Part 4 The Importance of Having a Soft Heart
One of Allah’s main qualities is the quality of mercy. Rahmaan and Raheem are those two qualities which are mentioned in Bismillah, Surah Fatiha and many places throughout the Quran. In every namaz a person ponders over and mentions these two qualities. The more merciful a person is the more he becomes entitled to Allah’s mercy and the harsher he is, the more distant he becomes from Allah’s mercy.
The books are Ahadith are full of narrations discussing the importance of a soft and merciful heart. We will mention a few here so that we may abide by the teachings of Nabi ﷺ
1) Narrated Jarir bin `Abdullah (ra):
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind.
صحیح بخاری، باب قول اللہ تعالی: قل ادعوا اللہ او ادعوا الرحمٰن، حدیث 7376
2) Narrated Abu Huraira (ra):
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "While a man was walking on a road. He became very thirsty. Then he came across a well, got down into it, drank (of its water) and then came out. Meanwhile he saw a dog panting and licking mud because of excessive thirst. The man said to himself "This dog is suffering from the same state of thirst as I did." So he went down the well (again) and filled his shoe (with water) and held it in his mouth and watered the dog. Allah appreciated the deed and forgave him." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Is there a reward for us in serving the animals?" He said, "(Yes) there is a reward for serving any animate (living being)."
صحیح بخاری باب رحمۃ الناس والبھائم، حدیث 6009
3) Abdullah bin 'Amr (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The merciful are shown mercy by Ar-Rahman. Be merciful on those on earth, and you will be shown mercy from who is above the heavens. The womb is named after Ar-Rahman, so whoever connects it, Allah connects him, and whoever severs it, Allah severs him."
جامع الترمذی، باب ما جاء فی رحمۃ الناس، حدیث 1989
4) Narrated Ibn `Umar (ra):
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A woman entered the (Hell) Fire because of a cat which she had tied, neither giving it food nor setting it free to eat from the vermin of the earth. " (The cat died due to hunger).
صحیح بخاری، باب خمس من الدواب فواسق يقتلن فی الحرم، حدیث 3318
5) Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated that Abul- Qasim ﷺ said:
"Mercy is not removed (from anyone) except from a wicked one."
جامع الترمذی، باب ما جاء فی رحمۃ الناس، حدیث 1988
6) Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated that someone asked the Prophet (ﷺ) ‘how can I rid myself of hard heartedness. Nabi ﷺ replied: Place your hand over the head of an orphan and feed the poor.
مسند احمد، حدیث 9006
Our hearts have become hard, not accepting words of guidance. Love for our Muslim brother has vanished. Keeping Nabi ﷺ’s teaching in mind we need to make our hearts soft and caring towards our Muslim brothers so that we may receive Allah’s mercy. May Allah grant us a soft heart, save us from having a hard heart and cleanse our society from hatred. Ameen
Wasalam
Muhhamad Ilyas Ghumman
Mazahir-Ul-Uloom Khanqah Chistiyah, Shah Aalam, Salangor, Malaysia
Thursday 23rd February 2017
Translated by Mawlana Yousaf Baig