Kushu During Prayer Options

[Dhilhan]

Assalamu Alikum Bros and Sisters,

As you all know, kushu is a vital part of prayer and it makes a world of a difference when you experience it. But there are times when there are so many things that are distracting your mind (whether it be work or anything for that matter)

I've done some reading and gained some knowledge through youtube videos on this topic but I wanted to ask you all for your ideas on how you maintain kushu during your prayers.

JZK

[Binty]

Wa alaikum salaam

Kushu isn't something that will always be present in our prayers, and it's a matter that is subject to personal development. For me, personally, I've looked at it from the perspective that, when you consider the nature of the human mind-- you can pray for something that you already have, or what ever you can at least apprehend, instead of asking for something that you haven't got.

This is because there is a difference between our philosophies and the actual operation of our minds. You see that even if we follow various thoughts to their conclusions and reach a decisively correct way of perceiving, it takes time -- and quite the majority of people spend their whole lives doing this in order to truly integrate the dictates of their reasoning with their whole mind and their life.

One might be quick to say that the mind simply forgets what it has learned, but in a sense it hasn't forgotten at all, but simply has yet to learn the true depth of the consequences of its correct reasoning. One is constantly learning the same things one already knows ... but in new ways, and with greater certainty. The mind has to be shaped and fashioned by reason into a tool of reason, and this takes time.

The point of my mentioning this, however, is that if you can appreciate how we are virtually all students yet, then it becomes easier for us to want to teach ourselves and others, and to thus adopt the characteristics most conducive for teaching, such as patience, such as forgiveness, such as an unwillingness to throw our hands up and become angered at ourselves and others for the time it takes them and ourselves to learn, and with determination to see to the well-being and growth of everyone into the full strength and clarity and brilliance which is in them.

I feel that this is one of the focal points of my prayer, because if I were to lack kushu in my prayer, then the lack of it would be my reason to continue the prayer anyway, because I'm confronted with my challenge -- the challenge of dealing with what is in front of me to deal with, because it trains my patience, forgiveness, devotion, etc. So I really do think that one particular way of maintaining kushu is to define your mantra/objectives, and put things into perspective so that it can be your drive to focusing on something. Exercising patience for example, can be a personal mantra, because it is applicable in anything, and the more you practice/develop it, the easier it will become to focus on, especially in a prayer type of situation.

Another suggestion I can throw in for maintaining kushu is if you don't rush into the prayer, and take a moment just before prayer to be 'still' -- hear your thoughts, breathe properly (i.e calmly), and create a sense of space for yourself wherein you're able to not feel distracted easily by what is around you. The world moves so fast, and at times we just don't allow ourselves the few minutes that's required to pause, and be still. That being said, take some moments before the actual prayer begins, to create space either in your mind or your surroundings, or both.

I hope this helps. And sorry for the long post! And I look forward to more suggestions, because I've been curious about this subject-matter, myself.

This post has been edited by Binty: Apr 20 2011, 01:48 PM

[Dhilhan]

s Sister

Haha your posts aren't long by any means! (Have you seen some of my recent posts? now thats what I call long!)

Thanks for your priceless thoughts on taking the approach of putting ones objectives of prayer into perspective.

I do in fact, use the method of taking the time before prayer to focus, slow down and drop all worries and put myself into a temporary vacuum. Another approach I use to create that environment (mainly during fajr and isha prayers) is to turn your lights off and make it as quiet as possible (if there are things in the background (such as open windows, washing machine, dish washer etc compared to the obvious tv, radio etc) I do happen to live on a relatively busy street, so theres always noise outside.

Sometimes it takes the mere effort of having to tell yourself the importance of prayer and reiterating its benefits to yourself to strengthen one's focus (not that we didn't know the importance already)

Looking forward to more thoughts and ideas

[ayesha.ansari]

i have listen two words long time ago, khusho wa fazoo,,, these means, you are offering prayer with very focus, so every one need to have their prayer like this..