30 Khawaatir in 30 Days- A Parent’s Guide | Day 7: Qalbun Saleem (A Sound Heart)

Now that we have learnt about controlling our anger, let’s talk about qalbun saleem (a sound heart).

Today our reflection will include a story of a very special man. The Prophet Muhammad was sitting with a group of the companions in the masjid and he said: 

“A man will now enter (who is) from the people of Paradise.” 

The man walked in. Later it happened again, and then a third time. One of the companions wanted to find out what was so special about this individual, so he asked the man if he could stay over at his house for three days, making an excuse to stay. The man allowed him to do so. 

Observing him carefully in his home, the companion noticed that the man didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. 

He didn’t fast all the time, he slept some of the night, and prayed some of the night, and so on. 

So after the three days, the companion told him the real reason why he requested to stay with him, and he asked him what it was that could be the reason why he was from the people of Jannah. 

His host couldn’t think of anything, but after some time, he said, “Every night, before I go to sleep, I forgive whoever has wronged me. I remove any bad feelings towards anyone from my heart.” 

Question: Do you think that is an easy thing to do?

Our Prophet Muhammad reminds us in this hadith: 

إِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً إِذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، وَإِذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ‏.‏ أَلاَ وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ.” ‏”

“There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good, the whole body becomes good, but if it gets spoiled, the whole body gets spoiled, and that is the heart.”

Part of having a qalbun saleem, is to try to forgive others when they hurt your feelings.

Question: What do you think that’s important?

We know that we will make lots of mistakes in our lives, but don’t we also want Allah’s forgiveness? Allah tells us in Surat an-Nur:

وَلْيَعْفُوا وَلْيَصْفَحُوا ۗ أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ …

“…and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful,” [Surah an-Nur; 22]

In this special month, we are asking Allah for His Mercy and His Forgiveness.

Question: Can we try our best to forgive others quickly so Allah can be quick to forgive us?