Developing Khushu' in the Prayer

Khushu', the stillness and presence of heart in the prayer, is required by the Shari'ah and is the part of the prayer most easily lost. Shaykh Muhammad Salih al-Munajjid treats it practically: what khushu' actually is, why it is leaving the Ummah, what destroys it, and the specific means by which it is cultivated and protected. He gives the shaytan's part its due, noting that diverting people from the prayer by every available means, and whispering to them within it so that they lose both its joy and its reward, is among his most significant plots. The means offered are concrete rather than exhortative, covering preparation beforehand, a measured pace, understanding what is recited, remembering death, and dealing with intruding thoughts. Ninety-six pages from Dar as-Sunnah.