Prominence of Qalb (3)

Magpie said, "The heart relative to knowledge is like a cup relative to water, a jar relative to honey, or a valley relative to a flood. Hearts carry knowledge from Allah, and levels of certainty according to the amount of doubts. As for the doubts, doing good deeds does not benefit while they exists. On the other hand, Allah benefits the people of certainty by it."

Some of the salaf said, "The hearts are Allah's vessels on His earth. The most beloved of them to Allah is the most sensitive and pure." Allah's vessels means “containers created by Allaah”, and not “vessels containing Allah.”

So, if the heart is sensitive and soft, it easily accepts knowledge, and the knowledge then becomes firmly rooted in it and the heart is affected by it. On the other hand, if the heart is hard and harsh, it is difficult for it to accept knowledge.

Along with that, the heart must be pure and healthy, so that knowledge can grow and bear good fruit in it. Otherwise, if it accepts knowledge, and it has in it mud and filth, it will corrupt the knowledge and be like weeds in cultivation. If it does not prevent the seed from sprouting along with it, it will at least hinder its growth and flowering. This point is clear to those who reflect.

If the heart is utilized for knowing the truth, it has two sides, first, a side that advances towards the truth, the heart is being soft and sensitive, and consequently, it is attracted to the truth. From this

perspective, the heart is referred to as a container and a vessel because that name necessitates what it contains and what is placed in it.

Second, a side that turns away from falsehood. From this perspective, the heart is referred to as being pure, healthy and clean. Because these names infer the absence of evil and the non-existence of filth and mud.

Al-Hasan al-Basree once told a man, “ Cure your heart, for Allah desires that His slaves should purify their hearts.” The heart cannot become purified until the person knows Allah, extols Him, loves Him, fears Him, has hope in Him and trusts Him, and his heart is filled with these attributes. This is the true realization of the statement, “Laa ilaaha illallaah." The “healthy heart” is one of the criteria for success in the next life."

Eagle asked, ""What the main causes that lead to a hardened heart?" Magpie said, "First, ignoring Allah’s signs. Human hearts become hardened whenever they ignore the signs of Allah. The signs of Allah are for human guidance. Consequently, when they are deliberately and consistently ignored, the heart becomes hardened to them and they have no effect. Allah’s signs are all around humans and even within themselves. Before, during and after a person commits a sin, a variety of warning signals go off like alarms. Prior to commiting a sin the innate conscience recognizes the sin, so the potential sinner can stop himself or herself before the thought becomes an act. This onscience is the awareness of good and evil which Allah insired in each and every human heart. Then again, as the potential sinner plods ahead ignoring his conscience, the angel assigned to every person advises him not to go ahead. Following the spiritual signs, Allah then sends a series of physical signs to discourage the potential sinner. The physical signs could be, another person’s advice, a telephone call, a flat tire, etc.They give the potential sinner a chance to rethink what he is about to do. If he reverses his decision he earns for himself a reward from Allah. Even while actually doing the sin, further signs are sent so that the sinner can stop before completing the act. And after the sin, other signs are sent to encourage the sinner to repent. When these signs are continually ignored, the heart develops a shell which effectively seals it off from the signs and their effects.

Second, breaking Allah’s Covenant. The “covenant” refers to Salaah, zakaah, belief in the prophets, honoring, obeying and assisting them.In thecase of Salaah, the Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The covenant between us and them is Salaah, whoever abandons it has become a disbeliever.” Those who only pray on Fridays, or during Ramadaan, have broken their covenant and contact with Allah. Consequently, the prescribed prayers will not have the intended effect of preventing sins as Allah said, “ Indeed prescribed prayer prevents evil speech and evil deeds.” The heart which daily commits sins by neglecting prayer becomes fossilized and impermeable to its spiritual effects. As a result, the act and words of formal prayers become customary rituals done for every reason except to communicate with Allah and to please Him. Likewise, obedience to the prophets is a critical element of the covenant of faith with Allah.

Third, ignoring trials. Allah sends trials to strengthen the believers, or to remind those of them who have strayed to return to the straight path and the disbelievers to find the true religion of Allah, or as a punishment for hypocrites and those unable to benefit from the reminder.

Tests sometimes serve as a punishing reminder to those who have gone astray and an encouragement for them to return to the correct path. When people deviate, they seldom listen to the advice of those around them. However, when a calamity strikes them or those near and dear to them, it jolts those who still have some faith into recognizing their error.

Calamities also expose those who falsely claim faith, as well as show those who disbelieve that they choose hell by their own free will. There have been cases of people converting to Islam for the wrong reasons, and, after finding more difficulties in their lives than prior to their conversion, reverting to their former beliefs.

Those who transgress the limits set by Allah, expose themselves to punishment in this life and the next. Throughout the Qur’an, Allah describes numerous past nations who rejected divine guidance and were subsequently destroyed. These stories serve as warnings to humankind of the consequences of rebellion against the commandments of Allah. The trials cause those who are sincere about life, to be humble, to contemplate their states and to correct their errors. However, if the trials are continually ignored, the proud and arrogant heart becomes inoculated to the warnings opposed to guidance and hardened in its stance against the truth.

Fourth, oppression or dhulm. The greatest form of oppression is shirk. One who is accustomed to calling on others besides Allah and finds his needs fulfilled will have great difficulty giving this practise up. His heart becomes hardened to the message of the prophets; to worship Allah alone. In defense of idolatry, Satan has prepared many excuses that become a trial for both disbelievers and believers.

Fifth, remembrance of Allah has no effect. Those who, when reminded of Allah and His commands, turn away, and scoff at and scorn those who remind them, their hearts have become hardened to the remembrance of Allah.The various religious obligations were prescribed primarily to keep human beings conscious of Allah in order to help them make the right choices in life. Likewise, all acts of righteousness are forms of remembrance of Allah, as it is He who guided humans to them through His prophets and messengers.

Sixth, repeated Sins over time. The Prophet (ﷺ) warned against scorning any sins saying, “ Beware of scorned sins” When a person develops the habit of ignoring minor sins, his heart becomes progressively hardened to sin in general and major sins then become easy for him to commit. By being conscious of the smallest of sins and scrupiously avoiding them, the believer becomes firmly protected from major sins.

On the other hand, if one does not make a conscious effort to revive one’s faith and reflect on one’s actions, even pure and sincere acts of worship can deteriorate into blind rituals over time. As is said, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” The mind shifts into automatic mode and the body performs according to commands, while the heart dies."

[Part 2]

[Part 1] 

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Reference :
- Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, Commentary on Ibn Taymiyyah's Essay on the Heart, Dakwah Corner Bookstore (M) SDN BHD