What khushūʿ means

Khushūʿ is the humility, stillness and attentive submission of the heart before Allah. The body follows: hearing, sight, speech and movement become directed toward worship. It is more than concentrating on a task or maintaining a solemn expression. It combines awareness of Allah’s greatness with recognition of our dependence on Him.

Its influence extends beyond prayer. Remembering that Allah sees us should shape what we look at, listen to, say and do. Inner devotion and the outward requirements of Salah belong together; neither makes the other unnecessary.

The aim is not to manufacture an emotion. Bring your heart to Allah, give each posture its due, and return whenever attention wanders. The Qur’an associates the success of believers with humility in prayer (23:1–2).