04-26-2007, 02:20 AM
Khushu' or submissiveness is arguably the most important aspect of Salat.
Imam Khomeini makes an excellent point about Khushu' in his book adabus Salat. He mentions Lack of Khushu' means lack of faith (iman) according to Quran 23:1-2 as pointed out earlier.
<b>قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ </b>
<b>"Truly, to a happy state shall attain the believers:</b>
those who humble themselves in their prayer"
Iman should not be confused with knowledge of Allah (i'tiqad). Nor should it be confused with Fear of Allah (Khof).
We find Shaitan offering more Salat than anyone and he had knowledge of Allah, Creation and Ressurection. He even fears Allah <b>59:16 behold, I fear God, the Sustainer of all the worlds!</b>
But he is excluded from Momineen because he had no Iman.
Why did Shaitan have no Iman? Because he clearly had no khushu'
<b>7:12 He said: What hindered you so that you did not prostrate when I commanded you? He said: I am better than he: Thou hast created me of fire, while him Thou didst create of dust.</b>
Khushu' cannot be brought about overnight. It is a constant exercise of remembering, remembering, remembering and even more remembering.
<b>Surah al-Hadid: 16 "Has not the time yet come for those who believe that their hearts should be submissive when remembering Allah and what has come down of the truth,"</b>