What is tawajjuh, spiritual attention?

Tawajjuh means attention, and the concept of tawajjuh can be validated through hadith.

The Beloved Prophet ﷺ was in the cave of Hira when Jibril peace be upon him, known also as Gabriel, came and asked him to recite, and Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, "I cannot recite." Jibril peace be upon him embraced the Beloved Prophet ﷺ and pressed his chest against him, declaring, "Recite," and the Beloved Prophet ﷺ replied, "I cannot."

For the third time Jibril peace be upon him seized the Beloved Prophet ﷺ and said, "Recite." The Beloved Prophet ﷺ then recited the message of Allah: "Recite in the name of your Sustainer who created. He created the human being from an embryo. Recite! Your Lord is the most Generous. He taught by the Pen, teaching humans what they did not know." [Qur'an, al-Alaq 96:1-5]

The scholars consider that the three embraces of Jibril peace be upon him during the first revelation to the Beloved Prophet ﷺ were a form of transmission of knowledge from Allah.

According to hadith, one day the Beloved Prophet ﷺ was holding the hand of Umar may Allah be pleased with him, when Umar may Allah be pleased with him said to him, "O Allah's Apostle ﷺ! You are dearer to me than everything except my own self." The Prophet ﷺ said, "No, by Him in whose hand my soul is, (you will not have complete faith) until I am dearer to you than your own self."

Then Umar may Allah be pleased with him said to him, "However, now by Allah, you are dearer to me than my own self." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Now, O 'Umar, (now you are a believer)." [Sahih al-Bukhari 6632]

One such hadith is narrated by Alja bin Ka'b may Allah be pleased with him: "When I was in the masjid, a man came in and started his prayers. He recited the Qur'an in a manner that appeared incorrect to me. Then, another man came in and recited Qur'an in yet another way. I went to Allah's Messenger ﷺ and told him how these people had recited the Qur'an. Allah's Messenger ﷺ asked both men to recite Qur'an and they did. Allah's Messenger ﷺ then said that both were right. My heart was filled with evil doubt that was even stronger than that of the period of ignorance (jahiliyya). When the Beloved Prophet ﷺ saw my state, he struck my breast with his hand. I started perspiring profusely and my state of fear and awe was such that I felt I was witnessing Allah." [Sahih Muslim 820]

It was narrated that Ali may Allah be pleased with him said, "Allah's Messenger ﷺ sent me to Yemen. I said: 'O Allah's Messenger ﷺ, you are sending me to judge between them while I am a young man, and I do not know how to judge.' He struck me on the chest with his hand and said, 'O Allah! Guide his heart and make his tongue steadfast.' And after that I never doubted in passing judgment between two people." [Sunan Ibn Majah 2310]

There are many other occurrences to prove the effects of spiritual transmission. However, it is true that spiritual transmission is not the real source of the effect: the attainment of the final goal is only possible with Allah's Grace and guidance, and by following the Sunnah and the company of the pious.

As mentioned in the Qur'an, "You do not guide those whom you like, but Allah guides those whom He will." [Qur'an, al-Qasas 28:56]