I don’t know how to thank My Creator, for He keeps
increasing my knowledge on this subject and today, Alhamdulillah Summa
Alhamdulillah I continue my Friday Sermon, on the remedies for the
diseases of the heart, and I start first of all with how to guard one’s heart
against the attack of the Satan (Shaytan). Shaytan creates doubts in the heart, therefore believing men should
distant these doubts with the Zikr (remembrance) of Allah
Ta’ala. They should not pay any attention to these doubts and distractions.
Doubts and distractions are the talks of the Satan which he instills in the
hearts of the believers.
It is reported in a Hadith that Shaytan will
come to one of you and say to you: “Who created you?”
The
person will reply “Allah has created me”. Shaytan will
then ask:“Who has created Allah?”
Thus if this question arises in
anyone’s heart, he should say:“I have brought faith in Allah and His
Messenger (pbuh). This thought will then go away”. (Musnad Ahmad)
The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) is reported to have
said: “Two causes take effect on the heart. One, the effect by the
angels in the form of truth and virtue, this is from Allah Ta’ala. One should
thank Allah Ta’ala for such effect. The other is from our enemy in the form of
rejecting the truth and avoiding virtuous acts. One who experiences these
effects should seek Allah’s protection from the accursed Satan.” The
Messenger of Allah (pbuh) then recited the following verse in a way of
supporting this Hadith: “Satan threatens you with poverty and orders
you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty.
And Allah is All-Embracing, All-Knowing.” (2: 269).” (Musnad Ahmad)
One will only gain salvation on the Day of Qiyamah if
his heart is pure from evil, diseases and those things, or persons besides
Allah (Ghairullah). Allah (swt) teaches the dua which
Hazrat Ibrahim (as) made before Allah Taala: “And abase me not on
the day when they are raised, the day when wealth and sons avail not (any man),
save him who bring unto Allah a pure heart.” (26: 88-90). Allah
Ta’ala has said after praising Hazrat Nuh (as) “And verily among
those who followed his (Noah’s) Way was Abraham. When he approached his Lord
with a sound heart.” (37: 84-85)
In Islam a pure heart is that heart which is pure
from Shirk (association of other partners with Allah), doubts,
distraction, hatred, jealousy, fraudulence, and dishonesty. It is a heart which
sacrifices its own happiness for the happiness of others, such a heart which is
not slave of its passions (nafs). The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) is reported to have
said: “He who has pride the equivalence of a mustard seed will not
enter Paradise (Jannah).” A person asked: “Man likes that his
attire be good.” The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) replied: “Allah
is beautiful. Beauty is liked by Him. Pride is rejection of truth and
despising and abusing others.” (Muslim).
Four organs are the primary organs of the human body:
1. Eyes
2. Tongue
3. Heart
4. Desire
Thus keep a control over your eyes, only see those
things which are licit (Halal). Do not cast your eyes on
illicit (Haram) things. Keep a control over your tongue. Do
not utter such things which are not in your heart. Keep a control over your
heart, there should be no hatred, jealousy and malice against fellow Muslims.
Keep a control over your desires. Do not be attracted to evil things. If you do
not possess these four qualities, you are deprived of virtue and most
unfortunate. Allah (swt) says in the Quran: “And Paradise will be
brought near to the righteous, not far off, (And a voice will say): This is
that which you were promised. (It is) for every penitent and heedful one, who
feared the Beneficent in secret and come (to Him) with a contrite heart.” (50:
32-34)
A contrite heart is a heart filled with sincerity and
continuously occupied with obedience to the commandment of Allah Ta’ala. Praising the virtuous and pious people and describing
their sincerity and humbleness Allah relates their supplications: “Our
Lord! Forgive us, and our brethren who came before us into the Faith, and leave
not, in our hearts, rancour (or sense of injury) against those who have
believed. Our Lord! Thou art indeed Full of Kindness, Most
Merciful." (59: 11).
To be free from the love of this world and its
inclinations is also among the signs of a contrite, pure and safe heart. Allah
may want to make you realize your weakness and shortcomings and that you may
realize your spiritual conditions by taking away from you the enjoyments and
sweetness of night prayers. So bow before Allah and engage yourself in Ibadah (worship
of Allah) so that you may be bestowed with the favours of this special feeling
of sweetness.
Allah Ta’ala says regarding Qiyamah, that due to
fear the hearts of the pious servants will be overturned: “They fear
a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned.” (24: 38) Due to the frightfulness, terror, horror, confusion
and bewilderment of the Day of Resurrection (Qiyamah) the
heart will thunder and the eye will be left to burst. “Warn them (Oh
Prophet) of the Day of the approaching (doom), when the hearts will be choking
the throats, (when) there will be no friend for the wrong-doers, nor any
intercessor who will be heard.” (40: 19). Qiyamah has been termed “Yaum-e-Azifah” (The Day of
the Approaching (Doom)) because it is very close. On this day the hearts
will choke due to the confusion, fear and uneasiness derived from its very
existence. Allah says: “On that day hearts will tremble, while eyes cast
down”. (79: 9-10); meaning that the hearts will be in fear, uneasiness
and confusion. Hazrat Umar (ra) has said: “If I had gold to the magnitude of
this world, I will give it in charity to be saved from the frightfulness of the
Day of Judgement.”
By the immense grace of Allah (swt), I hereby finish
my Friday Sermon on this subject. It is quite an extensive subject, and Insha-Allah,
if my Rab gives me the opportunity again later on to continue
on this subject Insha-Allah I will continue to delve in it to
make you better understand our heart and its connection with Allah. Insha-Allah.
I end with these supplications to our Rab (Allah):
Oh
my Rab, do not make us of
those who do not fear You. Nor of those who are negligent of Your remembrance.
Oh my Rab, save our hearts
from hypocrisy, our actions from pomp and show, our tongues from lies, and our
eyes from breach of trust, for you are All-Knowing regarding the treachery of
the eyes and the secrets of the hearts. Oh Allah, Oh Controller of hearts, keep
our hearts steadfast on your Deen.
Oh
my Rab have mercy
upon us and all the Muslims, my Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam; distant us from
enemies, trials, misfortunes and sufferings. Only You can save us from these.
No one but you can distant them from us. Assist us against the non-believers
and their ploys. Oh Allah, bring us back unto your beautiful Deen (Islam) with absolute
comfort and enjoyment. Ameen.
-Friday
Sermon of 21 November 2014 (27 Muharram 1436 Hijri) delivered by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of
Mauritius.