Soul Purification, - Hardness of Heart

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:-> The hard heart is that which contains a mixture of harshness and toughness; a heart that is void of submission and the sense of turning to Allah The Exalted in repentance at all times. This is the severest punishment ever. This is why the disbelievers are punished with having a hard and harsh heart. Maalik ibn Deenaar, May Allah Have mercy upon him, said in this regard, "Allah The Almighty Punishes the wrongdoers in their hearts and bodies as well. They are punished with a hard and miserable life and laziness and indolence in carrying out acts of worship. However, there is no punishment that is severer than having a hard heart." ]Hilyat Al-Awliyaa’[ Furthermore, Imaam Al-Mar‘ashi, May Allah Have mercy upon him, stressed the same meaning saying, "No one was afflicted by a severer calamity than having a hard heart." ]Hilyat Al-Awliyaa’[ Dear readers, let us ponder over what Allah The Exalted Says )which means(:}Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth, and there are some of them that split open and water comes out, and there are some of them that fall down for fear of Allah. And Allah Is not unaware of what you do.{]Quran 2:74[ This verse refers to the story of the children of Israel and the miracle of reviving the murdered man and to all the examples, warnings and adversities that had befallen the Children of Israel. Those Divine Miracles would cause huge mountains to shake and solid rocks to dissolve! Actually, it was worthier of their hearts to be softened by such amazing miracles, yet they did not. Allah The Exalted Clarified that their hearts had become more of rocks and even worse in hardness due to the fact that they rejected Imaan after knowing and understanding the requirements of attaining Imaan and its conditions. Hence, these hearts were like rocks and even worse in hardness. Indeed, rocks are a good example that people use to indicate hardness. Yet, Allah The Exalted Excluded some rocks from that absolute hardness, but Did not Exclude the hearts of the children of Israel. Allah The Exalted Says )what means(:}For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth, and there are some of them that split open and water comes out, and there are some of them that fall down for fear of Allah.{]Quran 2:74[ Let us reflect on this description of the one who has a hard heart. Allah The Exalted Says )what means(:}… and his sin has encompassed him…{]Quran 2:81[ This means that his sins and wrongdoings have encompassed him totally from all sides until he was surrounded with his own sins and wrongdoings from all directions. These sins and wrongdoings worked as a separator that detached him from all that is around him. Undeniably, this is clearly evident when a sinner does not repent of his sin, he is tempted to commit it more and more. This incites him to preoccupy himself exclusively and be wholly taken up with committing such sins and even graver sins and wrongdoings. Hence, sins subdue and overwhelm such a person totally and take hold of his heart entirely. Accordingly, he becomes inherently inclined to committing sins, liking and loving them, believing that this is the ultimate and optimal way to relish happiness and pleasure, disliking all who would come on his way in attaining that fake happiness and joy, and disbelieving anyone who would advise him to avoid such sins. Allah The Exalted Says )what means(:}Then the end of those who did evil was the worst ]consequence[ because they denied the Signs of Allah and used to ridicule them.{]Quran 30:10[ Regrettably, this man's sins become like a thick tent that screen everything around him. He no longer senses or thinks of the fact that Allah The Exalted Sees him all the time. He loses sight of the enduring pleasures in Paradise, the promised and anticipated punishment in Hellfire, the evil schemes of the devil that are all set to mislead Mankind, and the pity of the kind angels. Such a sinner fails to notice all these facts while being wholly lost in his sins and wrongdoings. The Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:"When an adulterer commits illegal sexual intercourse, then he is not a believer at the time he is doing it, and when a drinker of an alcoholic liquor drinks it, he is not a believer at the time of drinking it, and when a thief steals, he is not a believer at the time of stealing, and when a robber robs, and the people look at him, he is not a believer at the time of doing robbery."]Al-Bukhari[

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Soul Purification, - Hardness of Heart

