The diseases of the hearts and their cures

[Umm Mohammad]

The diseases of the hearts and their cures - by Shaykhul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah

The Keys to the Life of the Heart

Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “The keys to the life of the heart lie in reflecting upon the Qur'aan, being humble before Allaah in secret, and leaving sins.”2 Allaah, the Most High, said

“A Book which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its verses, and that men of understanding may take heed.” Soorah Saad:29

So Allaah informed us that He sent down this Great Qur'aan, blessed in its wording, meaning, commands, prohibitions and regulations. Amongst its blessings is that the one who recites even one word of it then he has a reward, and this reward is increased tenfold, as mentioned in the hadeeth reported by at-Tirmidhee, and at-Tirmidhee said that it is hasan saheeh.3

Also amongst its blessings is that the one who reads it and acts upon it shall not be misguided in this world, nor fall into distress and misery in the Hereafter as stated by Ibn Abbaas in the commentary to the verse

Whosoever follows My guidance shall neither go astray nor fall into distress and misery. [Soorah Taa Haa (20):123]4

Amongst its blessings also is that the one who learns it and teaches it is from the best of people as occurs in the hadeeth reported by al-Bukhaaree,
"The best of you is the one who learns the Qur'aan and then teaches it.”5

Amongst its blessings is that it will be an intercessor on the Day of Judgement for its companions who used to act by it in this world as occurs in the two ahaadeeth reported by Muslim in his Saheeh.6

He, the Exalted informed us that He revealed the Qur'aan so that its meanings, commands and prohibitions may be reflected over, such that if one were to come across a verse commanding something then he should follow it. If one were to come across a verse forbidding something then he should leave it. If one were to come across averse concerning the Mercy of Allaah then he would hope for this Mercy and ask for it. If one were to come across a verse threatening with punishment then he would fear this and seek refuge with Allaah from it. If one were to come across a verse concerning the glorification of Allaah then he would glorify Allaah, and through this faith, knowledge, guidance and taqwaa will increase.

Allaah said while describing the believers

“And when His verses are recited unto them, they increase their faith.”[Soorah al-Anfaal (8):2]

Due to their containing promises and threats that motivate hope and fear: and Allaah, the Most High, said

Do they not ponder over the Qur'aan or are their locks upon their hearts? Soorah Muhammad (47):24

Amongst the ways of giving life to the heart is to be humble to Allaah in secret. Meaning to desire and long for Allaah through supplication, seeking forgiveness, turning to Him, asking for victory. Paradise and shelter from Hellfire at the time when Allaah descends to the lowest Heaven in the last third of the night, as occurs in the authentic hadeeth,

"Our Lord Descends to the lowest heaven when a third of the night remains, saying: Who is supplicating to Me that I may answer him? Who is asking of Me that I may give him? Who is seeking forgiveness of Me that I may forgive him.” Reported by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.

This hadeeth contains encouragement to stand in the last part of the night, praying, supplicating, and asking for forgiveness, Paradise and safety from the Fire, and supplicating for good in this life and the Hereafter. Indeed Allaah has commanded us with supplication and promised to reply, and He who is far removed from imperfection, does not break His promises. Amongst the times that this reply will be attained is the last part of the night, and this is a blessing that Allaah bestows upon whomsoever He wishes, and Allaah is the Possessor of great blessings and bounty.

And from the ways of giving life to the heart is to leave the sins that kill it, as in the hadeeth,

“When the servant performs a sin a black spot appears on his heart, and if he seeks forgiveness this black spot is removed, and if he returns to sin the black spot grows until his heart becomes black, and this is the `Raan' about which Allaah spoke

‘Nay! But on their hearts is the covering of sins (raan) which they used to earn.' [Soorah al-Mutaffiifeen (83):14.]7

The poet said

I saw the sins killing the hearts
breading ignominy due to their addiction
And in the leaving of sins lies its life
and it is best for Your soul that you preserve it.

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²Haadee a/-Arwaah ilaa Bilaad al-Afraah (p.45) of Ibn al-Qayyim.

³Referring to the hadeeth reported by Ibn Mas'ood, (radiyallaahu 'anhu), that the Messenger of Allaah (Sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) said, “The One who recites a word of the Qur'aan shall get one reward and this reward is increased tenfold. I do not say that Alif Laam Meem is a word, but Alif is a word, Laam is word, and Meem is a word.” Reported in Riyaad as-Saaliheen [Eng. Trans. 3/62 no. 106], Mishkaat al-Masaabeeh [Eng. Trans. 1/45], at-Tirmidhee [no.2912] and ad-Daarimee. It is saheeh. Refer to as-Saheehah [no. 660] and the notes of Shu'ayb al-Arna'oot to Zaad al-Ma’aad of Ibn al-Qayyim [1/339]. [Translator's Note]

⁴Tafseer Ibn Katheer (3/123)

⁵Saheehal-Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 6/501 no. 545].

⁶See also the chapter, ‘The Excellence of Reciting the Qur'aan’ in Riyaad as-Saaliheen. Referring to the hadeeth of Aboo Umaamah that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (Sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) saying, "Recite the Qur'aan for on the Day of Resurrection it will come as an intercessor for those who recite it. Recite the two bright ones, al-Baqarah and Aali ‘Imraan, for on the Day of Resurrection they will come as two clouds or two shades or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading for those who recite them. Recite Soorah al-Baqarah for to take recourse to it is a blessing and to give it up is a cause of grief and the magicians cannot confront it.”

And the hadeeth of an-Nawwaas bin Sam'aan that he heard the Messenger of Allaah (Sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) saying. "On the Day of Resurrection the Qur’aan and those who acted according to it will be brought with Soorah al-Baqarah and Aali ’Imraan preceding them.” The Messenger of Allah (Sal-Allaahu 'alayhe wa sallam) likened them to three things that I did not forget afterwards, "Two clouds or two black canopies with light between them, or like two flocks of birds in ranks pleading for the one who recited them.”Saheeh Muslim [Eng. Trans 2/385-386 no. 1757, 1759] Translator's Note

⁷Reported by an-Nasaa'ee and at-Tirmidhee who said that it was hasan saheeh