Spiritual Health and Purification of the Soul (morals, punishment, reject)

[Cordoba]

Another obstacle towards reaching spiritual health is self-admiration and pride.

This is a short article from Islam On-Line on this dangerous disease of the heart, and how to cure it.

Self-Admiration and Its Remedy

It was reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “While a man was strutting in two gowns out of self-admiration, Allah caused the earth to swallow him up, and he has been submerging therein up to the Day of Resurrection.”

And it was reported that Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “Destruction lies in two things: self-admiration and despair.” Ibn Mas`ud put self-admiration and despair together because happiness cannot be obtained without exerting much effort; the despairing person does not make any effort because of his despair, and the self-admiring person believes that he has got what he wants, so he feels he does not have to make any effort either.

Self-admiration leads to pride, and pride leads to many destructive flaws.

The Remedy for Self-Admiration

Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, favored man when He created him and provided him with all the blessings he has. Therefore, no one should be self-admiring because of his actions, knowledge, beauty, or wealth, as these are bounties provided by Allah out of His Grace. Even man’s being favored with such bounties is another favor from Allah upon him!

Moreover, even a person’s righteous deeds will not admit him to Paradise because it is Allah Who guides him and enables him to do them. It was reported on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) once said, “The good deeds of any person will not make him enter Paradise.” They (the Prophet’s Companions) said, “Not even you, Messenger of Allah?” He said, “Not even myself, unless Allah bestows His favor and mercy on me.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Someone may say that a nobleman may be self-admiring because of his noble lineage, and he may wish that his noble relatives intercede for him on the Day of Resurrection.

Commenting on this, we can say that all Muslims wish for intercession on their behalf, and it is true that intercession may not be accepted when one’s sins are very great. Allah the Almighty declares, [… Verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you…] (Al-Hujurat 49: 13)

And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to his daughter, “O Fatimah, I have no power (to protect you) from Allah in anything.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

Therefore, it is only a person’s righteous deeds and good qualities that make him noble or honorable in the sight of Allah. Besides, we have on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “I should not find that any of you should come on the Day of Resurrection with a growling camel mounted on his neck and should appeal to me for help saying, ‘O Messenger of Allah, help me,’ and I should say, ‘I have no authority to help you; I already communicated to you.’” (reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

So, whoever knows and comprehends these facts will start occupying the rest of his life with as many acts of worship and obedience as he can, as this is the only road to success.

All the best.

[Cordoba]

On the positive side, after having done one's best to cure the diseases of the heart, to reach a state of spiritual health a believer is advised to remember God throughout the day, not only in the five prayers but also in all other special moments, like before sunrise and before sunset, late at night before dawn, ... etc.

The more the heart loves God, the more a believer would remember Him.

Merits of Remembrance of God (Dhikr)

The merits of remembrance of Allah Most High are highlighted in the following Qur’anic verses:

[Then do ye remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and reject not Faith.] (Al-Baqarah 2: 152)

[Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides.] (Aal `Imran 3: 190)

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is reported to have said:

“Surely, Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, says, ‘I will be with My servant as long as he makes mention of Me and moves his lips in making mention of Me.’” (Reported by Al-Bukhari), and

“No people assemble to remember Allah but angels surround them, mercy covers them, sakinah (calmness) descends upon them, and Allah mentions them in His assembly.” (Reported by Muslim)

[Cordoba]

Another way for a believer to reach spiritual health is through prayers and supplications (duaa').

The merits of supplication are highlighted in the following hadiths:

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “In the sight of Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, nothing is more honorable than du`aa’.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

“Verily, the most virtuous act of worship is du`aa’.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever does not ask Allah, will incur Allah’s wrath upon himself.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

Ibn Mas`ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Beseech Allah to shower His Bounty upon you, for Allah loves to be besought.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

Etiquette of Du`aa’

Following are some points of etiquette that one who makes du`aa’ is recommended to strictly adhere to:

1.Choose the optimum time to make du`aa’ . The best times are: the Day of `Arafah (9th of Dhul-Hijjah), the month of Ramadan, Fridays, the last part of the night before dawn, the time between the Adhan and Iqamah, after performing Prayer, while it rains, in times of jihad, after finishing the recitation of the whole Qur’an, while prostrating, after breaking one’s fast.

2. Face the qiblah.

3. Lift one’s hand towards the sky.

4. Wipe one’s face with one’s hands after du`aa’.

5. Lower the voice.

6. Commence du`aa’ with praising Allah Most High.

7. Send blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).

8. Steer clear of oppression and sins.

9. Remain penitent.

10.Implant consciousness of Allah Most High in the heart.

(From Islam On-Line)

All the best.

[Cordoba]

According to Islam there are three types of hearts: the healthy heart, the dead heart, and the sick heart.

This is an extract from an article on the purification of the heart and soul:

1- The Healthy Heart

On the Day of Resurrection, only those who come to God with a healthy heart will be saved. God says:

“The day on which neither wealth nor sons will be of any use, except for whoever comes to God with a sound heart.” (26:88-89)

In defining the healthy heart, the following has been said: “It is a heart cleansed from any passion that challenges what God commands, or disputes what He forbids.

It is free from any impulses which contradict His good. Its services are exclusively reserved for God, 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 God. If it detests, it detests in the light of what He detests. When it gives, it gives for God. If it withholds, it withholds for God.

2- The Dead Heart

This is opposite of the healthy heart.

3- 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.

One of the main purposes in life for a believer (from a Muslim perspective) after the worship of God and doing good deeds, is to purify the heart and the soul, as this is an important way to get closer to God.

[Cordoba]

The Causes of Sickness of the Heart

The temptations to which the heart is exposed are what cause its sickness. These are the temptations of desires and fancies. The formers cause intentions and the will to be corrupted, and the latter cause knowledge and belief to falter.

