It is in the morals of the believer to strive with every breath to hold firm to the path leading to the pleasure of Allah. This striving is actually the action which we call Taqwa. Toward the end of Surat Al-Kahf, which is recommended to be recited every Friday, it reads: "Say: ‘Shall We tell you the greatest of losers in respect to (their) deeds? Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life while they thought that they were acquiring good by their deeds!’" (18:103-104).
This ayah should be a weekly wake-up call, compelling the believer to wonder whether someone is truly on the right path or merely thinking so, when in reality, s/he is diverting away from it! It is not a wondering of doubt, confusion or despair. No, it is a necessary check up on the state of the Eman in the heart – a check up of the response of the center of the Taqwa, the heart, to the call of the Eman. A seed of disease might have infiltrated the heart, such as a hidden pursuit of satisfying a desire, actions of showing off, or of arrogance. This seed could then settle and grow secretly and only manifest when it might be too late to get rid of it! Therefore, a frequent heart check up is necessary.
One of the most efficient tests for the Eman in the heart is to diagnose its response to the mention of the name of Allah (swt).
Following, are two levels of the heart response. The first one indicates the symptoms of the true sincere believers and the second one indicates the state of those gone astray. Everyone is truly sufficient to him/herself as a reckoner against him/herself, as s/he will be on the Day of Judgment. "And [for] every person, We have imposed his fate upon his neck, and We will produce for him on the Day of Resurrection a record which he will encounter spread open. (It will be said to him): ‘Read your book. You, yourself are sufficient as a reckoner against you this Day’" (17:13-14).
Shall we start the test? How does your heart react when the name of Allah (swt) is mentioned?
1st Category: "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. It is they who are the believers in truth. For them are grades of dignity with their Lord, and forgiveness, and a generous provision (Paradise)" (8:2-4).
2nd Category: “And when Allah is mentioned alone, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter shrink with aversion, but when those [worshipped] other than Him are mentioned, immediately they rejoice" (39:45). SubhanAllah, in today's world most people easily rejoice in the gossip and talk about celebrities, but are filled with disgust when the name of Allah is mentioned! LaHawla Wa LaQuwwata Illa Billah! There is probably no need, we think, for further detail and comments, except for a heartfelt call to sincere hearts to genuinely check the state of the heart before the disease becomes incurable!
We are, alhamdulillah, starting the month of Rajab, one of the sacred months. It is narrated from Abu Bakarah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred: three consecutive months, Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar, which comes between Jumaada and Sha’baan.” During these sacred months, good deeds are regarded in higher esteem and transgressions and sins are regarded worse than at other times. Therefore, more consciousness in the way of Taqwa is required in this month, helping inshaaAllah, to better seek the cure of the heart. Also, Rajab is announcing glad tidings of the coming of Ramadan.
What should be the best way to welcome the very blessed and holy month of Ramadan? It is, indeed, the beautification of the heart.
O, Allah! Make us reach Ramadan.