Khushu‘ (proper focus and humility) forms the essence of prayer; by means of khushu‘ the worshipper will be calm and unhurried in his prayer, and will turn more wholeheartedly to Allah (may He be glorified). The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) taught the Muslims the etiquette of prayer and what is most important when praying, so that their prayer might be perfected. In this hadith, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) asked his companions: “Do you see this qiblah of mine here?” This is a question objecting to what they might think when he is facing towards the qiblah. In other words: do you think that I do not see what you do, because my qiblah is in this direction, and the one who faces towards something turns his back towards what is behind him. Then the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) explained that what he could see was not limited to one direction; he swore by Allah that he could see who was focusing properly in his prayer, and who was not, behind him. His intention in saying that was to urge them to focus properly, with humility, and bow properly in the prayer. What his words “for indeed I see you behind my back” meant was that Allah (may He be exalted) had created in him the ability to see those who were standing behind him. This is something that was unique to him, and he was able to see them in a real sense, which was something extraordinary. He was also granted other extraordinary abilities apart from this, and that is not contrary to rational thinking or to any religious text; rather there are religious texts that confirm that, and we must believe in it. It may be that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) saw them through what was revealed to him about their actions and how they performed the prayer, because seeing may mean knowing and believing. What he meant when he said that was: Focus properly in the prayer, with humility, and do the essential parts thereof properly, as if I am watching you and directing you to do it correctly, for I see your actions in prayer behind me when I am standing and leading you in prayer and you are behind me, just as I see you when I am looking at you in front of me. This hadith is one of the proofs of the prophethood of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)..