Part 4

Ao te Ar eet oe ainget A SARE, “ -. whoever follows My guidance shall neither go

astray nor fall into distress and misery. [S#rab Ta Ha (20):123]

Amongst its blessings is that the one who learns it and teaches it is from the best of people as occurs in the hadith reported by al-Bukhari,

The best of you is the one who learns the Qur’in and then teaches it. *

Amongst its blessings is that it will be an intercessor on the

? Referring to the hadith repotted by Ibn Mas‘tid (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), that the Messenger of Allah (8) said, ‘The one who recites a word of the Qur’an shall get one reward which then is incteased tenfold. I do not say that Alf Lam Mim is a word, but Affis a word, Lam is a word, and Mim is a word.’

Reported in Riyad as-Saihin [Eng. Trans. 2/62 no. 106], Mishkat al-Masabih [Eng Trans. 1/452], Al-Tirmidhi [no. 2912] and ad-Dariimi. It is Sahih. Refer to as-Sabibah (no. 660] and the notes of Shu‘ayb al-Atna’iit to Zad a-Maad of Ibn al-Qayyim [1/339]. [Translator’s Note]

> Sahih al-Bukhart (6/501 no. 545}.

Day of Judgement for its companions who used to act by it in this world as occurs in the two abadith reported by Muslim in his Sahib. *

He, the Exalted informed us that He revealed the Qur’an 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 Allah then he would hope for this Mercy and ask for it. If one wete to come across a verse threatening with punishment then he would fear this and seek refuge with Allah from it. If one were to come across a verse concerning the glorification of Allah then he would glorify Allah, and through this faith, knowledge, guidance and ¢agwa will increase. Allah said while describing the believers,

*See also the chapter, The Excellence of Reciting the Qur’n’ in Riyad as-Salibin. Referring to the hadith of Aba Umamah (radiyAlabu ‘anhu), that he heard the Messenger of Allab (:¥) say: ‘Recite the Qur'an, for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite it. Recite the two bright ones, al-Bagarah and Al-'Imran, for on the Day of Resurrection they will come as two clouds or two shades, or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading for those who recite them. Recite Sarah al-Bagarah, for to take recourse to itis a blessing and to give it up is a cause of grief, and the magicians cannot confront it.”

And the hadith of an-Nawwas (radiyAllahu ‘anhu), that he heard the Messenger of Allah (8) saying: ‘On the Day of Resurrection the Qur’an and those who acted according to it will be brought with seerah al-Bagarah and ALLmran preceding them.’ The Messenger of Allah (8) likened them to three things, which I did not forget afterwards. ‘Two clouds or two black canopies with light between them, or like two flocks of birds in ranks pleading for one who recited them.’ Sahih Muslim [Eng, Trans. 2/385-386 no. 1757, 1759] [Translator’s Note]

The Keys to the Life of the Heart

And when His verses are recited unto them, they increase their faith. [seerah Anfal (8) + 2] Due to their containing promises and threats that motivate hope and fear; and Allah, the Most High, said,

A ae ne pobees sere OR EOI LCC NS) RSAAINT ISOS Do they not ponder over the Qur’an or are there locks upon their hearts? [Sérah 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 Allah through supplication, seeking forgiveness, turning to Him, asking for victory, Paradise and shelter from Hellfire at the time when Allah descends to the lowest Heaven in the last third of the night, as occurs in the authentic hadith,

Our Lord descends to the 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? §

This Aadith 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 Allah has commanded us with supplication and promised to reply, and He who is far removed from imperfection, does not break His promises. Amongst the

5 Sahih al-Bukhari [no. 9474] and Muslim [no. 758].

times that this reply will be attained is the last part of the night, and this is a blessing that Allah bestows upon whomsoever He wishes, and Allah 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 hadith,

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 returris to sin the black spot grows until his heart becomes black, and this is the ‘ran’ about which Allah spoke,

Nay! But on their hearts i is the covering of sins (ran) which they used to earn. [Sarab ul-Mutaffifin 83:14] ©

The poet said,

‘T 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.’

