Reflections From The Qur’an (13): 6 Simple Steps to Curing Blindness of the Heart

Introduction

Alhamdulillāh… All perfect thanks and praises are due to the Almighty Allāh. I send peace and blessings upon Ḥabībī Muḥammad, his household, his companions and all those who follow his guided path, till judgement day.

This is the 13th part of our Reflections from the Qur’an series, which is posted here on GSalam.Net. It started during Ramadān 2014. And this is the third entry for Ramadān 2015. Today's reflection takes us through 6 Simple steps to curing blindness of the Heart. I pray that Allah grants us a better understanding for His book and religion, so we can put it into practice and get closer to Him as possible.

A Short Personal Encounter

Yesterday (9/7/2015), I encountered a blind man in the train, which was travelling from a crowded station in the heart (city) of Singapore to the Western part of the city-state. The man alighted at the same station I alighted. The station was relatively crowded, as it was during a peak-hours period. The (blind) man, depending on his stick, used the elevator down to the concourse and cleared the electronic gantries, all by himself.

The scenario of this man reminded me of a blind lady who I use to see in the neighbourhood, where I stay. Despite being physically blind, she, too, travels using the trains and the buses. She crosses the traffic lights. She also goes to her workplace (I assume), all by herself.

I asked myself, how does a blind person find his way, in a way that can be more precise than many people with vision. The answer came, as I recalled our verse of reflection in this piece. It implies that the true blindness is not in the eyes; it’s rather in the hearts. Its scariest implication is that blindness of the eyes may not expose us to danger, but the blindness of the heart definitely poses danger and serious negativity on us.

The Verse of Our Reflection

In Sūrah Al-Hajj, 46, Allah enjoined us to travel through the earth, so to establish reasoning hearts and hearing ears. This is because blindness is not necessarily the blindness of the eyes. Blindness is indeed the blindness that affects the hearts. He says:

أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَآ أَوْ ءَاذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا، فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ وَلَـٰكِن تَعْمَى ٱلْقُلُوبُ ٱلَّتِى فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ ﴿٤٦﴾ـ

“Have they not traveled through the earth to make their hearts reason and their ears hear? For indeed, it is not eyes that are blinded, but blinded are the hearts which are within the breasts.”

Reflections on the Verse

The verse draws to our attention the significance of the hearts we're bearing in our breasts. The verse also enjoins those indicated in the verse, as well as us, to travel through the earth, so we could engage our hearts and transform them to appreciate Allah’s blessings and bounties. In addition to appreciating Allah’s blessings and bounties, travelling through the earth enables us to see more of Allah’s signs, that affirms our īmān towards Him. This means, such a journey may be a waste if, at the end of it, we fail to engage our hearts in appreciating Allah, and strengthening our faith in Him.

The verse also implies, that human's heart is the most significant organ of the body. Thus, when it's in a good condition, the whole body functions well. When it's in a bad condition, then every part of the body is affected negatively. The Prophet, ṣalla Allāhu ‘alaihi wa sallam affirmed this in a ḥadīth reported by Imām al-Bukhārī and Muslim from the narration of al-Nu‘mān ibn al-Bashīr raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu. It says:

أَلَا وَإِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً إذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، وَإذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، أَلَا وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ

“Truly in the body there is a morsel of flesh, which, if it be whole, all the body is whole, and which, if it is diseased, all of [the body] is diseased. Truly, it is the heart.”

Therefore, we're required to ensure the wellbeing of our hearts at all times. Being mindful of the wellbeing of the heart is not only by ensuring its hygienic and healthy state, it goes beyond that to include purifying it, nurturing it to appreciate Allah and His bounties. And this has to be holistic. Once we achieve that, modesty will prevail in our appearances, interactions and dealings. Let me give a short example…

When you enter the mosque during a Friday congregation, you may find 500 to a 1000 congregants. Everyone grooms himself and dresses uniquely, but they are all doing the same thing. That is Ṣalāh. However, although they're all doing the same thing, their rewards vary from one person to another. The reason? Hearts function differently.

The people you see in the mosque are rewarded differently, as their hearts function differently because… Some are forced to be there. Some are there to search for soul mates. Some are there to show off. Some are there solely to pray. Unfortunately, Some are there to rob or cheat. Therefore, everyone’s rewards will have to differ and vary from anyone else’s. The mosque is the house of Allah and its primary mission is to serve as a platform for connecting with Allah. Should everyone has had the same objective when going to the mosque, they'd have been rewarded the same.

Another example. A Muslim is expected to cover his ‘aurah and dress modestly. The instruction is very simple; cover your ‘aurah and be modest. But due to the differences in the functionality of the hearts, we see different attitudes towards covering ‘aurah. We see transparent dresses, tight jeans, short-sleeves, or mini skirt with a headscarf, and the list continues.

As a result of this, these differences in objectives generated by the hearts are also reflected in the various attitudes of the people. Not only in dresses, but in all aspects of life. That's why, although, people in the mosque are [supposed to be] doing the same thing, they dress differently and their rewards also vary. Although everyone gives the impression that he covers his ‘aurah, some are still naked (in the context of Islam).

When we achieve reasoning for our hearts, they are lighted and purified. Once they’re lighted and purified, they are cleaned from hypocrisy, jealousy, betrayal, and immorality. In addition to that, they’re protected from deception, pride and arrogance. When you are granted this, without the effect of black magic (siḥr), you become wise. Your words become wisdom. Your wisdom predicts things that could happen in the future. Once you achieve this, your heart is given the vision, light and guidance, which healthy eyes can never attain.

How Do We Attain Lighted Hearts?

Attaining a lighted heart requires one to trade-in his desires, and give up anything that is likeable to Iblis (Satan). This includes:

1. Seeking guidance from Allah constantly (Du’a).
2. Remembering Allah at all times (Dhikr).
3. Purifying one’s heart from hatred, jealousy, arrogance, pride, deception and selfishness.
4. Eating healthily.
5. Having a regular physical exercise; This enables him to…
6. Travelling through the earth, and learning from the experiences of other nations.

Conclusion

Allah may test us with physical blindness in the eyes, and that happens by His will. No matter what, it can be bearable, as long as you will be able to worship Him and carry out righteousness. As that is our primary purpose of existence. But when our hearts are blinded, it’s a result of our choice (deeds and consequences). Once one has blinded hearts, confusion clouds all his actions, decisions and feelings.

O Allah, purify our hearts from hypocrisy, purify our deeds from riyā’ (show off), purify our eyes from betrayal, and purify our private parts from immorality. Amīn.

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Until our next article, I leave you in Allah’s protection.

Allāh knows best.
Allāhu Ḥāfiẓ 🙂