Khushoo in Prayer-What is the Minimum Acceptable Level?

Brothers in Allah, we all complain about the lack of khushoo in prayer and fear the sin of that. We may become despondent and frustrated because we see the level of khushoo we desire as unattainable, almost impossible. Here, it is important to know the minimum acceptable level of khushoo that does not incur sin upon us, so that we strive for it, and then ascending to higher levels of perfection becomes easier – by Allah's permission – and our hearts will be somewhat content with our performance in prayer. But before I speak about this minimum level, I would like to remind you that khushoo in prayer is a gift that Allah grants to the servant who adheres to acts of obedience throughout the day and keeps himself away from the forbidden, so his Lord blesses him with a present mind attached to Allah in prayer, realizing the greatness of the One standing before Him. Understanding this helps in khushoo: that it is a reward obtained through obedience, more than it being an obligation for which one exerts effort. Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned in his book (Al-Wabil Al-Sayyib) that people in prayer are on five levels, which we mention here with some simplification: The first: the level of one who reduces the prayer's ablution, its times, and its pillars, such as the one who rushes in his prayer. The second: one who completes the ablution and maintains its times and apparent pillars, but does not strive to repel thoughts in prayer, rather he follows them and calculates and plans what he will do after prayer, for example. The third: one who maintains the pillars of prayer and strives against himself and the devil to repel the whispers and thoughts, as the devil tries to distract his attention with many worldly matters, but our companion does not leave the reins to himself, rather he tries every time to divert these thoughts and return to focusing on what he is reciting, so he is in prayer and jihad. The fourth: one who, when he stands for prayer, completes its rights and pillars, and his entire concern is to complete and perfect it, as his heart has been engrossed in the matter of prayer and worship of his Lord, blessed and exalted be He, and has surpassed the stage of continuous defense against whispers and thoughts. The fifth: one who has reached the level of ihsan in his prayer as if he sees Allah, the Most High. Ibn Al-Qayyim said: The first section is punished, the second is held accountable, the third is forgiven, the fourth is rewarded, and the fifth is brought close to his Lord. So the first is punished because he has violated its pillars or conditions (such as ablution), and there is no reward for him upon it as if he did not pray. The second has dropped the obligation, but he is held accountable for following the thoughts and not striving against them. The third, fourth, and fifth have no sin upon them, but they have varying rewards. Therefore, brothers, to be free from sin, we must complete the ablution, then complete the apparent pillars of prayer without rushing and without excessive movements that contradict khushoo, and then repel the thoughts that arise in prayer whenever they occur in our hearts. If we achieve this level (the third), we then strive to ascend to the fourth, then the fifth. And Allah, the Most High, knows best. And peace be upon you.