The Messenger of Allah said:

‘Temptations are presented to the heart, one by one. Any heart that accepts them will be left with a black stain, but any heart that rejects them will be left with a mark of purity, so that hearts are of two types: a dark heart that has turned away and become like an overturned vessel, and a pure heart that will never be harmed by temptation for as long as the earth and the heavens exist. The dark heart only recognises good and denounces evil when this suits its desires and whims.’

He, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, placed hearts, when exposed to temptation, into two categories:

First, a heart which, when it is exposed to temptation, absorbs it like a sponge that soaks up water, leaving a black stain in it. It continues to absorb each temptation that is offered to it until it is darkened and corrupted, which is what he meant by “like an overturned vessel”. When this happens, two dangerous sicknesses take hold of it and plunge it into ruin:

The first is that of its confusing good with evil, to such an extent that it does not recognise the former and does not denounce the latter. This sickness may even gain hold of it to such an extent that it believes good to be evil and vice-versa, the truth to be false and falsity to be the truth.

The second is that of its setting up its desires as its judge, over and above what the Prophet taught, so that it is enslaved and led by its whims and fancies.

Second, a pure heart which the light of faith is bright and from which its radiance shines. When temptation is presented to pure hearts such this, they oppose it and reject it, and so their light and illumination only increase.

[Cordoba]

(The life of a believer) Between The Past and The Future

Your life in the present moment is in between the past and the future.

So what has preceded can be rectified by repentance, regret and seeking Allah’s forgiveness. And this is something that will neither tire you, nor cause you to toil as you would with strenuous labour. Rather it is an action of the heart.

Then as regards the future, it can be corrected by withholding yourself from sins. And this abandonment is merely the leaving of something and to be at ease from it. This also is not action of the limbs, which requires you to strive and toil. Rather this is a firm resolve and intention of the heart – which will give rest to your body, heart and thoughts.

So as for what has preceded, then you rectify it with repentance. And as for the future – then you rectify it with firm resolve and intention. Neither of these involves any hardship or exertion of the limbs.

But then your attention must be directed to your life in the present - the time between two times. If you waste it, then you have wasted the opportunity to be of the fortunate and saved ones. If you look after it, having rectified the two times – what is before and after it, as we have said – then you will be successful and achieve rest, delight and ever-lasting bliss.

However, looking after it is harder than that which comes before and after it, since guarding it involves keeping to that which is most befitting and beneficial for your soul, and that which will bring it success and well-being.

Extract from an article by Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah, a Muslim scholar from Syria born in Damascus in 1292.

This is a brief list of some of his translated writings, if of interest, in English & French, on the love of Allah and other topics relating to the purification of the heart and spiritual health:

http://www.islaam.com/Scholar.aspx?id=1

All the best.

[Cordoba]

The Hardened Heart

The slave is not afflicted with a punishment greater than the hardening of the heart and being distant from Allah. For the Fire was created to melt the hardened heart. The most distant heart from Allah is the heart which is hardened. If the heart becomes hardened, the eye becomes dry.

If four matters are exceeded in quantity, beyond what is necessary, the heart shall become hardened:

Food, sleep, speech and sexual intercourse. A body afflicted by disease does not derive nourishment from food or water, similarly a heart diseased by desire does not benefit from admonishment or exhortation.

Whosoever desires to purify his heart, then let him prefer Allah to his desires.

The heart which is clinging to its desires is veiled from Allah, commensurate to the degree that it is attached to them. The hearts are the vessels of Allah upon His earth, hence the most beloved of them to Him, are the ones most compassionate, pure and resistant to deviation.

They (the transgressors) preoccupied their hearts [in the pursuance] of the worldly life (Dunya), would that they preoccupied them with Allah and the Hereafter, then surely they would have reflected upon the intended meaning of His poignant Words and Verses. Their hearts would have returned to their masters with a wisdom, marvelously curious and [in possession] of the rarest of precious gems.

If the heart is nourished with remembrance, its thirst quenched with contemplation and cleansed from corruption, it shall witness remarkable and wondrous matters, inspiring wisdom.

Not every individual is endowed with knowledge and wisdom, and assumes its character is from amongst its people. Rather the People of Knowledge and Wisdom are those who infused life into their hearts by slaying their desires. As for the one who slayed his heart and vitalized his desires, then knowledge and wisdom is naked upon his tongue.

The destruction of the heart occurs by security [in this Dunya] and negligence, its fortification occurs by fear and remembrance. If the heart renounces the pleasures of the Dunya, it settles upon the [pursuance] of the pleasures of the Hereafter, and amongst those who call towards it. Should the heart become content with the pleasures of the Dunya, those pleasures [of the Hereafter] cease [to continue].

Yearning for Allah and His meeting is like the gentle breeze blowing upon the heart, extinguishing the blaze of the Dunya. Whosoever caused his heart to settle with his Lord shall be in a state, calm and tranquil, and whosoever sent it amongst the people shall be disturbed and excessively perturbed.

For the love of Allah shall not enter a heart which contains the love of this world, except as a camel which passes through the eye of a needle.

Hence, the most beloved servant before Allah is the one whom He places in His servitude, whom He selects for His love, whom He causes to purify his worship for Him, dedicates his objectives for Him, his tongue for His remembrance, and his limbs for His service.

The heart becomes sick, as the body becomes sick, and its remedy is al-Tawbah and protection [from transgression].

It becomes rusty as a mirror becomes rusty, and its clarity is obtained by remembrance.

It becomes naked as the body becomes naked, and its beautification is al-Taqwa.

It becomes hungry and thirsty as the body becomes hungry, and its food and drink is knowledge, love, dependence, repentance and servitude.

(by Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah)

http://www.islaam.com/Article.aspx?id=297