Salat khusyu’ as Method of Tazkiyat al-nafs for Preventing Anxiety (Study of Salat khusyu’ in Ihya’ ‘Ulum Al-Din)

Abstract

This study aims to explain the concept of khusyu' prayer as a method of tazkiyat al-nafs in preventing anxiety, by examining the teachings of Imam al-Ghazali in Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din and twenty previous empirical studies. The research method used is a descriptive-analytical qualitative approach with a literature study design, focusing on the analysis of classical texts and the synthesis of relevant empirical findings. The primary data comes from the translation of Ihya 'Ulum al-Din Volume 4, while the secondary data is obtained from empirical research articles on prayer and anxiety. The results show that, in al-Ghazali's view, khusyu' prayer is a process of spiritual purification through six main elements—hudhur al-qalb, tafahhum, ta'zhim, haybah, raja' wa khauf, and hayā'—which serve to calm the heart and foster emotional balance. An analysis of twenty empirical studies supports this view with evidence that Islamic worship practices performed with spiritual awareness reduce anxiety levels and improve psychological well-being. This study concludes that devotional prayer has both scientific and spiritual therapeutic value and contributes to strengthening the paradigm of integrative Islamic psychology, which combines Sufi values with modern empirical approaches.