Central Sermon : Rest Your Heart in Prayer
Praise be to Allah and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah.
Disdain towards the Knower of the unseen and the seen and His guidance, then deviation from the right path, following passions, and excessive love for the material world are the gravest and most dangerous causes of heart diseases. For a heart in which such elements exist, it is said to be a hardened heart – Kasvetu-l-kulub. One of the greatest punishments by which Allah punishes His servants in this world is the disease of the hardened heart. Sehl ibn Abdullah said: “Every punishment is a purification from sins, except one – the cruelty of the heart.” In the dictionary “Lisanu-l-arab” (Language of the Arabs), it is mentioned that a hardened heart is one that lacks mercy, gentleness, and repentance. The Islamic scholar El Kurtubi said: “Hardness, rigidity, dryness of the heart are diseases that lead to disobedience and abandonment of Allah’s verses and prescriptions.”
Where should we seek comfort, remedy, and rest for our hearts?
Ibn Mas’ud said: “Seek your heart in three places: in studying the Quran, in gatherings of remembrance of Allah, and in moments of solitude. And if you do not find your heart in these three moments – implore Allah to give you a heart, for you do not have a heart!”
The first stop for hearts to find rest is the Quran!
The best recitation and listening to the word of Allah is during prayer. According to Abu Huraira, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Allah the Most High said: ‘I have divided the prayer between Me and My servant into two parts, and to My servant belongs what he asks. When My servant says: ‘Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds’, Allah says: ‘My servant praises Me’. When My servant says: ‘The Most Merciful, the Most Merciful’, Allah says: ‘My servant has extolled Me in the most beautiful manner’. When My servant says: ‘Master of the Day of Judgment’, Allah says: ‘My servant has magnified Me’. When My servant says: ‘You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help’, Allah says: ‘This is between Me and My servant, and to My servant belongs what he asks.’ When My servant says: ‘Guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray’, Allah says: ‘This is for My servant, and to him belongs what he asks.'” This hadith is reported by Imam Muslim. Isn’t it sufficient that Allah responds to the recitation of each verse of the Fatiha to soothe the heart?
Solitude is an opportunity to be close to Allah. To rest your heart. Haven’t you heard that the one who remembers Allah in solitude under the shade of the Throne has eyes filled with tears? Mu’adh ibn Jabal, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “The best deed that can save a person from Allah’s punishment is the remembrance of Allah.” Then he was asked: “Even fighting in the way of Allah?” “Even fighting in the way of Allah. Hasn’t Allah said: ‘Indeed, the remembrance of Allah is the greatest’ (Surah Al-Ankabut, 45)?”, replied Mu’adh. (Reported by Ahmed, Ez-Zuhd)
O Allah, make it easy for us to accompany. Amen.
