Class 2
REFLECTING ON OUR HEARTS
Allah says, “The day when wealth and sons will benefit not, save he who brings to God a sound heart.” (Surah Ash-Shu`arā’:88-9)
And the Prophet ﷺ said,
(pointing to his heart) “Righteousness is here”. (Sahih Muslim)
“Verily Allah does not look to your faces and your wealth, but He looks to your heart and to your deeds.” (Muslim)
What will save us on the Day of Judgement? Are we favored based on our race or color? No. Then what is it? It is the place in our body which Allaah subhanahu wa ta’alaa made the location of the most valuable possession of a human being: emaan (faith). It is your heart.
What favours you in the sight of Allaah subhanahu wa ta’alaa is the state of your heart. What will save you on the Day of Judgement is qalbun saleem— a sound heart.
Let’s get started and find out about the amazing position of the heart in Islam and learn the secrets of a productive heart.
In order to start moving in life you first need to have knowledge; with that knowledge you can define if something is important or not. Then it is up to you to make the move. The Prophet salallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said about your heart: Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh which, if it be sound, all the body is sound and which, if it be diseased, all of it is diseased. Truly it is the heart. [al-Bukhaaree, Muslim]
Allaah ‘azza wajal informed us in the Quran about the “heart” it is mentioned no less than 137 times.
Amongst the supplications the Prophet ﷺ used to often make were…
يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ
O Turner of the hearts, affirm my heart upon Your religion! (Tirmidhi)
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عِلْمٍ لاَ يَنْفَعُ وَمِنْ دُعَاءٍ لاَ يُسْمَعُ وَمَنْ قَلْبٍ لاَ يَخْشَعُ وَمِنْ نَفْسٍ لاَ تَشْبَعُ
'Allahumma, inni a'udhu bika min 'ilmin la yanfa'u, wa mindu'a'in la yusma'u, wa min qalbin la yakhsha'u, wa min nafsin la tashba'u
[O Allah, I seek refuge with You from knowledge that is of no benefit, from a supplication that is not heard, from a heart that does not fear (You) and from a soul that is not satisfied].'" (Ibn Majah, Nisa’ii & Abu Dawood)
The Three States of the Heart
The state of your heart will decide what you do with your knowledge. Will you benefit from it by practicing it or not? For example, if you hear an ayah of the Quran or a hadith, does it make you feel you want to practice it straight away or does it not have much impact on you? Whatever the answer is, it will tell you about the state of your heart. (We will learn about the signs of beneficial knowledge and non-beneficial knowledge in upcoming classes InShaAllah).
Ibn Qayyim said… Just as the heart may be described in terms of being alive or dead, it may also be regarded as belonging to one of three types; these are the healthy heart, the dead heart, and the sick heart.
The Healthy Heart
As mentioned in the Ayah above, on the Day of Resurrection, only those who come to Allah with a healthy heart will be saved.
In defining the healthy heart, the following has been said: "It is a heart cleansed from any passion that challenges what Allah commands, or disputes what He forbids. It is free from any impulses which contradict His good. As a result, it is safeguarded against the worship of anything other than Him, and seeks the judgement of no other except that of His Messenger . Its services are exclusively reserved for Allah, willingly and lovingly, with total reliance, relating all matters to Him, in fear, hope and sincere dedication. When it loves, its love is in the way of Allah. If it detests, it detests in the lght of what He detests. When it gives, it gives for Allah. If it witoholds, it withholds for Allah. Nevertheless, all this will not suffice for its salvation until it is free from following, or taking as its guide, anyone other than His Messenger ﷺ." A servant with a healthy heart must dedicate it to its journey's end and not base his actions and speech on those of any other person except Allah's Messenger ﷺ. He must not give precedence to any other faith or words or deeds over those of Allah and His Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Allah says: "Oh you who believe, do not put yourselves above Allah and His Messenger, but fear Allah, for Allah is Hearing, Knowing”. (49:1)
The Dead Heart
This is the opposite of the healthy heart. It does not know its Lord and does not worship Him as He commands, in the way which He likes, and with which He is pleased. It clings instead to its lusts and desires, even if these are likely to incur Allah's displeasure and wrath. It worships things other than Allah, and its loves and its hatreds, and its giving and its withholding, arise from its whims, which are of paramount importance to it and preferred above the pleasure of Allah. Its whims are its imam. Its lust is its guide. Its ignorance is its leader. Its crude impulses are its impetus. It is immersed in its concern with worldly objectives. It is drunk with its own fancies and its love for hasty, fleeting pleasures. It is called to Allah and the akhira from a distance but it does not respond to advice, and instead it follows any scheming, cunning shayton. Life angers and pleases it, and passion makes it deaf and blind to anything except what is evil. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, "Your love for something that makes you blind and deaf." (Abu Dawood & Ahmad; classed as Hasan).
