ALMISKEENAH

 

PONDER…PONDER….PONDER….

I recently received the following ‘ponderables’, JazakumuLlahu khairan katheeran. In turn I invite you to also ponder aspects of this enormous topic, understanding that pondering for the sake of Allah Ta’ala is itself a form of worship….and realizing that scholars throughout the centuries have dealt with, and still are expounding volumes on such topics related to the purification of the heart.

      …"can love and disobedience exist in the same heart? Is this then not true love? Or is it not love at all? Maybe love by its definition is something which constitutes an inability to disobey…? I’d like your thoughts…

Also, I ponder on that heavenly statement…

If you really love Allah, then follow me, and Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.  (3:31)"

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My humble responses, acknowledging the grand scope of this topic alongside my limited knowledge. This is merely a ponder….

The heart, as a receptacle is capable of containing many states. And as we are encouraged through numerous Ayat and Ahadith to be in a continual process of cleansing this receptacle, then it follows that it surely is holding a concoction of all that is humanly possible; the good, the bad and the ugly, the pure, the impure, and the innumerable diseases that accumulate, blackening the heart, hence the Iman, leading to the obstruction of the Nur of Allah Ta’ala.

Verily, he who fears Allah with obedience to Him, and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the Muhsinoon to be lost.   (12:90)

Nay, to Him belong all that is in the heavens and on earth, and all surrender with obedience to Him.  (2:116)

Alhumdulillah the conditions of the heart’s fluctuations are commensurate with the efforts we make on it. Maybe the sign of love co-existing with a temporary disobedience is firstly the recognition of a disobedience followed by the conscious effort to eradicate it? Maybe this could be called true love as one sets out to wage an inner jihad on that which is recognized as not being of any benefit, which requires a true love as the motivating energy? Maybe it is a sign of love by being mindful that disobedience is not the path that leads to eternal bliss and a close proximity to Allah Ta’ala and His Habib SallAllahu laihi wasallam in the Garden?

Verily, those who believe  and do righteous good deeds, and humble themselves (in repentance and obedience) before their Lord, - they will be dwellers of Paradise to dwell therein forever.    (11:23)

There are visible acts of disobedience; lies, backbiting, bribery, usury, drinking, robbery along with inner acts, including pride, jealousy and malice and we have been commanded to cultivate the best of attributes and work to nurture the best moral character. Maybe if there was no love for Allah Ta’ala’s Commands then there would be no striving or struggling to avoid disobedience?

And Allah guides not the people who are Al-Fasiqoon (the rebellious and disobedient).     (5:108)

Your Lord knows best what is in your inner-selves. If you are righteous, then, verily, He is Ever Most Forgiving to those who turn unto Him again and again in obedience, and in repentance.    (17:25)

And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith to your Lord and submit to Him, before the torment comes upon you, then you will not be helped.    (39:54)

Abdullah b. Amr b. al-’As RadhiAllahu anhu reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam  as saying: Verily, the hearts of all the sons of Adam are between the two fingers out of the fingers of the Compassionate Lord as one heart. He turns that to any direction He likes. Then Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: 0 Allah, the Turner of the hearts, turn our hearts to Your obedience. 

Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu anhu: The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam used to supplicate Allah: "My Lord, help me and do not give help against me; grant me victory, and do not grant victory over me; plan on my behalf and do not plan against me; guide me, and made my right guidance easy for me; grant me victory over those who act wrongfully towards me; O Allah, make me grateful to Thee, mindful of Thee, full of fear towards Thee, devoted to Thy obedience, humble before Thee, or penitent. My Lord, accept my repentance, wash away my sin, answer my supplication, clearly establish my evidence, guide my heart, make true my tongue and draw out malice in my breast." 

Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu narrated that the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: Allah Almighty said: The striving of my servant to please Me does not receive a reward greater than that of fulfilling what I have commanded him to do. My servant volunteers in his perseverance, offering supererogatory devotion to please Me and to earn My love. Once I cast My love upon him, I become his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hand with which he extends justice, and his foot that carries him. Should My servant then pray for something, I will answer his prayers, and should he seek refuge in Me, I will protect him. Indeed, there is nothing I have decreed, and which I hesitate to do for the sake of a believer except causing him to experience death. He dislikes it, and I hate to displease him, but I have thus ordained.

Abi Imama RadhiAllahu anhu reported that the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: Among my followers, I love most a believer who controls his emotions, who gives prayers and fasts a good share in his life, who is known to worship his Lord, and who obeys Him in secret. No one recognizes him, and he arouses no curiosities. He subsists on meager sustenance, and exercises patience. His Lord awaits to bring him to stand before Him, few will know of his death, and fewer are his heirs.   