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:-> The hard heart is that which contains a mixture of harshness and toughness; a heart that is void of submission and the sense of turning to Allah The Exalted in repentance at all times. This is the severest punishment ever. This is why the disbelievers are punished with having a hard and harsh heart. Maalik ibn Deenaar, May Allah Have mercy upon him, said in this regard, "Allah The Almighty Punishes the wrongdoers in their hearts and bodies as well. They are punished with a hard and miserable life and laziness and indolence in carrying out acts of worship. However, there is no punishment that is severer than having a hard heart." ]Hilyat Al-Awliyaa’[ Furthermore, Imaam Al-Mar‘ashi, May Allah Have mercy upon him, stressed the same meaning saying, "No one was afflicted by a severer calamity than having a hard heart." ]Hilyat Al-Awliyaa’[ Dear readers, let us ponder over what Allah The Exalted Says )which means(:}Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth, and there are some of them that split open and water comes out, and there are some of them that fall down for fear of Allah. And Allah Is not unaware of what you do.{]Quran 2:74[ This verse refers to the story of the children of Israel and the miracle of reviving the murdered man and to all the examples, warnings and adversities that had befallen the Children of Israel. Those Divine Miracles would cause huge mountains to shake and solid rocks to dissolve! Actually, it was worthier of their hearts to be softened by such amazing miracles, yet they did not. Allah The Exalted Clarified that their hearts had become more of rocks and even worse in hardness due to the fact that they rejected Imaan after knowing and understanding the requirements of attaining Imaan and its conditions. Hence, these hearts were like rocks and even worse in hardness. Indeed, rocks are a good example that people use to indicate hardness. Yet, Allah The Exalted Excluded some rocks from that absolute hardness, but Did not Exclude the hearts of the children of Israel. Allah The Exalted Says )what means(:}For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth, and there are some of them that split open and water comes out, and there are some of them that fall down for fear of Allah.{]Quran 2:74[ Let us reflect on this description of the one who has a hard heart. Allah The Exalted Says )what means(:}… and his sin has encompassed him…{]Quran 2:81[ This means that his sins and wrongdoings have encompassed him totally from all sides until he was surrounded with his own sins and wrongdoings from all directions. These sins and wrongdoings worked as a separator that detached him from all that is around him. Undeniably, this is clearly evident when a sinner does not repent of his sin, he is tempted to commit it more and more. This incites him to preoccupy himself exclusively and be wholly taken up with committing such sins and even graver sins and wrongdoings. Hence, sins subdue and overwhelm such a person totally and take hold of his heart entirely. Accordingly, he becomes inherently inclined to committing sins, liking and loving them, believing that this is the ultimate and optimal way to relish happiness and pleasure, disliking all who would come on his way in attaining that fake happiness and joy, and disbelieving anyone who would advise him to avoid such sins. Allah The Exalted Says )what means(:}Then the end of those who did evil was the worst ]consequence[ because they denied the Signs of Allah and used to ridicule them.{]Quran 30:10[ Regrettably, this man's sins become like a thick tent that screen everything around him. He no longer senses or thinks of the fact that Allah The Exalted Sees him all the time. He loses sight of the enduring pleasures in Paradise, the promised and anticipated punishment in Hellfire, the evil schemes of the devil that are all set to mislead Mankind, and the pity of the kind angels. Such a sinner fails to notice all these facts while being wholly lost in his sins and wrongdoings. The Prophet, sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:"When an adulterer commits illegal sexual intercourse, then he is not a believer at the time he is doing it, and when a drinker of an alcoholic liquor drinks it, he is not a believer at the time of drinking it, and when a thief steals, he is not a believer at the time of stealing, and when a robber robs, and the people look at him, he is not a believer at the time of doing robbery."]Al-Bukhari[

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Soul Purification, - Roughness Leads to Disunity