° Reported by an-Nasa’i and Al-Tirmidhi [1/128], who said it was asain sahil.

The Ailments of the Hearts and their Cures

The hearts are three types:

(i) The correct heart that is secure from all desires that oppose the command of Allah and His prohibitions, and it is secure form all doubts that contradict what He informs. Just as it is secure from worshipping anything else besides Allah and from seeking judgement from any person other than His Messenger.

(ii) The dead heart, this being the opposite of the correct heart containing no life, neither knowing its Lord nor worshipping Him.

(tit) The heart that has some life but also has a defect. So it contains love of Allah, faith in Him, sincerity and trust towards Him from those things that are essential to it remaining alive. It also contains the love of vain desires and preference for them, despicable morals and manners from those things that cause it to die, and it is continously wavering between these two conditions.

So the first type of heart is the living, humble, soft and gentle

heart. The second is the dry, harsh and dead heart. The third is the heart which is diseased, it can either be made secure or have

its destruction sealed.

All of the diseases of the heart are founded upon desires and doubts. The life of the heart and its illumination is the cause of all good to be found in it and its death and darkness is the cause of all evil to be found in it.

The heart can never be alive and correct except through cognisance of the truth, loving it and preferring it to everything else. There can never be any happiness, joy or correction for it, unless it makes its sole object of worship and desire Allah alone.

This can never be perfected except through purification of heart, repentance, and its relinquishing itself from all types of false love and despicable manners. This can never be attained except through striving hard against one’s soul that incites towards evil, and bringing it to account and combating the satans from among the jinn by holding fast to Allah; knowing their plots and objectives, and safeguarding oneself from them through remembrance of Allah, the Exalted, and seeking refuge with Him from them. '

The heart becoming defective and weak revolves around two basic matters: the corruption of knowledge and the corruption of intent. These in turn lead to two destructive illnesses - anger and misguidance. Misguidance being the end result of the corruption of intent. So these two diseases are the lords of all the ailments that afflict the heart. Its cure lies in guidance based on knowledge. Guidance based on knowledge is to know the truth and to follow it. The whole of the Qur’an is a cure for these two

' Refer to [ghatha al Lahfan of Ibn al-Qayyim [1/7-10] and Majmii' Fatawa of Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah [10/91-149].

The Ailments of the Hearts and their Cures

diseases and others and it contains perfect guidance.’

* Refer to Tarig alWisi tla al-‘ lm al-Ma‘ mul bi Ma‘ rifab al-Qawa' id wa ad-Dawabit wa al-Usal of Ibn as-Sa‘di [p204].

Verses of the Qur’an concerning Healing

Allah, the Most High, said,

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He will heal the breast of a believing folk. [Sérah Tawbah (9) : 14]

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And when I become sick, He heals me. [Sarab Shu‘ara (26) : 80] (ut)

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.. There has come unto you an exhortation from your Lord, a healing for that which is in your

Verses of the Qur'an concerning Healing

breasts, a guidance and mercy for the believers. [Sarah Yunus (10) : 57]

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Mes ala aid L727 Gee Zag ceed ap Bog oe Q) GEE) obalapY Geellanys And We reveal of the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy for the believers... [Sarah Isra’ (17) : 82]

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he 2 It is a guidance and a healing for those who believe.

[Sarah Fussilat (41) : 44]

Zs, MR EOE weg Fae sare There comes forth from their bellies a drink of diverse hues wherein is healing for mankind.

[Sarah Nabl (16) : 69]

Concerning the Ailments of the Hearts and their Cures

Indeed all praise is due to Allah, we seek His help, and we seek His forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and the evil of our actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide, and whomsoever Allah misguides, none can guide. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except for Allah, the One Who has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.

Allah the Exalted said about the hypocrites,

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Z can at e553 HF ae SG In their hearts is a disease and Allah has increased