To associate or befriend and keep company with the owner of such a heart is to tempt illness: living with him is like taking poison, and befriending him means utter destruction.
The Sick Heart
This is a heart with life in it, as well as illness. The former sustains it at one moment, the latter at another, and it follows whichever one of the two manages to dominate it. It has love for Allah, faith in Him, sincerity towards Him, and reliance upon Him, and these are what give it life. It also has a craving for lust and pleasure, and prefers them and strives to experience them. It is full of self-admiration, which can lead to its own destruction. It listens to two callers: one calling it to Allah and His Prophet ﷺ and the akhira; and the other calling it to the fleeting pleasures of this world. It responds to whichever one of the two happens to have most influence over it at the time.
The first heart is alive, submitted to Allah, humble, sensitive and aware; the second is brittle and dead; the third wavers between either its safety or its ruin.
How is your Heart?
According to the Qur’an, the basis of corruption stems from within ourselves. The social institutions may be corrupt, there may be exploitation and abuse in the economic and politics spheres, but the basis of all these diseases lies inside our hearts. Allah says, “It is not the eyes which go blind but it is the hearts within breasts which go blind.” (Al-Hajj 22:46)
Now the question is, what is your heart attached to? Is it attached to your house, your money, your favorite tv show, or to those special moments you spend with the Quran and reading about and following the Prophet ﷺ?
Signs of a Pure Heart
Inner Signs
Love of Allah: A pure heart loves Allah above all else and seeks His nearness. The love of Allah is one of the most important signs of a pure heart in Islam. The love of Allah is a deep affection and devotion to Him and a desire to please Him in all things. This love is not limited to emotions or feelings but is reflected in one’s actions and beliefs.
Taqwa. (God-Consciousness): An awareness of Allah and a desire to obey His commands and avoid His prohibitions.
Sincerity. Having honest intentions and being free from deceit.
Humility. A lack of arrogance and a belief in one's own limitations and dependence on Allah.
Gratitude. Contentment with Allah's blessings and a lack of greed or malice.
Freedom from Negative Traits. A heart free from envy, hatred, jealousy, and ill will.
Joy in Worship. Experiencing deep happiness and peace during acts of worship like prayer and fasting.
Focus on the Hereafter. A pure heart considers itself a passerby in this world, with its true concern being for the Hereafter.
Disliking What displeases Allah. A strong aversion to anything that displeases Allah, such as showing off or envy.
Compassion. A pure heart is compassionate and empathetic, feeling the pain of others and seeking to help them. Compassion refers to being kind, understanding, and empathetic towards others and seeking to alleviate the suffering of others. In the context of one’s relationship with Allah, compassion means recognizing the dignity and worth of all people and treating others with kindness and respect.
Actions that are signs of a Pure Heart
Focus on Quality and Acceptance. Prioritizing the correct way to perform good deeds and the hope for their acceptance from Allah, rather than the quantity. When the person enters the prayer, his worldly worries and concerns leave him.
Guilt and Repentance for Sins. Feeling upset, guilty, and a quick desire to repent after committing a sin.
Striving for Good Deeds. Eagerness to perform acts of worship and to avoid wasting time, using every moment for good. . If the person misses his daily portion of reciting Quran or making dhikr, then it is heavier upon him than if he had lost his wealth.
