By Ibraaheem al-Haazimee
An superb introduction by the compiler of
Amraadul-Quloob of Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah.
A straight-forward guide showing the Muslim how
to keep his/her heart pure for the Sake of
Allaah.
If one were to come across a verse concerning
the Mercy of Allaah then he would hope for this
Mercy and ask for it. If one were to come across
a verse threatening with punishment then he
would fear this and seek refuge with Allaah from
it.
Compiler’s Introduction to Diseases of the
Hearts and Their Cures
Ibnul-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him,
said: “The keys to the life of the heart lie in
reflecting upon the Qur‘aan, being humble before
Allaah in secret, and leaving sins.” [1] Allaah,
the Most High, said:
“A Book which We have sent down to you, full of
blessings that they may ponder over its verses,
and that men of understanding may take heed.” [Soorah
Saad 38:29]
So Allaah informed us that He sent down this
Great Qur‘aan, blessed in its wording, meaning,
commands, prohibitions and regulations. Amongst
its blessings is that the one who recites even
one word of it then he has a reward, and this
reward is increased tenfold, as mentioned in the
hadeeth reported by at-Tirmidhee, and at-Tirmidhee
said that it is hasan saheeh. Also amongst its
blessings is that the one who reads it and actts
upon it shall not be misguided in this world,
nor fall into distress and misery in the
Hereafter as stated by Ibn ’Abbaas (radiyallaahu
’anhu) in the commentary to the verse,
“Whoever follows My guidance shall neither go
astray nor fall into distress and misery.” [Taa
Haa (20):123]
Amongst its blessings is also that the one who
learns it and teaches it is from the best of
people as occurs in the hadeeth reported by al-Bukhaaree,
“The best of you is the one who learns the
Qur‘aan and then teaches it.” [2]
Amonsgt its blessings is that it will be an
intercessor on the Day of Judgement for its
companions who used to act by it in this world
as occurs in the two ahaadeeth reported by
Muslim in his Saheeh. [3] He, the Exalted
informed us that He revealed the Qur‘aan 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 Allaah then he would hope for this
Mercy and ask for it.
If one were to come across a verse threatening
with punishment then he would fear this and seek
refuge with Allaah from it. If one were to come
across a verse concerning the glorification of
Allaah then he would glorify Allaah, and through
this faith, knowledge, guidance and taqwaa will
increase. Allaah said while describing the
believers,
“And when His verses are recited unto them, they
increase their faith.” [Sooratul-Anfaal 8:2]
Due to their containing promises and threats
that motivate hope and fear; and Allaah, the
Most High, said,
“Do they not ponder over the Qur'aan or are
there locks upon their hearts?”[Soorah Muhammad
47:24]
Amongst the ways of giving life to the heart is
to be humble to Allaah in secret. Meaning to
desire and long for Allaah through supplication,
seeking forgiveness, turning to Him, asking for
victory, Paradise and shelter from Hellfire at
the time when Allaah descends to the lowest
Heaven in the last third of the night, as occurs
in the authentic hadeeth, “Our Lord descends tot
he 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?” [4]
This hadeeth 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 Allaah has commanded us with
supplication and promisd to reply, and He who is
far removed from imperfection, does not break
His promises. Amongst the times that this reply
will be attained is the last part of the night,
and this is a blessing that Allaah bestows upon
whomsoever He wishes, and Allaah 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 hadeeth,
“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 returns to sin the black spot grows until his
heart becomes black, and this is the ‘raan’
about which Allaah spoke,
“Nay! But on their hearts is the covering of
sins (raan) which they used to earn.”
[Sooratul-Mutaffifeen 83:14]
The poet said,
‘I 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.’
Footnotes:
[1] Haadiyyul-’Arwaah ilaa Bilaadil-Afraah (p.
45) of Ibnul-Qayyim.
[2] Related by al-Bukhaaree (6/501)
[3] Related by Muslim (2/385)
[4] Related by al-Bukhaaree (no. 9474) and
Muslim (no. 758)
[5] Hasan Saheeh: Related by an-Nisaa‘ee and
at-Tirmidhee (1/128), who said it was Hasan
Saheeh.
