Allah didn't create our hearts naturally hardened. It is something that happens due to many reasons.
The hardened heart is the furthest heart from Allah. Mercy had been extracted from that heart.
HADITH: A man saw the Prophet kissing his grandson. He said proudly, "I have 10 children and I haven't kissed any of them" the Prophet said, "What can I do if Allah has taken mercy from your heart"
There is no affliction greater than being afflicted with a hardened heart. When Allah is angry with a person, he takes away mercy from him. - Malik ibn Dinar
Punishment is of different kinds, and the worst type of punishment is to have a hardened heart.
HADITH: There is a morsel in the body, if it is reformed the whole body will be reformed, and if it is corrupted the whole body will be corrupted. And that is the heart.
The person with a good heart's affairs and state is good. He is upright, and His worship is correct. He has mercy towards others. He does good all the time. He lives with joy and happiness. He tastes the sweetness and delight of worship to Allah and enjoys it. He prolongs his supplications, his prostration, etc.
On the other end of the spectrum, the person with a corrupt heart will have a corrupt life. His عبادات are devoid of submissiveness. He is attributed with many bad characteristics like arrogance, envy, malice, etc. He feels constriction in his heart regardless of how much he has. He becomes a slave of this world, coveting and running after it. This is his only concern.
What did this person do in order to have such a heart?
1- Love of the Dunya and being diverted with it.
2- Accompanying the People of the Dunya. People who talk about nothing but this world.
3- Turning away from religious knowledge; especially pondering over the Qur'an.
4- Excessive Association with People. This causes excessive talking, and when people excessively talk they commit more sins.
5- Not asking Allah for steadfastness. Say: يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي على دينك
6- Forgetting death, the day of judgement, the meeting with Allah.
7- Committing sins. This covers the heart with a black covering which prevents the light of knowledge penetrating the heart.
The Shaytan can easily overpower and whisper in this person's heart. He doesn't have any power over the reformed heart.
(22:53)
"ليجعل ما يلقي الشيطان فتنة للذين في قلوبهم مرض و القاسية قلوبهم و ان الظالمين لفي شقاق بعيد"
What does it mean to have a hardened heart? The person has no feeling towards the facts of ايمان. He hears about Allah, the Day of Judgement, Paradise, Hell, the description of the people, etc. but there is no feeling of fear, love, etc.
His heart doesn't move. Allah says that the bed of the people of hell is made of fire, and their covering is made of fire. Hearing this should make us feel afraid, and cause you to ask Allah to protect you. But if your heart is dead no matter how much you hear about this there is no fear.
If his heart was alive, hearing these facts should affect his heart, tongue, limbs, and motivate him to take an action.
Most people know about Allah, the Day of Judgement, that one day they will die, but this knowledge does not motive them to take the right action.
Remedy for the Hardened Heart:
1) Pondering over the Qur'an
In (39:21)
الم ترا ان الله انزل من السماء ماء - Allah sent water down from the sky
فسلكه - He makes it penetrate the earth
يخرج - From this water, Allah makes crops of different colours come out.
يجعله - Then Allah makes it dry, broken pieces.
Allah is the doer of all these actions.
All people see this, but who takes this as a lesson? "ان في ذالك لذكرى لأولى الالباب
Only these people are affected by the universal signs. Whoever reflects over the universal signs will have his heart softened and guided to Islam.
In (39:22-23) Allah talks about the effect of the Qur'an on the hearts:
"أَفَمَن شرح الله صدره للإسلام فهو على نور من ربه فويل للقاسية قلوبهم من ذكر الله اولائك في ضلال مبين"
The people read the Qur'an, they see the signs, but their hearts are hardened. Therefore Allah threatened them with ويل.
"الله نزل أحسن الحديث"
Allah told us that he sent down water in verse 21. In this verse He tells us that He sent down the Qur'an.
"كتابا متشابها"
The verses resemble each other in beauty and perfection.
"مثاني"
Allah repeats throughout the Qur'an about His self, the articles of faith, etc.
As-Sa'di said, "Because Allah knows the need of creation to the meaning of the Qur'an, He made the meaning of the Qur'an for the hearts, like water is to plants"
Plants need to be watered repeatedly. Our hearts need the meaning of the Qur'an repeatedly in order to keep it alive.
