The heart and its degrees

 

In every case, there is something from where the instruction comes, that is, as it were, the "center of instructions." Similarly, the heart is the center of human consciousness. If the heart is full of faith, conscience and kindness, then a person is characterized by morality and sincerity. And when unbelief and cruelty take root in the heart, such things as unbelief and immorality appear in a person. Therefore, the heart is the source of good and evil. The Holy Quran speaks about the heart in 132 places. This is a sign of the importance of the heart. Therefore, Allah Almighty points out that the main reason why a person is a believer or an unbeliever, pure or sinful, is the human heart. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "Truly, there is a piece of flesh in a person's body, if it is healthy, then the whole body will be healthy, but if it is spoiled, then the whole body will become spoiled. It's a heart." (Imam Bukhari). As stated in the Quran and hadith, from a spiritual point of view, there are the following types of human hearts: The first one is "Kolbun salim" (healthy heart). The Holy Qur'an says: "On a Day when (no one) will benefit from wealth or sons, but (it will be easy for those) who stand before Allah with a healthy heart." (Surah Ash-Shu'ara, verses 88, 89). Regarding the meaning of the word "healthy heart" in this verse, Mufassir Imam Razi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "A healthy heart means avoiding ignorance and bad temper. That is, the liberation of the heart from blind beliefs, evil deeds and worldly desires." The second one is "Kolbun munib" (humble heart). A submissive heart is a heart that is devoted to Allah, freed from the shackles of the transitory worlds and sincerely turned to its Lord. The Holy Qur'an says: "Who feared the Most Merciful without seeing Him, and came with a heart turned (to Allah, submissive)." (They will be told): "Enter here (Paradise) in peace. This is the Day of Eternity (the beginning of eternal life in Paradise)!" Everything they desire will be given to them in it, but We have more" (Surah Kaf, verses 33-35). The third one is "Kolbun mutmainn" (installed heart). This is a heart that has been freed from all evil thoughts, has found peace, has perfect faith, that is, has reached the level of "ainal-yakin". As stated in the Qur'an, the only way for the heart to reach this level is "dhikrullah", that is, the remembrance of Allah. The Holy Qur'an provides: "Is it not the remembrance of Allah that calms the hearts?" (Surah Ar-Ra'd, verse 28). These are the hearts of true believers. Such people will have no problems in their future lives. They will enter the Paradise promised by Almighty Allah. Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "May your heart be the abode of three things: faith, hope and love." Fourth: "Kolbun kosiya" (the callous heart). Islamic scholars say that hardening of the heart means that the heart does not accept the truth, avoids understanding the verses of Allah, does not hear the call and commits sins. The Qur'an says: "Woe to those whose hearts are callous to the remembrance of Allah! They are in manifest error" (Surah Az-Zumar, verse 22). Fifth: "The dead heart." It is a heart that does not learn, does not feel, and is not influenced by instruction. Such a heart is described in the Quran as a "sealed heart." The hearts of those who do not heed the warnings of Allah and do not see the truth. That is, a heart that cannot come out of blind faith, that does not weigh the truth on the scales of reason and refuses to acknowledge the truth. As a result, Allah Almighty sealed their hearts. The Holy Qur'an says this: "Indeed, the disbelievers do not care whether you admonish them or not, they do not believe. Allah has sealed their hearts and their ears, and there is a veil over their eyes. And for them is a great punishment!" (Surah Al—Baqara, verses 6-7). The following verse says: "They have hearts that do not understand, eyes that do not see, and ears that do not hear. Because of the scarcity of thinking, the unwillingness to look at things in order to learn a lesson, and the unwillingness to listen while reflecting" (Surah Al-A'raf, verse 179). Sixth: "Kolbun Marodun" (sick heart). The Holy Qur'an says: "There is a disease in their hearts. May Allah increase their illness!" (Surah Al-Baqara, verse 10). Here we have described the types of hearts. However, spiritual heart disease is transitory. Because the heart is not born with a spiritual disease. Any heart disease can be cured with the help of the grace of the Almighty. Islamic scholars have divided heart disease into two parts: faith and morality. Heart disease, from the point of view of faith, means associating oneself with Almighty Allah, that is, worshipping another deity along with Allah. From a moral point of view, heart diseases include sinfulness, greed, hypocrisy, arrogance, jealousy and love of the mundane, and much more. And that's exactly what people need to get rid of first. What does the heart need first? Since the heart is a source of spiritual education, the heart needs faith first of all. The heart must be freed from ignorance and spiritual diseases, and faith must be strong. Since man consists of a body and a soul, and our body is made of earth, all his food and needs are taken from the soil in the depths of the earth. And since the soul is given to man by Allah, his sustenance is spiritual food. Allah Almighty says in Surah Al-Baqara: "Take with you everything you need, but the best thing you can stock up on is piety." Religion illuminates the human heart with compassion and love. This light invigorates our hearts and strengthens our faith. Only then will our hearts be cleansed of bad habits and filled with good qualities. God said to Musa (peace be upon him): "I'm looking into a person's heart. If I don't find any signs of love in him, I fill them with self-love. Protecting him from others, I take him as My friend." The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Truly, when a slave of Allaah commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart, and if he stops sinning, asks for forgiveness and repents, his heart is cleansed of this stain..." (Imam Nawawi, Riyad Al-Solihin). May Allah protect us all from spiritual diseases and light up our hearts with the light of faith. May He give us a pure heart!