The difference between (true) khushu`, engendered by faith, and hypocritical khushu` is that the former takes place in the heart for the sake of Allāh and is conduced by veneration, magnification, sobriety, dignity, and shyness. The heart breaks for Allāh, combining dread, bashfulness, love, and shyness with the perception of Allāh’s blessings and one’s own transgressions. This necessarily engenders khushu` in the heart which is then followed by khushu` on the limbs.
Hypocritical khushu`, on the other hand, appears on the limbs; it is a mere pretence, the person affecting something that is not there since the heart is void of khushu`.
One of the Companions would say, ‘I take refuge with Allāh from hypocritical khushu`.’ When asked what it was, he replied, ‘That you see the body humble and submissive while the heart is not.’[1]
The one who has khushu` for the sake of Allāh is a servant in the breast of whom the flames of desire have abated and its smoke has dissipated, replacing radiance in its stead. The blaze of the greatness (of Allāh) has been ignited, and the lusts of the soul have died in the face of fear and sobriety which have, in turn, stilled the limbs and quietened the heart. The heart is content and at peace with Allāh, and it remembers Him; engulfed in the effusion of tranquillity descending from its Lord, it becomes meek and humble (mukhbit). The heart which is meek is the heart which is at peace and rest – for the land which is mukhbit is that which is low-lying onto which water flows and settles. The same applies to the heart: when it is mukhbit, i.e. it has achieved khushu`, it becomes like this piece of low-laying land to which water flows and settles.
The sign of such a heart is that (its owner) will prostrate before Allāh out of magnification and abject humility, broken before Him, never (desiring) to raise his head until the day he meets Him. This is the khushu` engendered by faith.
The arrogant heart, on the other hand, heaves and swells in its arrogance like a fast-flowing river. It is like an elevated portion of the land over which water never settles. This is hypocritical khushu`: the person feigns quietude and affects stillness of limb by way of ostentation. In reality, his soul is raging with lusts and desires; outwardly he displays khushu`, but inwardly the valley serpent and jungle lion lurk between his shoulders, waiting to pounce on the prey.
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Notes: Translated from Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Ruh, pp. 346-347
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[1] Ahmad, al-Zuhd, pg. 142 and ibn al-Mubarak, al-Zuhd #143 on the authority of Abu al-Darda’.
11 Comments
well written
Rtd.Airline Capt
How about those who regularly go for Hajj/Ummrah and it does not seem to make any diffference in their ikhlak-or the custodian of the holy mosque and their establishment,openly destroying the mosques and burning the Quran in Bahrain and creating Fithna in Yemen ,killing of the people.Outwardly showing concern for the ummah of the Prophet,but inwardly total allegiance to US/EU/zionist state/30.000 prisoners of blind justice being tortured regularly.How and when will the change come when majority of the imams and scholars are not ready to speak up.What good is that knowledge for
MashaAllah
JzakAllah khair….. this is my first introduction to this concept.
May Allah protect us from this and help us attain genuine khushoo.
JazakAllahu khairan for this reminder. may Allah give us true khushu.
But why pick on this poor brothrr in the picture…i’m sure he will be able to identify himself and maybe others can s well….and the poor brothr will be associated with hypocriticsl khudhoo
May Allah reward you
MashAllah what a beautiful explanation.
mr
Please be advised this is NOT a rebuke NOR criticism. I found the article interesting, please read below
The six major scholars of hadith recorded that the messenger of Allah s.a.w ” Allah has pardoned my ummah for what they say to themselves, as long as they do not utter it or act on it “.
The two sahihs recorded that, abu hurayrah said that the messenger of Allah s.a.w ” Allah said to (his angels) ” if my servant intends to commit an evil deed, but do not record it as such for him…”
The messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah, his angels, his books, and his messengers. (they say) ” we make no distinction between one another of his messengers. And say we hear and we obey. ( we seek) YOUR FORGIVENESS, OUR LORD and to you is our return. Quran 2:285
Again, please be advised this is NOT a rebuke NOR a criticism.
mr
Please be advised this is NOT a rebuke NOR criticism. I found the article interesting, please read below
The six major scholars of hadith recorded that the messenger of Allah s.a.w ” Allah has pardoned my ummah for what they say to themselves, as long as they do not utter it or act on it “.
The two sahihs recorded that, abu hurayrah said that the messenger of Allah s.a.w ” Allah said to (his angels) ” if my servant intends to commit an evil deed, but do not record it as such for him…”
The messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah, his angels, his books, and his messengers. (they say) ” we make no distinction between one another of his messengers. And say we hear and we obey. ( we seek) YOUR FORGIVENESS, OUR LORD and to you is our return. Quran 2:285
Again, please be advised this is NOT a rebuke NOR a criticism.
mr
Please be advised this is NOT a rebuke NOR criticism. I found the article interesting, please read below
The six major scholars of hadith recorded that the messenger of Allah s.a.w ” Allah has pardoned my ummah for what they say to themselves, as long as they do not utter it or act on it “.
The two sahihs recorded that, abu hurayrah said that the messenger of Allah s.a.w ” Allah said to (his angels) ” if my servant intends to commit an evil deed, but do not record it as such for him, and if he commits it, write it for him as one evil deed. If he intends to perform a good deed, but did not perform it, then write it for him as one good deed. And if he performs it, as ten good deeds.
The messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah, his angels, his books, and his messengers. (they say) ” we make no distinction between one another of his messengers. And say we hear and we obey. (we seek) your forgiveness, our lord and to you is our return. Quran 2:285
Again, please be advised this is NOT a rebuke NOR a criticism.
mr
Please be advised this is NOT a rebuke NOR criticism. I found the article interesting, please read below
The six major scholars of hadith recorded that the messenger of Allah s.a.w ” Allah has pardoned my ummah for what they say to themselves, as long as they do not utter it or act on it “.
The two sahihs recorded that, abu hurayrah said that the messenger of Allah s.a.w ” Allah said to (his angels) ” if my servant intends to commit an evil deed, but do not record it as such for him, and if he commits it, write it for him as one evil deed. If he intends to perform a good deed, but did not perform it, then write it for him as one good deed. And if he performs it, as ten good deeds.
The messenger believes in what has been sent down to him from his lord, and (so do) the believers. Each one believes in Allah, his angels, his books, and his messengers. (they say) ” we make no distinction between one another of his messengers. And say we hear and we obey. (we seek) your forgiveness, our lord and to you is our return. Quran 2:285
Again, please be advised this is NOT a rebuke NOR a criticism.
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Beautiful and very true. May ALLAH (SWT) Grant us true Khushu; Ameen.
Jazakallah khairun for the post.