A verse to reflect on
﴿يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ﴾“The Day when neither wealth nor children will benefit, except whoever comes to Allah with a sound heart.”
al-Shu‘ara’ 26:88–89 · translation of the meaning · Quran.com
These words are from the prayer of Ibrahim (peace be upon him), the builder of the House you will visit. The scholars of tafsir said the sound heart is one free of shirk and doubt, and of resentment, envy and the other diseases of the heart.
All the wealth and status you carry stays behind you. Only the heart arrives with you.
Today’s hadith
“Indeed, in the body there is a piece of flesh; if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Indeed, it is the heart.”
al-Bukhari (52) and Muslim (1599), narrated by al-Nu‘man ibn Bashir
Outward acts such as tawaf and sa‘i follow the state of the heart. That is why our program begins with the heart before the rites.
Today’s story: the man given the glad tidings of Paradise
Imam Ahmad (12697) narrated from Anas that they were sitting with the Prophet ﷺ when he said: “A man from the people of Paradise is about to come to you now,” and a man from the Ansar appeared. This happened three days in a row.
So Abdullah ibn Amr stayed with him for three nights to see his deeds. He did not see him pray much at night, except that whenever he turned over in bed he remembered Allah, and he only said good.
When Abdullah asked him, the man said there was nothing more than what he had seen, except that he found in himself no ill will toward any Muslim, and he did not envy anyone for a good thing Allah had given him. Abdullah said: this is what raised you so high.
A note on the chain of narration: a number of scholars graded its chain authentic, and some criticised it, so we mention it with this note.
The meaning is established in many texts: a heart free of ill will is among the greatest means of drawing close to Allah.
Today’s task
Choose someone you hold something against in your heart, and pray for them today, in their absence, for a good thing you would love for yourself.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “The prayer of a Muslim for his brother in his absence is answered. At his head is an angel appointed to him; every time he prays for good for his brother, the appointed angel says: Amin, and the same for you” (Muslim 2733).
Today’s dua
يا مقلّب القلوب، ثبّت قلبي على دينكO Turner of hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.
al-Tirmidhi (2140), narrated by Anas; he graded it hasan
It was among the most frequent supplications of the Prophet ﷺ, though his heart was the firmest of all. The heart turns, and firmness comes from Allah.
A question for self-reckoning
Which feeling do you wish to leave your heart before you reach Makkah: envy, anger, attachment, or something else?