Polishing the Hearts
Imam ibn Qayyim al-Jawzeyya
Indeed, there is no difference between the living and the dead, except with the zikr of Allah; since [the Prophet sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam] said: « The example of one who remembers Allah and someone who does not, is like the example between the livin
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Allah – the Most High – said:“O you who believe! Remember Allah and remember Him a lot.” [All-Ahzaab 33:41]
Transliteration:Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo othkuroo Allaha thikran katheeran
“Those men and women who remember Allah a lot.” [Al-Ahzaab 33:35]
Transliteration:waalththakireena Allaha katheeran waalththakirati
rememberance
“So when you have finished the rights of your Pilgrimage, then remember Allah as you remember your fore-father, or with more intense remembrance.” [Al-Baqarah 2:200]
These verses contain a command to remember Allah intensely and abundantly, since the worshiper is in dire need of [remembering Allah] and cannot do without it even for a twinkling of an eye. This is because every moment that a person does not spend in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allah will not be of any benefit to him. Rather, the harm entailed in being neglectful of the dhikr of Allah is far greater than any benefits that can be gained. One of the ‘aarifeen (those who are knowledgeable about Allah) said:”If a person were to spend such and such number of years engaged [in the dhikr of Allah], then he turns away from it for just a moment, what he will lose is far greater than whatever he has already gained.”
Al-Bayhaqee relates from ‘Aaishah radiAllahu ‘anhaa that the Prophet sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: «There is no time in which the son of Adam does not remember Allah in it, except that it will be a source of regret for him on the Day of Judgement» [Hasan: Related by Abu Nu’aym in al-Hiliyatul-Awliyaa (51361-362). It was authenticated by Shaykh al-Albaanee in Saheehul-Jaami’ (no.5720).]
Mu’aadh ibn Jabal also relates that Allah’s Messenger sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam was asked: What action is the most beloved to Allah? So he replied: “That you continue to keep your tongue moist with the dhikr of Allah, until you die.” [Hasan: Related by Al Monzeri. It was authenticated by Shaykh Saleem al-Hilaalee in Saheeh al-Waabilus-Sayyib (p.80)]
Polishing the hearts
Abu Dardaa radiAllahu ‘anhu said:”For everything there is a polish and the polish for the heart is the dhikr of Allah”.
There is no doubt that hearts becomes rusty just as copper and silver coins become rusty. The polish for [this rust] is the zikr of AIlaah. This is because [zikr] is like a polish [which polishes the heart] like a shiny mirror. When zikr is left, the rust returns. But when zikr resumes, then the heart is [again] polished.
And hearts become rusty due to two things:-
(i) Neglecting remembering Allah, and
(ii) Committing sins.
The polish for these two things is:-
(i) Seeking Allah’s forgiveness and
(ii)Zikr.
Confusing truth with falsehood
Whoever neglects [remembering Allah] most of the time, then his heart will become rusty in accordance with how neglectful the person is. And when this [filthy] rust accumulates on the heart, then it no longer recognizes things as they really are. Thus, it views falsehood as if it is the truth, and truth as if it is falsehood. This is because this rust darkens and confuses the heart’s perception, and so it is unable to truly recognize things for what they really are. So as the rust accumulates, the heart gets blackened, and as this happens the heart becomes stained with this filthy rust, and when this occurs it corrupts the heart’s perception and recognition of things. The heart [then] does not accept the truth nor does it reject falsehood, and this is the greatest calamity that can strike the heart. Being neglectful [of zikr] and following of whims and desires is a direct consequence of such a heart, which [further] extinguish the heart’s light and blinds its vision. Allah – the Most High – said: “And do not obey him whose heart We have made to be neglectful of Our remembrance, one who follows his own whims and desires and whose affairs are furat [have gone beyond bounds and whose deeds have been lost].” [Al-Kahf 18: 28]
Qualities of a guide
So when a worshiper desires to follow another person, then let him see: Is this person from the people of dhikr, or from the people who are negligent [about remembering Allah]? Does this person judge in accordance with his whims and desires, or by the Revelation? So, if he judges by whims and desires then he is actually from those people who are negligent; those whose affairs have gone beyond bounds and whose deeds are lost.
The term furat [which occurs in the above verse] has been explained in many ways. It has been explained to mean:-
(i) Losing the rewards of that type of action which is essential to do, and in which lies success and happiness;
(ii) Exceeding the limits of something;
(iii) Being destroyed; and
(iv) Opposing the truth; Each of these sayings are very close in meaning to each other.
The point is that Allah – the One free from all imperfections, the Most High – has prohibited following all those who possess such attributes. So it is absolutely essential that a person considers whether such attributes are found in his shaykh, or the person whose example he follows, or the person that he obeys. If they are, then he should distance himself from such a person. However, if it is found that the person is, in most cases, preoccupied with the zikr of Allah and with following the Sunnah, and his affairs do not exceed the limits, but rather he is judicious and resolute in his affairs, then he should cling to him very firmly.
Indeed, there is no difference between the living and the dead, except with the zikr of Allah; since [the Prophet sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam] said: « The example of one who remembers Allah and someone who does not, is like the example between the living and the dead.» [Related by al-Bukhari (11/208) and Muslim (1/539)]
Footnote:
1. AI-Waabilus-Sayyib min Kalimit-Tayyib (pp.78-82).