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How does the Heart fast?
"...and whosoever believes in Allâh, He guides his heart [to the true Faith with certainty, i.e. what has befallen him was already written for him by Allâh from the Qadar (Divine Preordainments)]... Qur'an: (64:11) The guidance of the heart is the basis of all guidance, the law of all success, the origin of every deed and head of every action. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wasalam) said: 'Truly there is a piece of flesh in the body which, if it be wholesome, the whole body will be healthy and which, and if it be diseased the whole body will be diseased. Truly it is the heart.' Thus the goodness of your heart is the guarantee of your happiness in this world and in the hereafter. Likewise, its corruption is the surest way to destruction, the extent of which only Allah knows. Verily, therein is indeed a reminder for him who has a heart or gives ear while he is heedful. Qur'an: (50:37) Every creature has a heart. In reality though they are two hearts, a heart that is alive and pulsating with the light of faith. It is filled with intense conviction and God-consciousness. The other is a dead heart, covered and diseased with every wreckage and rubbish. Allah Almighty says concerning the hearts of the foolish folk: In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allâh has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies. Qur'an: (2:10) And they say, "Our hearts are wrapped (i.e. do not hear or understand Allâh's Word)." Nay, Allâh has cursed them for their disbelief, so little is that which they believe. Qur'an: (2:88). Allah also says: Do they not then think deeply in the Qur'ân, or are their hearts locked up (from understanding it) ?' Qur'an: (47:24). And they say: "Our hearts are under coverings (screened) from that to which you invite us, and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a screen, so work you (on your way); verily, we are working (on our way)." Qur'an: (41:5). From all these verses we learn that the hearts can become ill, they can be covered, locked and they die. The enemies of Allah have hearts in their bosoms but they do not perceive with these hearts. Hence the Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wasalam) used to say: 'O dispenser of hearts make my heart firm in Your religion.' The heart of the believer fasts during Ramadan and outside of Ramadan. The fasting of the heart is done by emptying it of all corrupt material such as destructive forms of polytheism, false beliefs, evil suggestions, filthy intentions and degenerate thoughts. The heart of the believer is adorned with the love of Allah. It knows its Lord by His names and His qualities as He has described Himself. This heart explores with a discerning eye the lines of His names and qualities and the pages of Allah's making in the universe and the books of His creations. The believer's heart is filled with a brilliant light which does not allow any darkness to remain with it. It is the light of the eternal message, the divine teachings, and the omnipotent laws. To it is added the natural light upon which the servants of Allah were created. Thus two great lights come together 'Light upon light! God guides unto His light him that wills [to be guided]; and [to this end] God propounds parables unto men, since God [alone] has full knowledge of all things' Qur'an: (24:36) The believer's heart glows like a lamp, shines like the sun and sparkles like the morning light. It increases in faith whenever the believer listens to the verses of the Quran, it grows in conviction when it contemplates, and increases in guidance when it reflects. The believer's heart abstains from pride because it breaks its fast. Pride does not reside in the heart of a believer because it is unlawful. The abode and dwelling place of pride is the heart. Hence, if it enters any heart, that person will become afflicted, foolish, arrogant and frivolous. Allah Almighty says in a hadith Qudsi: 'Pride is my upper garment and grandeur is my lower one, whoever contests with me for them I will punish him.' The Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wasalam) himself said: 'Whoever shows arrogance to Allah, He will humble him, and whoever is humble to Allah, He will raise him in station.' The heart of the believer fasts and abstains from egotism. Egotism is when the individual sees himself as perfect, better than others and in possession of good qualities that are not found in anyone else. This is destruction in its most naked form. The Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wasalam) said: 'Three things which are totally destructive: a person's self-centeredness and conceit, his reluctance to obey and his following of his desires.' The cure for this self-importance is to look at one's own faults, one's many shortcomings, thousands of sins and misdeeds that one has committed, wrongs that one has done and forgotten but the knowledge of which are with Allah in a book. For Allah is not led astray nor does He forget. The heart of the believer fasts and abstains from envy because it lowers righteous deeds, puts out the light of the heart and stops its progress toward Allah the Most High. Allah says in the Glorious Quran: Or do they envy men (Muhammad (sallallahu alayhe wasalam) and his followers) for what Allâh has given them of His Bounty? Qur'an: (4:54). And the Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wasalam) said: 'Do not envy one another; do not inflate prices one to another; do not hate one another; do not turn away from one another; and do not undercut one another.' The Prophet (sallallahu alayhe wasalam) informed one of his
companions three times that he would be among the people of 'I do not sleep with envy, grudge or deceit in my heart for any Muslim.' Are there any hearts that would, therefore, fast like the learned. The fast of the learned has a yearning for the Most Merciful Lord of the worlds. Their hearts fast at all times and in the early hours of morning they seek forgiveness. O Allah guide our hearts to the straight path and make it firm on faith, O Lord of the worlds. ---------------------------------------- Dr. Ibrahim Dremali www.dremali.com |