Good Character. Demonstrating kindness, forgiveness, patience, and gentle speech in interactions with others.
Dhikr. It doesn’t grow tired of the remembrance of Allah subhanahu wa ta’alaa or His worship.
Signs of a Sick Heart
No Guilt after Sinning. The person does not feel any hurt or pain when he commits evil deeds sins.
Prioritising this world. It prioritizes worldly pleasures and ambitions over religious duties and the Hereafter. It is busy with trivial matters. They worry about finding respect in this world but are unconcerned about the honor or humiliation they’ll face in the Hereafter. They want ease in this world but are unconcerned about the torments they may find in the Hereafter.
Dry Eyes & Hard Heart. When a person stops crying altogether, it is understood that their heart has hardened.
Has Doubts & Constant Debates. The person who is overwhelmed with doubts and affected greatly with misconceptions, and they are attracted more to such discussions (talking about controversial things or things that do not concern or about minute disagreements) than to the recitation of the Quran.
Hasten to get out of the Masjid. When a person becomes fearful/uncomfortable of remembering their meeting with Allah, but becomes happy when sitting with other people, it is a sign of the death of the heart. Sitting in the prayer room (musalla) becomes a burden on such a person. For a person who has crookedness in their hearts, sitting in the musalla weighs heavy on them. They say their salams and immediately run from the mosque (or their prayer place).
Harbors Envy, jealousy, greed, lust, and showing off.
No Desire to Learn Islam.
Signs of a Dead Heart
The person finds pleasure in that which Allah has forbidden, and he even achieves a degree of rest afterwards.
The person dislikes the truth and has difficulty submitting to it and accepting it.
The person finds relaxation among the disobedient sinners and to be aggravated by the righteous.
A dead heart shows no respect for things that are sacred to Allah, such as mosques or the community.
The person is not affected by admonition.
Is over taken with Envy and takes action. A person with a dead heart takes action because of his Envy and
Envy
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: “Nobody is free from hasad, but the noble person hides it whilst the base person shows it.”
Also it was asked to Hasan Al-Basri, "Does the believer carry envy?" He replied, "Have you forgotten the story of Yusuf and his brothers?" However, the distinguishing factor within the heart of the believer is their strength, which prevents them from even entertaining the urge to envy, let alone surrendering to it. In obedience to Allah, fearful of His punishment, and cautious in His presence, they disobey the impulse to resent their brother or sister. They resist showing ill feeling towards a servant of Allah who has received blessings from their Lord. This strong believer knows this type of behavior is contrary to what Allah loves and it is an act of loving what Allah hates. As a result, they strive against this evil by forcing their soul to supplicate for the envied person, not against them. And in contrast to the harm their envious heart or limbs could inflict on the individual, they hope that Allah increases the good of the envied.
Hatred of the blessings given to someone by Allah and a wish that this person loses their blessings is the root of envy. The envious -person is an enemy to blessings.
In most cases, envy and sorcery are linked together in the Quran because of their relationship. Consequently, due to their wickedness, the J e w s were the most envious and most heavily involved group in sorcery. They favored these two evils more than any other people did.
Shaytan, friend to the envious person and the sorcerer, speaks to and assists both of them; however, the Shayateen help the individual green with envy without him or her summoning Shaytan for help. (They don't need his help), because in actuality an envious individual and a sorcerer are followers imitating their leader, Shaytan. And just as Shaytan harbored envy and resentment towards our father, Adam, they seek the same degradation of the Sons of Adam as he: the removal of Allah's blessings. Be aware! An envious, spiteful person is a solider for Shaytan.
How to cure yourself if you have envy
If you feel that you are jealous of a specific person, then buy him a gift and shake hands with him. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Shake hands, for this will dispel rancour, and exchange gifts and love one another, for this will dispel hatred.” (Narrated by Malik in al-Muwatta, 1413).
