Sincerity in the Heart

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is a transcript of a discourse delivered by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

Allah (s.w.t.) Tells us: 

سُوۡرَةُ الحُجرَات

۞ قَالَتِ ٱلۡأَعۡرَابُ ءَامَنَّا‌ۖ قُل لَّمۡ تُؤۡمِنُواْ وَلَـٰكِن قُولُوٓاْ أَسۡلَمۡنَا وَلَمَّا يَدۡخُلِ ٱلۡإِيمَـٰنُ فِى قُلُوبِكُمۡ‌ۖ وَإِن تُطِيعُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ ۥ لَا يَلِتۡكُم مِّنۡ أَعۡمَـٰلِكُمۡ شَيۡـًٔا‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ (١٤) 

The desert Arabs say, “We believe.”  Say, “You have no faith; but ye (only) say, ‘We have submitted our wills to Allah,’ for not yet has faith entered your hearts.  But if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not belittle aught of your deeds: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.” (Surah al-Hujraat:14) 

It is easy to say something with the tongue, whether it is meant or not.  Islam does not want that from us.  Instead, our total personality must be in complete submission to Allah (s.w.t.) and only then will we be a true believer.  Allah (s.w.t.) Says about some people: 

سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة

فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ۬ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضً۬ا‌ۖ ... (١٠) 

In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has Increased their disease ... (Surah al-Baqarah:10) 

Why is this?  Because they say they believe, but do so for some ulterior motive.  Those are not from amongst the true believers.  Instead, we must concentrate on true submission to Allah (s.w.t.) from our heart.  As Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) said, “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.”  This is from Swahih al-Bukhari.  Sometimes we hear people say, “such and such a person does not have heart.”  It means that the person being described does not have love and compassion.  These qualities do not come from the tongue.  True love comes from the heart.  This is why Islam emphasises that we bring the faith into our hearts. 

We look at what Allah (s.w.t.) Did when He Wanted Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) to begin preaching the Diyn.  He Caused Jibril (a.s.) to impress the Qur’an in the heart of Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.) on the night of the first Revelation.  So when he spoke to the people it was not only coming from his mouth but his heart as well.  Thus, we culture and cultivate our heart to have true submission and God-consciousness and only then we would have really achieved something.  If we have Allah (s.w.t.) in our heart, and we submit to Him, only then will we find peace and tranquillity.  This is possibly why He Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ الرّعد

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ أَلَا بِذِڪۡرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ (٢٨) 

“Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.” (Surah ar-Ra’ad:28) 

We can have everything of this world, but have no peace of mind.  When we culture and nurture our heart to have true submission to Allah (s.w.t.), we will find peace and contentment.  And we will also get closer and closer to our Lord.  If we have no peace and contentment, then something is wrong.  We understand also that when we think of, or do evil, it will impact upon our heart.  Even if no one is aware of it, we are putting stains on our heart.  We need to all the time keep looking at our hearts and work upon it to ensure that we have sincerity and purity.  And this is where our dzikr and meditation can help.  By engaging in spiritual mediation, we will be aware if we are engaging in something wrong; if so, we will feel a ‘heavy heart’.  And if we are engaged in good or surrounded with good, we will feel a difference in our heart.  Insha’Allah, our heart will aid in guiding us.  Our mission is to make our heart bright and shinning and full of sincerity and purity; else we are just like the Bedouins who Allah (s.w.t.) spoke of.  May we keep our heart clean and pure and strong in Allah’s (s.w.t.) remembrance and let Him Take Care of our affairs, insha’Allah.



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