The polish for the heart is the dhikr of Allaah

Since 2012-12-06

Abu Dardaa radiallaahu 'anhu said: For everything there is a polish and the polish for the heart is the dhikr of Allaah.

 

 
Abu Dardaa radiallaahu ‘anhu said: “For everything there is a polish and the polish for the heart is the dhikr of Allaah”.
 
Al-Bayhaqee relates from Ibn ‘Amr radiallaahu ‘anhu that Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam 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.” It was said: Not even Jihaad in the path of Allaah. So he replied: “Not even if you were to continue striking with your sword until it breaks.” [Al-Albani authenticated it due to its multiplicity of narrations]
 
«إن لكل شيء صقالة وإن صقالة القلوب ذكر الله وما من شيء أنجى من عذاب الله من ذكر الله قالوا ولا الجهاد في سبيل الله قال ولو أن يضرب بسيفه حتى ينقطع» قال الأباني: صحيح لغيره
 
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 Allaah. This is because [dhikr] is like a polish [which polishes the heart] like a shiny mirror. When dhikr is left, the rust returns. But when dhikr resumes, then the heart is [again] polished.
 
And hearts become rusty due to two things:-
 
(i) Neglecting remembering Allaah, and
(ii) Committing sins.
 
The polish for these two things is:-
 
(i) Seeking Allaah’s forgiveness and
(ii) Dhikr.
 
Whoever neglects [remembering Allaah] 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 dhikr] 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. Allaah – the Most High – said:
{And obey not him whose heart We have made heedless of Our Remembrance, one who follows his own lusts and whose affair (deeds) has been lost.} [Al-Kahf 18: 28]
 
{وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا} الكهف: 28
 
Transliteration: wala tutiAA man aghfalna qalbahu AAan thikrina waittabaAAa hawahu wakana amruhu furutan
 
 
Source: Polishing the Hearts by Imâm ibn al-Qayyim

 

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