importance of freeing the heart from spite: Slaves of Allaah! Islam
encourages making reconciliation between people in order to maintain
good relations amongst the Muslims, to spread love and to keep the
hearts ofMuslims free from spite. Allaah Says (what means): "So fear
Allaah and amend that which is between you" [Quran 8: 1].
Additionally, Islam ordains all that which spreads mutual love and
frees the hearts from spite, as in the narration of Abu Hurayrah who
reported that the Prophet said: "You will not enter Paradise until you
believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall
Iguide to that which would make you love one another? Spread greetings
(Salaam) abundantly amongst yourselves" [Muslim]
The Prophet was asked: "Who are the best type of people?" He replied:
"A person who is truthful in his speech and Makhmoom in his heart"
People asked: "We know what is truthful speech, but what is a
Makhmoomheart?" The Prophet responded saying: "It is a pure pious
heart that does not have envy, evil or spite." [Ibn Maajah]
Spite has greatly increased amongst people today, resulting inthe
severing of relations and in people holding grudges against each
other. This is in spite of the fact that Allaah has made legislations,
which would prevent this from happening. For example, a Muslim is
allowed to request a fellow Muslim who wants to visit him toreturn at
a later time. In normal situations, peoplewould not appreciate someone
not allowing them entry when they visit them, but since Allaah The
All-Knowing, knows that people might have certain circumstances that
wouldnot allow them to receivevisitors, He legislated this to protect
people's heartsfrom holding grudges due to this. Allaah Says (what
means): "And if it is said to you, "Go back (Or a similarexpression
showing that the occupants are not prepared to receive visitors)" then
go back; it is purer for you" [Quran 24: 28]. This is a way to condole
the person who was not granted permission to enter, lest he feels
insulted or saddened, and a means to protect the hearts from spite.
This is why some of the Salaf used to be happy when they went visiting
someone and were not permitted in, because they sought the consequence
of returning mentioned in the above verse --which is the promise of
becoming purer (i.e. in their hearts).
Having pure hearts that are free from spite is a bounty and a blessing
from Allaah which He grants to the dwellers of Paradise upon their
entryinto it. Allaah Says (what means): "And We will remove whatever
is in their chests of resentment (i.e. ill will or ill feelings
towards one another), [so they will be] brothers, on thrones facing
each other." [Quran 15: 47]
In addition to a pure heart being a blessing and a bounty from Allaah,
it is also a source of comfort. This is why Islam puts great emphasis
on purification of the heart from spite, so that people can live
together in peace and harmony.
The great importance attached to this issue is because it is a
difficult state to achieve all the time. A person may have a strong
will which enables him to wake up in the middle of the nightto offer
optional night prayers, but he may not be strong enough to overcome
some of his bad feelings towards his fellow Muslims.
Undoubtedly, this quality is a praiseworthy one indeed; Allaah praised
the Ansaar (i.e. the residents of Madeenah) for possessing such a
quality saying (which means): "They [i.e. the Ansaar] find not any
[ill] feelings in their chests [i.e. hearts] of what they were given
[i.e. the Muhaahireen-emigrants from Makkah] but give [them]
preference over themselves, even though they arein privation." [Quran
59: 9] When Allaah favored the Muhaajireen with certainthings, the
Ansaar did notfeel any objection to this,nor did they harbor any ill
feelings or envy towards their brothers infaith for being
distinguished with these favors. Instead, they favored them over their
own selves with whatever they had, even if they themselves were in
need of what they offered.
The following great storyreflects the rank of possessing a pure heart
that is free from spite, and that it is a blessing from Allaah. Anas
Ibn Maalik narrated: "We were sitting with the Prophet once when
hesaid: "A man from the dwellers of Paradise will walk in now" so a
man from the Ansaar (i.e. residents of Madeenah) walked in whose beard
was dripping from the effect of ablution and who heldhis slippers with
his left hand. The next day the Prophet said the same thing, and the
same man walked in. On the third day, the Prophet said the same thing,
and the same man once again walked in. When the Prophet left the
gathering, 'Abdullaah Ibn'Amr followed that man and said to him: `I
had a misunderstanding with my father and swore not to stay in his
house three nights, so if you permit me I would like to spend these
three nights with you` The man said: `Yes, I permit you.`"
Anas added: "'Abdullaah Ibn 'Amr told us that he spent three nights
and did not noticethat the man prayed the optional night prayers
during any of these nights, but if he woke up during the night, he
would simply mention Allaah. Nonetheless, I never heard him utter
except good things, so when the three nights finished, I almost
belittled his deeds (as they were insignificant) and I said to him: `O
slaveof Allaah! There was not dispute between me and my father or
anger, but I heard the Prophet saying thrice: "A man from the dwellers
of Paradise will walkin now" and you walked in all three times, so I
wanted to sleep in your place to see what you do in order to imitate
you, but I did not see that you exert extra effort in performing any
extra deeds. How did you reach such status to deserve what the Prophet
said about you?` He replied: `My deeds are nothing more than what you
saw` Thenwhen I left, he called me back in and said: `My deeds are
nothing more than what you saw, but the only thing I do is that I do
not hold any grudge against any Muslim or envy anyone for what
bounties Allaah has granted them`; thereupon 'Abdullaah Ibn'Amr said
to him: "This difficult quality to obtain is what granted you this
rank". [Ahmad]
The keenness of the Salaf tohave pure hearts: It is not an easy task
for someone to maintain a heart free from spite and hold no grudges
against anyone. On the other hand, it is not an impossible mission
either, and can be achieved with training, practice and constant
striving.
The companions were very keen to remove any bad feelings from the
hearts of their brothers towards them. `Aa'ith Ibn`Amr Al-Muzani
reported: "Abu Sufyaan passed by Salmaan, Suhayb and Bilaal and some
other Companions (after the conquest of Makkah, when he was still a
disbeliever). They said to him: "The swords of Allaah did not exact
their due from the foes of Allaah?'' Abu Bakr said to them: "Do you
speak like this to the chief of the Quraysh and their master?'' Then
he went to the Prophet and related this to him. He said: "O Abu Bakr!
Perhaps you have angered them. If so, you have angered your Lord". Abu
Bakr rushed back to them and said: "Omy brothers! Did I offend you?''
They replied: "No. May Allaah forgive you, brother".
[Muslim]
This proves that a person must rush to make amends and apologize for
his actions, if he fears that a fellow Muslim was offended or his
feelings were hurt, to make sure his brother's heart remains pure
towards him. The one who is being apologized to mustaccept without
delay andcomfort his brother, and assure him that he is not holding
any grudge against him and supplicate for him as the companions did
with AbuBakr all.
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