The Two Major Signs of a Dead Heart

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn ‘Abbad ar-Rundi (r.a.) wrote Sharh al-Hikam ‘Atha’illah, a commentary on Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari’s (q.s.) Hikam. 

Shaykh Taj ad-Din Abu al-Fadhl Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Atha’illah as-Sakandari (q.s.) said, “Among the signs of the heart’s death is leaving sadness over missed acts of obedience and leaving regret over slips into disobedience.” 

Imam ibn ‘Abbad ar-Rundi (r.a.) wrote that when the heart is alive with faith, it feels sad about the acts of obedience that it misses and regrets the slips into disobedience it experiences.  This also dictates the presence of happiness when one is Used by Allah (s.w.t.) for acts of obedience from evil acts of disobedience.  It has been narrated in a hadits, “Whoever’s good deed make him happy and bad deeds make him sad, he is the believer.”  This is recorded by Imam Abu ‘Abdullah Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah Al-Hakim an-Nishaburi (r.a.).  Imam ibn ‘Abbad ar-Rundi (r.a.) continued, if the servant does not have sadness about missed opportunities and regret for committing bad deeds, he is dead of heart.  This is because the actions of the servant, good or bad, are Signs for the presence of Allah’s Pleasure or Anger for the servant. 

When Allah (s.w.t.) Gives the servant the success to perform good acts, the servant is made happy by it since it is a Sign for His Pleasure for him.  In such a case, his hope predominates.  And when Allah (s.w.t.) abandons and does not protect the servant letting him commit acts of disobedience, the servant is made sad since it is a sign for His Anger.  In such a case, his fear predominates.  Hope pushes the servant to earnestly work towards obedience.  Hope does not dictate that one leave acts of obedience and leave sadness over what one has missed of acts of obedience due to feeling safe from the plot of Allah (s.w.t.) in delusion. 

Fear pushes the servant to go to extremes to avoid acts of disobedience.  Fear does not dictate that one perform acts of disobedience leaving regret because one has despaired of the Mercy of Allah (s.w.t.).  Sayyidina Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (r.a.) said, “When we were with the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.), a person came upon us, kneeled his camel, and then walked towards the Prophet (s.a.w.).  He said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I hurried my camel for nine days.  I drove it towards you for six making my night sleepless and my day full of thirst.  I have now put down my camel to ask you about two things which have been making my nights sleepless.’ 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) asked, ‘Who are you?’ 

The man replied, ‘Zayd al-Khayl’ (Zayd of the Horses).’ 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) responded, ‘Rather, you are Zayd al-Khayr (Zayd of Goodness).  Ask your question for perhaps it is enigmatic.’ 

The man said, ‘I have come to ask about the sign by which one knows that Allah wants good for one and the sign by which one knows that Allah does not want good for one.’ 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) replied, ‘Excellent!  How did you find yourself this morning?’ 

He replied, ‘I found myself this morning loving good and its people, loving that it be acted by, and yearning for it.  When I do a good act, small or big, I am sure that it will be Rewarded.’ 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, ‘This is the very sign, Zayd.  If He wanted bad for you, He would have made you inclined towards it.  In such a case, He would not care in which valley you perish.’ 

Zayd then said, ‘This is enough for me.’  He then made off with his camel.”