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Ibn al-Qayyim: What Matters at Heart

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Cross-posted from:  http://thehumblei.com/2013/02/04/ibn-al-qayyim-what-matters-at-heart/

‘A servant is not afflicted with any chastisement greater than a hard heart and of being remote from God.

Hardness of the heart comes about by four things, when the level of need is exceeded: eating, sleeping, speaking and socialising.

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Hearts that are attached to carnal passions are veiled from God to the extent of these attachments.

Hearts are God’s vessels upon His earth. Those most beloved to Him are the ones that are the softest, purest and most affable.

Their hearts are immersed in the world. If they were occupied with God and with the afterlife, then they would contemplate over the meaning of His words and creational signs, and would have returned with the profoundest wisdoms and most astonishing benefits.

If the heart is nourished upon God’s remembrance (dhikr), quenched with meditation (tafakkur) and cleansed of blemishes, it will witness great wonders and be infused with deep wisdom.

Love of God shall not enter a heart in which there is love of this world, save as a camel passes through the eye of a needle.

The heart falls ill as the body does; its cure is in repentance and a spiritual regimen. It gets tarnished as a mirror does; its polish is dhikr. It feels exposed as the body does: its robe is piety (taqwa). It hungers and thirsts like the body does: its sustenance is gnosis, love, repentance and divine service.

The heart has six places in which it roams – there being no seventh. Three of these are lowly and three lofty. The lowly are: a world that entices it, an ego that nags at it; and a foe who seductively whispers to it. These are the places where lowly spirits constantly roam. The three lofty things are: knowledge by which it gains clarity; an intellect with which it is guided; and a deity [God] to which it is devoted in worship. So these are the places wherein hearts wander.’1

♦

‘Seek your heart in three places: where the Qur’an is recited; in the gathering of dhikr;and in times of seclusion. If you don’t find it in these places, then ask God to bless you with a heart. For you have no heart!’2

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1. Ibn al-Qayyim, al-Fawa’id (Makkah: Dar ‘Alam al-Fawa’id, 2009), 142-4.

2. ibid., 218.

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Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

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Abu Aaliyah is the founder of The Jawziyyah Institute, a leading institute for Islamic moderation and contemporary thought in the United Kingdom. Sidi Abu Aaliyah has been in involved in Dawah and Islamic teachings since 1986. He has translated a number of books from the Arabic language into English such as "The Exquisite Pearls". Abu Aaliyah's written works and audio lectures can be found online.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Sarah Mohamed

    March 20, 2013 at 5:09 PM

    Thank you for this lovely reminder. I love knowing what scholars of Islam have to say about important matters of this, as it something that’s need great care and attention. Jazza kalla kheiran for this, May Allah reward you and May Allah have mercy on Ibn al Qayyim.

    Please keep up the good work MuslimMatters :)

    Reply

  2. Umm Hadi

    March 24, 2013 at 11:16 PM

    Jazak Allah, Got this just when I was reading abt “Prification of the heart”y Hamza Yusuf.

    Reply

  3. Fateemah

    April 1, 2013 at 5:30 PM

    MashaAllah! The post almost spoke directly to me. I am trying to reclaim my heart from the dunya after such a.long period of darkness within it, sans Allah (sw). I pray to Allah to make my heart roam in the lofty places.

    May Allah sw bless you Sheikh

    Reply

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