Heart and the Screen of Virtue

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, I continue my Khutba Jummah on the same topic (The Heart). Today is the 5^th week on the same topic, so it is a very important subject in our life, both mundane and spiritual. So everybody must take care of their own hearts.

Since the heart is an axis and centre for the reception of advices and admonition, Muslims are advised that they should take great care and precaution regarding the heart. They should not overburden the heart. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) has also said: “Give some rest to your hearts for they like your other organs also get tired”.

Hearts also become clean or dirty. Their cleanliness is maintained by the worship and obedience of Allah Ta’ala. By “Kufr” and disobedience they become impure and unhealthy.Allah Ta’ala says regarding the Munafiqeen and the non-believers: “Those are they for whom the Will of Allah is that He cleanse not their hearts.” (5: 42); “Who, when you read unto him our revelation, say: “(Mere) fables of the men of yore!” Nay, but that which they have earned is rust upon their hearts.” (83: 14-15).

Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) reports that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) has said: “When a man commits a sin, there appears a black spot on his heart. If he thereafter repents and refrains from committing that sin, his heart is cleansed. If he commits the sin again there appears another spot on his heart until his heart is fully covered. This is what is meant in the following verse of the Quran: “Nay, but that which they have earned is rust upon their hearts.” (Tirmidhi). This verse means that disobedience and sin has covered their hearts from all angles. 

The attitude men should adopt when addressing women has been described in this verse: “And when you ask of them (the wives of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh)) anything, ask it from them from behind a curtain. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.” (33: 54). 

Thus those women who have desire to display themselves and who freely mix with men in the markets, office etc. should fear Allah in this regard. Those men who allow and enjoy these actions of their women should also fear Allah. Men are responsible over their women and they will be questioned regarding the actions of their women on the day of Qiyamah.

Allah Ta’ala says in the Quran: “O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire whereof the fuel is men and stones…” (66: 7). These people should realize that through Pardah the society is kept chaste and pure and the non-observance of Pardah, free mixing of sexes, nudity and the desire to display destroys every society and makes it bereft of blessings and virtue.

Reformation of all the organs is dependent on the condition of the heart. If the heart is pure and perfect, all the organs will be pure and if there are impurities and evil in the heart then the rest of the organs also become impure and evil. Reformation of the heart is a surety for the reformation of all other organs. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) has said: “There is a piece of flesh in the human body, if it is pure the whole body will be pure and if it is evil the whole body would become evil, and it is the heart.” (Bukhari, Muslim).

If the heart is kept pure and if it is enlightened with Noor through obedience and worship, such a heart will be able to differentiate between evil and virtue. Suspicion and doubt will not enter such a heart. Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said: “Good and virtuous deeds are those which give contentment to the heart while evil actions remove contentment and tranquility from the heart.” (Musnad Ahmad).

As for the successful and fortunate hearts, it is after accepting Iman that success and fortune is achieved by the heart and thus is saved from the evils, and revolts and mischief (fitna). Hazrat Huzaifa (ra) reports that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) has said: “Like thread is weaved onto a carpet, fitna will be presented to the heart. A black spot will appear on the heart that entertains these fitna and a white spot will appear on the heart that does not entertain these evils until the heart is divided into two. One; a pure and white heart that no evil will enter till the Day of Qiyamah and the other a black heart like a container turned around, it will not recognize virtuous acts nor will it speak out against evil. It will accept things that please its evil and wicked desires.” (Muslim).

KINDS OF HEARTS:

Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) has said: “There are four types of hearts.

1. A clean and pure heart wherein radiates light. This is a Mumin’s heart.

2. A black heart. This is a non-believer’s heart.

3. A veiled heart… a heart that is covered. This is a Munafiq’s heart.

4. A bent heart which has Iman and Nifaaq.

The example of Iman in his heart is like green vegetation being watered by fertile water. And the example of Nifaaq is like an injury from which flows blood and pus. His abode will be decided by whichever overpowers the other.” (Musnad Ahmad & Tabarani).

There are five kinds of hearts:

1. The dead heart.

2. An ill heart.

3. A negligent heart.

4. A vigilant heart.

5. A safe and sound heart.

If the heart is engrossed in the world it becomes a failure, if it is engrossed in the hereafter it is successful and if it is engrossed in the remembrance of Allah it melts.

My dear brothers, sisters, it’s time to end my Khutba Jummah here for today and I pray, may Allah (swt) give me the Tawfiq and Ilm to continue the same topic of my Khutba Jummah next Friday, Insha-Allah. You see how very important a topic this is, that if we Muslims clean our hearts, then all problems in this world, (religious, mundane, familial, of the good believers etc.) can be solve. Insha-Allah. Ameen.

- Friday Sermon of October 24, 2014 delivered by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius.