By
Rana Rais Khan – Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Hiba Family Resource Centre
Every person’s heart is engaged in a battle in this world. Allah (swt) granted every human being Qalban Saleem (a sound heart that identifies it’s Lord and knows the difference between right and wrong). This knowledge is manifested in our DNA. How does your heart stand victorious? Following are the levels you must climb to taste true victory in Dunya:
The first victory – When you seek the Aakhirah
When your heart empties itself of the importance of Dunya and it attaches itself to the Aakhirah, it begins to travel towards Allah (swt). This is a breakthrough and an indication that you are about to receive Taufiq (opportunities to do good deeds). This is the first victory for a believer.
Your heart yearns to be close to Allah (swt) and looks for ways to gain His pleasure. Similarly, you want to distance yourself from sins and worry about anything that may cause Allah’s (swt) anger.
What are your thoughts? Assess yourself.
Allah (swt) states in the Quran about Zakariya (AS): “So We responded to him and We gave to him John (Yahya) and amended for him his wife. Indeed, they used to hasten to good deeds and supplicate Us in hope and fear and they were to Us humbly submissive.” (Al Anbiya 21:90)
The second victory – When you prefer solitude
Now Allah (swt) will open the next door of Khair for you. You will develop love for solitude and be comfortable in it. The noise, crowd, distractions and unnecessary restlessness will reduce in your life, by your deliberate choice.
Remember how our beloved Prophet Muhammad (sa) would escape the hustle and bustle of Makkah occaisionally and spend quiet and focused time alone in cave Hira. You need to achieve this moderation where you can retreat to solitude for deliberate thinking.
Your heart will gain strength, your intent will be directed towards Allah (swt), your quality of attention will improve and time and duration of focus will increase too. This will develop healthy psychology.
Today’s greatest challenge for you may be to find and experience solitude. Are you constantly wired and connected to some one even when you are by yourself? Is it impossible for you to resist the pings and notifications of your social media? Are you uncomfortable or feel lonely when you are by yourself?
Allah (swt) states: “Only those believe in Our verses who, when they are reminded by them, fall down in prostration and exalt (Allah) with praise of their Lord, and they are not arrogant. Their sides part (i.e. they arise) from (their) beds, they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration and from what We have provided them, they spend. And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes (i.e. satisfaction) as reward for what they used to do.” (As Sajdah 32:15-17)
The third victory – When you enjoy and miss your worship
Allah (swt) opens the next door for the believer’s heart by granting him sweetness of the faith. He cannot get enough of his worship. The pleasure that ordinary people derive out of play, fun, frolic or other worldly addictions and obsessions, a believer feels a much higher level of contentment through worshipping Allah (swt).
The fourth victory – When you long to listen to the Quran
While people run towards music, which is the call of the Satan, a believer’s heart yearns to listen to Allah’s (swt) speech through the Quran. This is the next level Allah (swt) progresses his heart to. He finds solace and comfort in Kalam ul Allah and seeks to listen more of it. Just as an infant looks for his mother to sooth him, a believer looks for ways to listen to the Quranic recitation daily.
The fifth victory – When you understand Allah’s (swt) majesty and attributes
Next Allah (swt) opens another door of victory for the believer’s heart. He begins to fathom the meaning of the Quran enabling him to understand Allah’s (swt) true majesty and divine attributes. His heart engages in the divine scripture as if it is immersing in it. Allah (swt) describes such slaves of Allah in the Quran:
“The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith and upon their Lord they rely – The ones who establish prayer, and from what We have provided them, they spend. Those are the believers truly. For them are degrees (of high position) with their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision.” (Al Anfal 8:2-4)
The sixth victory – When you feel Allah’s (swt) watch and presence round the clock
This is a profound evidence of Allah’s (swt) recognition (Maarfat e Ilahi). Allah (swt) opens this door by granting to His slave a deep insight, Noor and Haya that enters his heart. With this spiritual breakthrough the believer feels himself standing before Allah (swt). Whether he is alone or in a crowd, the believer feels Allah’s (swt) surveillance every moment of his life hence stays steadfast.
His Iman bil Ghaib (faith in the unseen) transforms into Yaqueen (firm belief). This knowledge grants him different perception to view this world and its happenings. His lens of understanding about the world is extremely different from the ordinary people who have not increased in faith yet. Allah (swt) states in the Quran:
“… ‘Say, believe in it or do not believe.’ Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it – when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration. And they say, ‘Exalted is our Lord! Indeed the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled.’ And they fall upon their faces weeping and it (i.e. the Quran) increases them in humble submission.” (Al Isra 17:107-109)
The seventh victory – When you believe that Allah (swt) is the absolute authority for every happening at every level
Allah (swt) opens the next door for his slave’s heart. He guides him that Allah (swt) is the only and absolute Creator, Planner, Provider, Maintainer, Owner and Disposer of all affairs. Whether they are personal or universal issues. Whether they are private or public matters. Whether they are at a micro level or at a macro level.
Nobody has the control, authority or power to subjugate Allah (swt). Hence the believer’s heart relies upon Allah’s (swt) decree. Every single thing is His creation. Good and bad days are all portioned by Allah’s (swt) decree that is perfect and leading to the slave towards Jannah. The slave is content with His Wali and Maula’s decisions and waits for the next door to open for him.
Allah (swt) states in the Quran: “Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the throne. He covers the night with the day, (another night) chasing it rapidly and (He created) the sun, the moon and the stars. Subjected by His command. Unquestionably His is the creation and the command, blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (Al Araaf 7:54)
The eighth victory – When you experience Allah’s (swt) love and your heart reaches it’s potential
It is not easy to explain this doorway as we have never experienced it ourselves. The Sahabah were an example of this state. Our worship sadly is mechanical and mindless but they reached a higher state (spiritually not physically) when they worshipped Allah (swt).
A Sahabi, when struck by an arrow had to undergo the pain of the arrow when it was pulled out. He requested his companion to do it while the injured Sahabi offered Salah, as he would not feel the pain due to his devotion of prayer. We cannot even imagine this kind of engagement in our worship.
The believer’s heart rises above the rest and soaks itself in Allah’s (swt) light and honour. He is bestowed with Allah’s (swt) divine love that charges his body and soul.
Such people are tested severely in the world and they pay the price of their faith happily. Their ultimate desire is Jannah and meeting Allah (swt). Dunya and its desires do not distract them or hold them back. The prophets, Sahabah and our pious predecessors are great examples of this level of victory of the heart.
Allah (swt) states: “And they who give what they give while their hearts are fearful because they will be returning to their Lord – It is those who hasten to good deeds and they outstrip (others) therein.” (Al Mominoon 23:60-61)
Your lesson
Ever wondered why Allah (swt) commands us to offer one Salah after the other? He wants His slaves to strive in goodness and be constantly engaged in a series of virtues. The heart that does not adopt this order begins to decline in faith. Faith (Iman) is not constant. If it is not growing, it is certainly dipping. But the heart that wants to find it’s Rabb and is ready to sacrifice will eventually be granted Taufeeq, Hidayah and Jannah bi izn Allah.
Adapted from Ibrahim At Tuwejri’s Fiqh ul Quloob, taught by Safiya Khan
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