It's not enough to hear about Allah or the Day of Judgment once, we need it all the time.
Since the Qur'an is attributed with such sublime descriptions, the people of understandings hearts are affected by it:
"تقشعر منه جلود الذين يخشون ربهم"
When they heart the threats of Allah, the Hellfire, etc. their skins shiver.
"ثم تلين جلودهم و قلوبهم الى ذكر الله "
When they hear about Allah's reward, mercy, the delights of Paradise, etc. their hearts and skins soften to the remembrance of Allah.
If you want your heart to be softened, ponder over the Qur'an, read it with understanding.
When you read the Qur'an ponder over:
- The names, attributes, and actions of Allah.
- The Parables
The Parables emphasise the greatest matters in Islam. The Salaf used to cry whenever they passed by a parable and didn't understand, because they were afraid that Allah was talking about them in that parable.
- The Stories of the Prophets and Messengers
Ponder over how Allah dealt with both the believers and disbelievers.
- The Descriptions of the People
Eg. The People of Paradise. What did they do that made them reach Paradise?
2) Remembrance of Allah
(33:41-43)
"يأيها الذين امنوا اذكروا الله ذكرا كثيرا"
Allah is addressing the believers, commanding them to remember Allah profusely. Whenever Allah commands us with something, then it is an obligatory act.
"و سبحوه بكرة و أصيلا"
The result of which is:
"هو الذي يصلي عليكم و ملائكته"
Allah will mention your name with praise to the dwellers of the heavens. The Angels will ask Allah to forgive you, to bless you, protect you, have mercy on you, etc.
The result of Allah's and angels praise and prayer for you:
"ليخرجكم من الظلومات الى النور"
"و كان بالمؤمنين رحيما"
Remembrance can be with heart, it can be with tongue. But the best remembrance is with both the heart and tongue together. We should remember Allah profusely.
Remembrance of Allah can be by reflecting over the universal signs. All your عبادات are a kind of remembrance of Allah. When you do good to the people, hoping the reward from Allah, you are remembering Allah.
From the moment you wake up until you go to sleep, remember Allah with your heart, tongue, actions.
3) Repentance
One of the causes of the hardness of the heart are sins. Repentance removes this covering from the heart.
Repent to Allah sincerely from all the sins you've committed.
If you don't find your heart when you pray, when you're reciting the Qur'an, then you have to know that behind this is a hardened heart. Immediately you need to do استغفار and توبه. Repent to Allah from the sins you know and don't know, the minor and the major, etc.
Repentance will soften your heart.
4) Gratitude
Be grateful to Allah for all His favours and blessings. One of the causes of hardness of the heart is ingratitude.
In the present, we see people, who although Allah has granted abundant favours, they live in security, stability, etc. but they still complain. They still aren't happy, and they still show ingratitude.
HADITH: If anyone begins his day, secure in his home, healthy in his body, possessing provision for that day, it is as if he possessed the whole world.
This means that there is no blessing like having enough food for a day, to be good health, secure in your home. If you aren't secure in your house, nor not enjoying good health, no matter how much money and wealth you have, you won't get it. These are blessings from Allah.
If you have these 3 blessings then say الحمد لله.
Greed, coveting for this world, and accompanying people of this world makes a person ungrateful. And this is the state of most people nowadays. Nothing satisfies them.
Allah bestows His favours upon us day and night, and we meet his blessings with ingratitude.
The head of gratitude is remembrance of Allah. The people who don't remember Allah don't give thanks to Allah.
Always remember Allah and expect good from Him.
We have to be careful of accompanying ungrateful people, or you will become sick like them. If you encounter difficulty in your life be patient and grateful.
"لائن شكرتم لأزيدنكم"
Allah didn't mention what He will increase us in. When He doesn't mention the object it means everything.
When people hear of increase their minds immediately go to income. They don't think of increase in faith, knowledge, patience, goodness of heart, etc.
One of the greatest blessings of Allah is that He teaches us about His names and attributes. There are countries where it is illegal for them to study the book of Allah. People don't appreciate it until they are deprived of it. Thank Allah for this.
