supreme Lord"
al-ala" which means "Glory be to our Rabb who is the Supreme Lord"
When reciting Surah Fatiha
Try to remember this Hadith Qudsi every time you recite Al-Fatiha. The Prophet (s) said that that Allah said: “I have devided the prayer between Me and My slave. Half is for me and half for him and I give him what he asks for.
- When the slave says الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ then Allah says: حَمِدَنِي عَبْدِي which means: My slave has praised Me, and
- When he says الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ then Allah says: أَثْنَى عَلَيَّ عَبْدِي which means: My slave has extolled Me, and
- When he says مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ then Allah says: مَجَّدَنِي عَبْدِي which means: My slave has glorified Me, and
- When he says إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ then Allah says: This is between Me and My slave and whatever he asks for, I will provide him. And
- When he says اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
then Allah says: This is for my slave and whatever he asks for, he will be provided with it.
{Sahih Muslim, narrated by Abu Huraira,r.a}
May Allah accept all our Salah and May Allah make us of those who pray Salah with Qushua.