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That which is absolutely lawful is that which involves no sinful disobedience of Allah, and in which Allah (Exalted is He) is not forgotten.  Shaikh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani

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Contentment means the expulsion of disagreeable feelings from the heart, so that nothing remains except happiness and joy.  Dhul n-Nun al-Misri

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Fellowship with Allah (Exalted is He) is maintained through good conduct, constant respect, and persistent obedience. Fellowship with Allah Ta’ala’s Messenger SallAllahu laihi wasallam is maintained by following his Sunnah and embracing religious knowledge.  Shaikh Abu Bakr ibn Huwara al-Bataihi

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If someone loves the Lord of Truth, and wishes to find Him, he must cause that wish to dwell within his heart.  

The seeker is a lover, engaged in a quest, while the one who is sought is a loved one, the object of the quest. When the seeker is sought, he is captured, wrested away, and drawn aside. Love’s ardour overwhelms and conquers him, for he has found what he was seeking. He has travelled the road and covered the distance. He has abandoned his personal identity, and forsaken it completely. He has erased all shades of colour from his sight, so he no longer sees them.  Shaikh ‘Ali ibn Wahb ar-Rabi’i

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Seeking nearness to the Sovereign Master; By obeying him and forsaking disobedience.

Performing these acts of obedience – especially the obligatory ones and leaving the sinful ones – draws one closer to Allah and leads to Him. In a sacred tradition (hadith qudsi) it states: “My servant does not draw closer to Me with anything more beloved to Me, than the obligatory duties that I have enjoined upon him. Me servant continues to draw closer to Me by performing optional deeds, until I love him. From The Exquisite Pearl

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The Prophet (s) said: al-mujahidu man jahada nafsahu fi ta`at Allah `azza wa jall [The fighter against unbelief is he who fights against his ego in obeying God; Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban, Tabarani, Hakim, etc.]… Sufyan al-Thawri said: "I never dealt with anything stronger against me than my own ego; it was one time with me, and one time against me"… Yahya ibn Mu`adh al-Razi said: "Fight against your ego with the four swords of training: eat little, sleep little, speak little, and be patient when people harm you… Then the ego will walk the paths of obedience, like a fleeing horseman in the field of battle."   GHAZALI ON JIHAD AL-NAFS [FIGHTING THE EGO]

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…Love of Allah

And the abandonment of every distraction,

(That distracts) the heart and body

From the obedience of the Most Merciful.  From Preserving the Heart

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The best you can seek from Him

is what He seeks from you.

A sign of being deluded is:

sorrow over loss of obedience while failing to get on with it.

Ibn ‘Ata’ Illah

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The world is but a moment

so make it a moment of obedience

Imam al-Shafi’i

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Disobedience is leaving a Command of Allah Ta’ala, or not doing what has been Commanded by Allah Ta’ala. In the eyes of Alah Ta’ala this is far greater than committing a forbidden act, manha.

Iblis disobeyed a Command by not performing sujud to Adam Alaihis Salam. As a result of this disobedience Allah Ta’ala cursed him till the Day of Judgement, and would not accept his repentance.

On the other hand Adam Alaihis Salam was forbidden to eat of the fruit of one tree in Jannah, however he did so, but when he repented it was accepted by Allah Ta’ala. Fulfilling the Command of Allah Ta’ala is a worship and part of our servitude to Him. Allah Ta’ala’s Commands are meant for themselves, whereas all forbidden acts are meant to protect the Commands. Fulfilling, or obeying a Command reaps a reward multiplied by ten, while performing the forbidden attracts one  sin, sayeah.

And as for the heavenly statement:

If you really love Allah, then follow me, and Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.  (3:31)   the Divine Speech elaborates with:

And obey Allah and the Messenger so that you may be blessed. (3:132)

Saying that to be deserving of Divine Mercy, the obedience to Allah Ta’ala has been declared necessary and binding, along with the obedience to our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. This is oft repeated throughout our Holy Book, the obedience to Allah Ta’ala immediately followed by the command to obey the Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, the basic qualities of Islam and Iman.

And whoever obeys the Messenger, he surely obeys Allah. (4:80)

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May we all be watchful of Allah the Ever-Watchful. We ask Allah Ta’ala to bestow upon our nafs purity and taqwa, He alone is the Most Excellent in turning our hearts to His obedience and opening our hearts to the love of His Habib SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and all he left us. May we all strive to be counted among the obedient. Ameen

 
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.