Oh Allah, grant me to
pay obeisance to You, open my breast to repentance through Your security and
grant me knowledge to continue the third part of my sermon on “The Heart” so
that the hearts of the pious (Muttaqi) and
the seekers of truth – those who are not hypocrites – may obtain from You light
coming down from the heavens, penetrating their hearts and giving them the much
sought, Tranquillity of the Heart. Ameen.
Tranquillity and
contentment of the heart lies in the remembrance of Allah the Almighty and in
the firmness and steadfastness of Iman (faith).
Allah the Almighty describes the speech of Hazrat Ibrahim (as) as thus: “My Rab (Lord), show me how you give
life to the dead.”
Allah said: “Do you not believe?”
He (Ibrahim) replied:
“Yes, but I ask so that my heart be at ease.” (2: 261) Meaning: O my Rab, my faith will become more firm by
witnessing with my eyes the manifestation of Your power.
Allah the
Almighty describes the request of the companions of Hazrat Isa (upon him be
peace) that Allah bestow upon them His blessing in the following verse: “We
wish to eat thereof that we may satisfy our hearts” (5: 114), meaning that “Our hearts may rest in peace and we become
more firm in our faith. If we see the blessing of Allah showered upon us, then
with the proofs we will grow richer in belief and acquire peace of heart.”
Allah the Almighty,
on the occasion of the battle of Badr promised assistance to the Muslims in the
following words. “Allah ordained this only as a message of good cheer for
you, and that thereby your hearts might be at rest - Victory comes only from
Allah, the Mighty, the Wise.” (3: 127). So that their hearts may not be
disturbed by the great numbers of the enemy and the small numbers of the
believers. Allah the Exalted says: “He it is Who sent down peace of
reassurance into the hearts of the believers that they might add faith unto
their faith.” (48: 5).
Allah the Almighty
has made peace and tranquillity of the heart a means of increasing faith and
reassurance of faith for the believers. The result of this reassurance is that
the believers will remain steadfast on occasion of war and hardship against the
disbelievers.
“And He (Allah) knew
what was in their hearts and He sent down peace of reassurance on them, and has
rewarded them with a near victory”. (48: 19).
“Those who have
believed and whose hearts have rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily in the
remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest!” (13: 29).
Through the
remembrance of Allah the hearts of believers gain peace and tranquillity.
Worry, disturbance and fear are the result of a heart void of the remembrance
of Allah the Almighty. Allah says regarding the Mushrikeen (polytheists). “And when Allah alone is
mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter are
repelled, and when those (whom they worship) beside Him are mentioned, behold!
They are glad.” (39: 46).
On hearing the name
of Allah and His Divine Unity (Tawheed) their
hearts (that is, those of the polytheists) show restraint but when the idols
are mentioned their hearts become happy and the effect of this is apparent on
their faces.
Allah the Exalted
reprimanded those believers who realized the truth but delayed themselves in
practising upon it. “Is not the time ripe for the hearts of those who
believe to submit to Allah's reminder and to the truth which is revealed…” (57:
17).
Hazrat Abdullah bin
Masud (May Allah be pleased with him) relates that the time between Allah’s
reprimand by means of this verse and their acceptance of Islam was only four
years.
Allah says: “They
are only the (true) believers who hearts feel fear when Allah is mentioned” (8:
3). And in other verses Allah says: “Verily in the remembrance of Allah do
hearts find rest!” (13: 29).
So it is possible
that one may find difficulty in understanding these two verses. In the one
instance “fear” is felt by the mention of Allah and on the other hand “rest” is
found in the remembrance of Allah. In reality there is no contradiction in
these verses, since fear is due to punishment and rest and tranquillity is due
to the reassurance, and firmness of faith (Iman). This is the pedestal of fear and hope which is explained
in one single verse.
“Allah has sent down
the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver
therefrom of those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their
hearts do soften to the celebration of Allah's praises (the remembrance of
Allah). Such is the guidance of Allah: He guides therewith whom He pleases. And
one whom Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide.” (39: 24).
Fear is experienced
due to the punishment of Allah but by means of the remembrance of Allah and the
hope of great rewards this fear is overcome with peace and tranquillity. This
change is only created in the hearts of the believers. It is reported in a
Hadith: “When man fears the
punishment of Allah his sins are discarded like the falling of dry leaves from
a tree”.
Hazrat Qatada (May
Allah be pleased with him) says: “This
is the quality of the men of God, which Allah has described. They fear the
punishment of Allah and through the remembrance of Allah gain peace and
tranquillity of the heart.” Allah
did not say they lose their senses, get “haal” etc. These are acts of
innovators and the effects of Shaitan (Satan)”.
Allah the Exalted
describes His favoured servant in the following words: “And those who give
that which they give with hearts afraid because they are about to return unto
their Lord” (23: 61).
They did good and
feared that their deeds should not be rejected. It is reported from Hazrat
Ayesha (May Allah be pleased with her) that she asked the Messenger of Allah
(peace be upon him): “Oh
Messenger of Allah, is it meant those who drink wine and steal in this verse?” The
Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) replied: “No daughter of Siddiq (the Truthful – Hazrat Abu Bakr) it is those who
fast, give charity and fear that their deeds should not be rejected. These are
the people who surpass in virtue…”
So my dear brothers
and sisters, the subject of my Friday Sermon is vast, so I stop it here for
today, and I pray to my Rab that He gives me the Tawfiq to continue on the same subject of my sermon next
Friday, Insha-Allah. The
subject of this Friday Sermon and those done on the same subject during the
past weeks are so important that I have no doubt that Allah the Almighty
Himself who has sent these words as if divine rain is falling on me, shall help
my beloved disciples around the world to compile it in booklet form (in the
different languages) for the benefit of one and all. Insha-Allah.
Insha Allah, May Allah bless all of them in this noble
work. And may Allah help my dear disciples around the world who face trials and
difficulties for His cause, who wish to find tranquillity and peace with the
blessings of Allah in this era of Divine Manifestation. May Allah enable them
to successfully find this peace and tranquillity with His divine help and
succour, Insha-Allah, Ameen.
- Friday Sermon of October 10, 2014 (15 Dhul-Hijjah 1435
Hijri) delivered by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius.