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 | Subject: The Keys to the Life of the Heart  Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:16 am | |
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By: Shaykh Ibraaheem ibn `Abdullaah al-Haazimee
Compiler's Introduction to Diseases of the Hearts and their Cures
By: Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah
Translated by Abu Rumaysah, © 1998 by Al-Hidaayah Publishing and Distribution
Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "The keys to the life of the heart lie in reflecting upon the Qur'aan, being humble before Allaah in secret, and leaving sins." [Haadee al-Arwaah ilaa Bilaad al-Afraah (p.45) of Ibn al-Qayyim.] Allaah, the Most High, said:
A Book which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its verses, and that men of understanding may take heed. [Saad (38):29]
So Allaah informed us that He sent down this Great Qur'aan, blessed in its wording, meaning, commands, prohibitions and regulations. Amongst its blessings is that the one who recites even one word of it then he has a reward, and this reward is increased tenfold, as mentioned in the hadeeth reported by at-Tirmidhee, and at-Tirmidhee said that it is hasan saheeh. Also amongst its blessings is that the one who reads it and actts upon it shall not be misguided in this world, nor fall into distress and misery in the Hereafter as stated by Ibn Abbaas in the commentary to the verse,
Whoever follows My guidance shall neither go astray nor fall into distress and misery. [Taa Haa (20):123]
Amongst its blessings is also that the one who learns it and teaches it is from the best of people as occurs in the hadeeth reported by al-Bukhaaree, "The best of you is the one who learns the Qur'aan and then teaches it." [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree Eng. Trans., 6/501 no.545]
Amonsgt its blessings is that it will be an intercessor on the Day of Judgement for its companions who used to act by it in this world as occurs in the two ahaadeeth reported by Muslim in his Saheeh. [Saheeh Muslim Eng. Trans. 2/385-385 no.1757, 1759]
He, the Exalted informed us that He revealed the Qur'aan so that its meanings, commands and prohibitions may be reflected over, such that if one were to come across a verse commanding something then he should follow it. If one were to come across a verse forbidding something then he should leave it. If one were to come across a verse concerning the Mercy of Allaah then he would hope for this Mercy and ask for it. If one were to come across a verse threatening with punishment then he would fear this and seek refuge with Allaah from it. If one were to come across a verse concerning the glorification of Allaah then he would glorify Allaah, and through this faith, knowledge, guidance and taqwaa will increase.
Allaah said while describing the believers,
And when His verses are recited unto them, they increase their faith. [Suah al-Anfaal:2]
Due to their containing promises and threats that motivate hope and fear; and Allaah, the Most High, said,
Do they not ponder over the Qur'aan or are there locks upon their hearts? [Soorah Muhammad (47):24]
Amongst the ways of giving life to the heart is to be humble to Allah in secret. Meaning to desire and long for Allaah through supplication, seeking forgiveness, turning to Him, asking for victory, Paradise and shelter from Hellfire at the time when Allaah descends to the lowest Heaven in the last third of the night, as occurs in the authentic hadeeth,
"Our Lord descends tot he lowest heaven when a third of the night remains, saying: Who is supplicating to Me that I may answer him? Who is asking of Me that I may give him? Who is seeking forgiveness of Me that I may forgive him?" Reported by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.
This hadeeth contains encouragement to stand in the last part of the night, praying, supplicating, and asking for forgiveness, Paradise and safety from the Fire, and supplicating for good in this life and the Hereafter. Indeed Allaah has commanded us with supplication and promisd to reply, and He who is far removed from imperfection, does not break His promises. Amongst the times that this reply will be attained is the last part of the night, and this is a blessing that Allaah bestows upon whomsoever He wishes, and Allaah is the Possessor of great blessings and bounty.
And from the ways of giving life to the heart is to leave the sins that kill it, as in the hadeeth,
"When the servant performs a sin a black spot appears on his heart, and if he seeks forgiveness this black spot is removed, and if he returns to sin the black spot grows until his heart becomes black, and this is the 'Raan' about which Allaah spoke,
'Nay! But on their hearts is the covering of sins (raan) which they used to earn.'" [Sooraah al-Mutaffifeen (83):14] [Reported by an-Nasaa'ee and at-Tirmidhee who said it was hasan saheeh.]
The poet said,
I saw the sins killing the hearts breeding ignominy due to their addiction And in the leaving of sins lies its life and it is best for your soul that you preserve it.
Weeping From the Fear of Allah
Based on a lecture "Al-Khawf min Allah" by Sh. Waheed `Abdussalam Baali
"Has not the time come for the hearts of those who believe to be affected by Allah's Reminder and that which has been revealed of the truth, lest they become as those who received the Scripture before, and the term was prolonged for them and so their hearts were hardened? And many of them were rebellious, disobedient (faasiqoon)." [Al-Hadeed, (57):16]
Allah sent to us the Qur'an and "the skins of those who fear their Lord shiver from it (when they recite it or hear it). Then their skin and their heart soften to the remembrance of Allah." [39:23]
He mentioned in the Qur'an the promise and the threat, and made clear that His believing servants are fearful and shivering from the punishment of their Lord. Our Lord the Exalted elucidated to us that the believer, whenever his iman strengthens and his certainty increases, becomes more fearful of Allah.
Weeping of the Prophet (pbuh)
The Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ood, "Read to me the Qur'an." He said, "O Messenger of Allah! Should I recite to you and it was revealed to you?" He said, "Yes, for I like to hear it from others." "I recited Soorat an-Nisaaa' until I reached the ayah,
"How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad) as a witness against these people?" [An-Nisaa' (4):41]
He then said, 'Stop now.' I found that his eyes were tearful." [Fath al-Bari 8:712]
Abdullah ibn ash-Shikhkheer, radhiallahu `anhu, said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, praying with us, and I heard the sound of his weeping coming out of his chest, which was like the sound of a boiling pot." [Abu Dawood, An-Nasaa'i, and At-Tirmidhi in ash-Shama'il, authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim]
Weeping of Abu Bakr (radhiallahu `anhu)
`Aaisha said, "During his illness, the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, said: 'Order Abu Bakr to lead the prayer.' I told the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, that, 'Indeed, if Abu Bakr stands in your place the people will not be able to hear him due to his (excessive) weeping.'" [al-Bukhari]
Our Weeping
The righteous have cried, the worshippers have cried and the believers have cried. And in this time there are people by whom a complete year passes and they do not drop a single tear from the fear of Allah.
O Allah we seek refuge with you from hard hearts. O Allah soften our hearts to Your remembrance!
"Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." [Ar-Ra'd (13):28]
"The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qur'an) are recited unto them, they increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone)." [Al-Anfaal 8:2] ] | |
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