Don't look at all the things you don't have. People look at the deficiencies in their life, forgetting
Allah is مالك الملك. He disposes the affairs of His kingdom based on His wisdom and knowledge. He gives and prevents, both according to wisdom and knowledge. Don't be angry with people if you are deprived of something. Allah gives and prevents as a test for us. Know that if you have ANY deficiency in worldly things, Allah will compensate you for it on the Day of Judgement. Allah is able. This deprivation is only temporary, as a test.
Ingratitude causes hardness of the heart, whereas gratitude is a remedy for it.
"ان تكفروا فان الله غني عنكم و لا يرضى لعباده الكفر و ان تشكروا يرضه لكم"
5) Knowing the reality of this worldly life
(57:20)
Allah described the worldly life with 5 descriptions. This worldly life is only 5 things:
"اعلموا انما الحياة الدنيا
- لعب
- لهو
- زينة
- تفاخر بينكم
- تكاثر في الأموال و الأولاد"
They play with their bodies, distracted with their hearts, busy with beautifying their bodies and houses, and then compete with each other, and because they want to be better then everyone else they increase and pile up with more and more and more.
There are students of knowledge buying books which they never read. This isn't just limited to the people of the Dunya, sometimes even people of knowledge fall into it.
"كمثل غيث اعجب الكفار نباته
ثم يهيج فتراه مصفرا
ثم يكون حطاما"
This applies to everything in this world. In the beginning people covet to get it. Then they get it and lose interest in it. Either we will die and leave it behind, or the thing will leave us. This is the reality of the Dunya.
"و في الاخرة عذاب شديد و مغفرة من الله و رضوان"
Do they think that there will be no recompense? In the next life there is either a punishment or mercy and forgiveness from Allah.
"و ما الحياة الدنيا الا متاع الغرور"
Like a person who went to the market, bought something, came home and found out he had been deceived by the product. But it's too late to go back, the market is closed.
HADITH: A place of a whip in Jannah is better then this entire world and what it contains.
This Dunya is nothing to Allah, but people fight each other for it, and covet after it.
HADITH: this Dunya in comparison to the next world is like if one of you put his finger in the ocean
Don't occupy yourself with the Dunya because it is a means of hardness of the heart.
HADITH: Don't crave for properties because it will make you become absorbed with the love of the Dunya.
HADITH: اللهم لا عيش الا عيش الاخرة
This is not the real life. It is just the abode of tests and trials.
-> Don't extend your eyes to the worldly enjoyment.
In (20:131):
"و لا تمدن عينيك الى ما متعنا به أزواجا منهم زهرة الحياة الدنيا لنفتنهم فيه
و رزق ربك خير و أبقى"
The رزق of Allah in this world is knowledge, faith, satisfaction, refined manners, good companions, gatherings, the Qur'an, understanding the religion, etc. Look at these, because they are everlasting and better then the worldly matters.
Lower your gaze. Don't long for what other people have, the clothes they have, the things they have in their houses, etc. When you look your heart will move and start desiring and coveting for that matter.
You see something someone else has, then you think about it, how to get it, fight people for it, get angry if you don't get it, etc. This hardens the heart.
Be satisfied with what you have.
-> Remind yourself of the hereafter
Whenever you find yourself inclining towards this world, remind yourself of the next world.
-> Look at those who are inferior to you in worldly things, and not at those who are superior to you.
-> Look at those who are better you in religion and knowledge, and ask Allah to make you like them or better than them.
The Event in Mina
Shaykh Abdul Razaq alBadr mentioned some lessons of benefit from this event:
1) The pilgrims just finished Muzdalifa and were heading towards Jamarat. They were concerned with finishing the rites of Hajj. Did any of them expect death after a few minutes?
We should prepare for death. It may come to us at any moment. Don't have long hopes and desires in this world. Just because you are young doesn't mean that death won't come now. Correct your deeds and do not waste your time.
2) The Dunya is never free of disturbances. It's enjoyment is not permanent, nor are its distresses. If you enjoy for a moment, it is followed by a moment of grief. There is no pure enjoyment and no pure distress in this world. The abode of soundness is Jannah. There is no pain, grief, disturbances there. Some people were celebrating the day of Eid and others were grieving.
3) The Prophet said, "No precautions can avert the decree of Allah"
You can take all the means of safety but whatever Allah has written will happen. Take the means, but put your trust in Allah. Don't rely on the means to protect you.
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