What is khushu' in prayer, and how can a worshipper attain it?

Khushu' refers to the humility, focus, and presence of heart a worshipper strives for in prayer — being mentally and spiritually attentive to standing before Allah rather than moving through the motions absentmindedly. The Quran opens its description of successful believers with, 'Certainly will the believers have succeeded: they who are during their prayer humbly submissive' (23:1-2), and elsewhere states that prayer is meant to restrain immorality and wrongdoing precisely because 'the remembrance of Allah is greater' than the ritual itself (29:45). Scholars and spiritual teachers suggest several practical steps toward khushu': understanding the meaning of what is being recited rather than reciting by rote, performing each movement calmly and completely (tuma'ninah) instead of rushing, minimizing visual and physical distractions in the prayer space, reflecting on the greatness of the One being addressed, and mentally preparing before starting, such as by clearing the mind of pressing worldly thoughts. The Prophet himself warned against hurried prayer that resembled a bird pecking at food. Khushu' is not an all-or-nothing state — it fluctuates even for the sincere — but consistent effort to reclaim attention whenever the mind wanders is itself considered part of its reward.

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