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:-> Roughness is a dispraised attribute that implies bad manners. It causes disunity and estrangement among people and severs that which Allaah The Almighty ordered to be maintained. Moreover, it has destroyed many households and separated many families. Many people who may love each other have nonetheless been afflicted with roughness and alienation due to harsh tempers, ill treatment and a lack of gentleness in tackling matters. Roughness may be innate or acquired, and both are bad. A true believer immediately sets himself aright by avoiding the causes and forms of roughness. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“Whoever lives in the desert will become rough.”]Ahmad and At-Tirmithi, At-Tirmithi - Hasan Saheeh[ This means that if a person inhabits the desert, his nature will become coarse, as man adopts the characteristics of his environment. In other words, Westerners are rougher than Easterners, and the dwellers of deserts and herders of camels are rougher than others. It was narrated on the authority of Ibn Mas‘ood, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:”]True[ belief is over there ]and he pointed with his hand towards Yemen[, while roughness and harshness are the qualities of those who own a great number of camels and drive them ]noisily[ behind their tails ]to the direction[ where the two horns of Satan will appear ]in the direction of[ the tribes of Rabee‘ah and Mudhar.”]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[ It was also narrated on the authority of Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“Bashfulness is from faith, and faith leads to Paradise. Foulness is from roughness, and roughness leads to Hell.”]At-Tirmithi and Ibn Maajah, At-Tirmithi - Hasan Saheeh[ Everything Has a Share of Its Name It is noticeable that there is an obvious relationship between things and their names, between man and the world around him, and between man and the nature of his profession. Pediatricians, for example, may differ from surgeons; the disposition of soldiers and troops may differ from that of others, although a person is not allowed to justify his roughness as a product of his nature, environment or work. It is said that people did not disobey Allaah The Almighty except due to false justifications. The Quran Disparages Roughness There are many texts that dispraise and warn against roughness. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(: •}So by Mercy from Allaah, ]O Muhammad[, you were lenient with them. And if you had been rude ]in speech[ and harsh in heart, they would have disbanded from about you.{]Quran 3:159[ •}Then why, when Our punishment came to them, did they not humble themselves? But their hearts became hardened, and Satan made attractive to them that which they were doing.{]Quran 6:43[ •}So is one whose breast Allaah has expanded to ]accept[ Islam and he is upon a light from his Lord ]like one whose heart rejects it[? Then, woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allaah. Those are in manifest error.{]Quran 39:22[ •}Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allaah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient.{]Quran 57:16[ The Sunnah Forbids Roughness Like the Quran, the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, forbade roughness. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Moosa Al-'Ash‘ari, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“Exalting Allaah The Almighty involves showing honor to a grey-haired Muslim and to a person who memorizes the Quran without acting extravagantly or roughly, and by showing honor to a just ruler.”]Abu Daawood, Al-Albaani - Hasan[ In another Hadeeth which mentions the Hour, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“When the naked, barefooted and rough people become heads of people, this is a sign of the Hour.”]Ahmad, Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[ It was also narrated on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“The most hated person in the sight of Allaah is the most quarrelsome person.”]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[ The quarrelsome one is he who behaves wickedly when he quarrels. Also, it was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“Do not speak foul words, do not give your backs to one another ]i.e., boycott or bear enmity towards one another[, do not spy on one another, and do not override the sales transactions of one another, and be, O slaves of Allaah, brothers.”]Muslim[ It was also narrated on the authority of Abu Ayyoob Al-Ansaari, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“It is not permissible for a Muslim to desert his brother for more than three nights ]where[ when they meet, one turns away and the other turns away; and the best of the two is the one who greets the other first.”]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[ What the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, forbade us from in this Hadeeth is certainly an aspect of roughness. Similarly, it was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“It is not permissible for a Muslim to desert his brother for more than three nights; whoever deserts and then dies will enter Hell.”]Abu Daawood, Al-Albaani - Saheeh[ Additionally, it was narrated on the authority of Abu Khiraash As-Sulami, may Allaah be pleased with him, that he heard the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, saying:“If a person deserts his brother for more than a year, this is considered as if he has shed his blood.”]Abu Daawood, Al-Albaani - Saheeh[ Finally, it was narrated on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa‘d, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, said:“A believer harmonizes with people and they harmonize with him; and there is no good in a person who neither familiarizes nor is familiarized.”]Ahmad, Al-Albaani - Saheeh and it meets the conditions stipulated by Muslim[ Allaah The Almighty, the angels and mankind, in general, hate roughness and harshness. A believer, therefore, should avoid violence, harshness, frowning, recklessness, ill treatment, undutifulness to parents and ill thoughts. He should have gentleness, mercy, righteousness, compassion and forbearance. Purification of the soul precedes beautifying it. A Muslim should strive hard to stay away from the causes and forms of violence. Allaah The Almighty Says )what means(: •}He has succeeded who purifies it, And he has failed who instills it ]with corruption[{]Quran 91:9-10[ •}And those who strive for Us - We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allaah is with the doers of good.{]Quran 29:69[ A slave should resort to Allaah The Almighty and supplicate to Him - perhaps Allaah The Almighty will guide him to follow the example of the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was the most gentle of all people; he was a smiling person and would maintain the ties of kinship, help the weak, support the destitute, serve guests generously and assist those afflicted with calamities. Allaah The Almighty never fails a person who adopts such a behavior, as Khadeejah the mother of the believers, may Allaah be pleased with her, stated. Let us adopt the manners of the believers, for a believer is simple, accessible and easy. He submits to the truth, harmonizes with people and people harmonize with him. Conversely, there is no good in a person who is rough and harsh: a person who does not harmonize with people, nor do they harmonize with him.

- PUBLISHERNajimudeeN M