Hasad is the result of hatred, whose opposite is love, the way of which is giving gifts and spreading (the greeting of) salam, because the Prophet ﷺ said: “You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you of that which will strengthen love between you? Spread (the greeting of) salam amongst yourselves.” (Sahih Muslim)
Remember, jealousy causes more damage to you than to one whom you are jealous of.
Click Here to read more about Hasad. (This is not part of the course).
Causes of hardheartedness
Turning away from Allah
Not reading Qur’aan.
Sins. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Verily, when the servant commits a sin, a black mark appears upon his heart. If he abandons the sin, seeks forgiveness, and repents, then his heart will be polished. If he returns to the sin, the blackness will be increased until it overcomes his heart”. (Tirmdhi, Sahih)
Running after the Duniya.
Unnecessary & Excessive Talking.
Unrestrained Glances. The Prophet ﷺ said, “The glance is a poisoned arrow of shaytan…” The unrestrained glance results in the one who looks becoming attracted to what he sees. The eye and the heart is an immediate connection; if the eyes are corrupted, then the heart follows.
Too Much Food. Excessive eating induces many kinds of harm. It makes the body incline towards disobedience to Allah and makes worship and obedience seem laborious-such evils are bad enough in themselves.
Keeping Bad Company.
POLISHING THE HEART
Dhikr
Prophet ﷺ said: “For everything there is a polish, and the polish for the hearts is the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah. There is nothing more potent in saving a person from the punishment of Allaah than the dhikr of Allaah.” (Bayhaqi)
There is no doubt that hearts becomes rusty just as copper and silver coins become rusty. The polish for [this rust] is the dhikr of AIlaah.
The Qur’an
The Qur’an is medicine for the heart.
Recite regularly, reflect deeply, and act upon it.
“Indeed in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or who listens while he is present [in mind].” (50:37)
Sincere Worship
Perform acts of worship with presence, not just form.
Pray as if it’s your last prayer.
Fast, give, and serve with ikhlas (sincerity).
Good Company
Stay close to those who remind you of Allah.
Avoid those who feed your ego or fuel sin.
Diagnose Yourself
Ask yourself:
What do I really love?
What am I attached to?
Do I feel joy in prayer, or burden?
Am I quick to repent, or numb to sin?
What do I do when I’m alone—remember Allah or chase desires?
To conclude, take stock of your heart. What condition is it in? What signs do you have more of?
Remember the most productive and successful person is not the one who has the most accomplishments, wealth, or followers. It’s the one who meets Allah with a qalb saleem—a heart full of iman, free of hypocrisy, arrogance, hatred, and sin.
Also remember Allah is the most merciful, you take a step He takes 10. Hearts can change — and Allah is the Turner of the hearts.
“O Turner of the hearts, turn our hearts toward Your obedience.”
Start now. Purify your heart. Work on yourself — for your success in this world and the next depends on it.
“The Day when wealth and sons will be of no avail, except him who comes to Allah with a sound heart.” (Surah Ash-Shu‘ara 26:88–89)
TIPS FOR THE TEST
Do not have to memorise the ayahs or hadeeths word for word and their references, but remember their meanings and the msg being given.
Remember the signs of each type of the Heart and its cures.
Remember the meanings of the Duas.
ASSIGNMENT
There will be an Assignment Question asked in the Test. Marks will be given based on the following: -
I. Invite atleast 10 people to the course (can invite via WhatsApp, Facebook, Email, telegram or word of mouth) 4 Marks. (check the note below for exceptions)
Note:
Those who have already invited whether on Whatsapp, Email or FB, do not need to invite again.
It does not matter, whether people join or not, our job is to invite.
II. Reflect on yourself and make changes in your actions/attitude to get closer to the Sunnah. Repent to any of the mistakes that you have done and make intention of not repeating it for the sake of Allah. 10 Marks.
III. Talk to 5 people (friends or family) about any three topics from the course - (5 Marks)
IV. Pray for the Ummah, pray for the ease of all the poor & oppressed Muslims and Maghfirah of the Muslims who passed away. Pray that Allah make us all strong in imaan and give us the hidayah to work for the aakhirah and to help each other. - 1 Mark
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