Polishing the Hearts
Imaam
ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah (d.751) [1]
Al-Bayhaqee relates from Ibn 'Umar 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."[2]
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.
CONFUSING
TRUTH WITH FALSEHOOD
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 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]." [Soorah
al-Kahf 18:28].
Allaah - the Most High - said:
"O you who
believe! Remember Allaah and remember Him alot." [Soorah
al-Ahzaab 33:41].
"Those men
and women who remember Allaah alot." [Soorah al-Ahzaab 33:35].
"So when
you have finished the rights of your Pilgrimage, then remember Allaah as you
remember your fore-father, or with more intense remembrance." [Soorah
al-Baqarah 2:200].
These verses
contain a command to remember Allaah intensely and abundantly, since the
worshipper is in dire need of [remembering Allaah] 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 Allaah will not be of any benefit to
him. Rather, the harm entailed in being neglectful of the dhikr of Allaah is
far greater than any benefits that can be gained. One of the 'aarifeen (those
who are knowledgeable about Allaah) said: "lf a person were to spend such
and such number of years engaged [in the dhikr of Allaah], 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
radiallaahu 'anhaa that the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said:
"There is
no time in which the son of Aadam does not remember Allaah in it, except that
it will be a source of regret for him on the Day of Judgement."[3]
Mu'aadh ibn Jabal radiallaahu 'anhu
relates that the Prophet sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said:
"The
people of Paradise will not have any regrets except for those moments in which
they were not engaged in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah."[4]
Mu'aadh ibn
Jabal also relates that Allaah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam was
asked: What action is the most beloved to Allaah? So he replied:
"That you
continue to keep your tongue moist with the dhikr of Allaah, until you
die."[5]
POLISHING THE HEART
Abu
Dardaa radiallaahu 'anhu said: "For everything there is a polish and the
polish for the heart is the dhikr of Allaah."