ZAYNAB ACADEMY ONLINE

Purification of the Heart

Winter Term 2012
January 2nd March 9th Winter 2012

Indeed, there is a lump of flesh in every human. If it is sound, the whole body is sound. And, if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Verily, this piece of flesh is the Heart.

Table of Contents
Importance of the Purification of the Heart Takabbur Love for the World: Hubb-e-Dunya Shahwat: Entangled in the Web of Desires

Keena: Malice and Rancor

Hasad: Envy Bukhl: Miserliness Controlling the Tongue Anger Management Riya: Ostentation

Importance of the Purification of the Heart

A day in which neither wealth nor children shall be of any benefit, except one who comes to Allah with a sound heart (al-Shuara:88-89)

3 Spiritual

Components of a Human

Qalb (Spiritual heart/ seat of emotions)

Aql (intellect)

Nafs (desires)

What is the center of human conscience?

adith

The Brain
According to most modern science and

The Heart
According to

Indeed, there is a lump of flesh in every human. If it is sound, the

whole body

is sound. And, if it is corrupt, the whole body is

Western philosophies

Islam

corrupt. Verily, this piece

of flesh is the

Heart.

Intellectual development

Focal point of change:

Thoughts (of the Aql) and Desires (of the Nafs) are products of the Heart

Focal point of change: Spiritual development of the heart

Quranic Descriptions of the Heart

Did they not have hearts with which they could understand (yaqilun) or ears with which they could hear. Indeed, it was not the eyes that had turned blind, but the hearts in their chests had turned blind. (al-Hajj:46) A long period passed upon them and their hearts became hard. (al-Hadeed: 57) Allah Placed over their hearts a covering that they may not understand and in their ears *He Placed+ deafness. (6:25) Nay, rather rust has covered their hearts because of they used to do. (alMutafifeen: 14)

3 Types of Hearts
Qalb Mayyit [Dead Heart] Qalb Mareedh [Diseased Heart]

Qalb Saleem [Sound Heart]

Signs of a Dead Heart

Follows the Nafs Good

pleasures and desires of sinning

S
of a

igns

No hesitation in

Sound Heart

deeds seem like a burden Dislikes advice or guidance

Loves

Signs
of a Diseased
Affected by

for the sake of Allah Dislikes for the sake of Allah Gives for the sake of Allah
Forbids for the sake of
Allah

Heart

company Spiritual sicknesses fluctuate:

Has

Sometimes in control and sometimes out of control

remorse after committing sin

Benefits of a Qalb Saleem

How to Achieve a Qalb Saleem?

1-Remembrance of Allah
Hadith:

Contentment

Sweetness of Iman

The difference between one who remembers Allah and the one who does not is like the living and the dead Everything has a polish. And, the polish of the heart is the Remembrance of Allah.

Love of Allah 2-Tazkiyya (Purification)

Addressing deep-rooted problems Successful are those who have purified (their nafs) and Ruined are those who have spoiled it (al-Shams)

Verses Regarding Takabbur

I will divert My signs from those who act arrogantly without right in the earth; and who, if they see each sign, believe it not. And if they see the way of righteousness, they do not choose it as their way. And if they see the way of error, they choose it for their way (al-Araaf: 146) Those who dispute Allahs signs without any authority, it is greatly hateful in the sight of Allah and in the sight of those who believe. Thus does Allah seal the heart of every arrogant tyrant (al-Momin: 35) Call on Me and I will answer you. Verily, those who in arrogance turn away from My worship will enter hell, disgraced (al-Momin: 60) Allah does not love the arrogant and boasting ones (Luqman: 18)

Takabbur
Without Doubt, Allah knows what they conceal and reveal. Verily, He does not love the arrogant (al-Nahl: 23)

Hadith about Takabbur

The Arrogant and the Infamous

Hadith Qudsi: Takabbur is My shawl and Greatness is My garment. Whoever tries to take away any one of these from Me, I will put
them in the

I am better than him!

Iblees
I am the highest Lord!

Fire.

Pharoah He who has an Nation of Aad

Who can be more powerful than us?

arrogance in his heart will

atoms amount of

not enter Jannat.

The Atomic Bomb of Spiritual Diseases

Definition of Takabbur

Causes the most destruction

Most deeply rooted sin

The hardest spiritual ailment to cure

To regard oneself as better than others in

any

attribute

14

Levels of Takabbur
1

Signs of Takabbur
Regards

12

10

Takabbur (arrogance)

herself as good and sees her good attributes only

Dislikes anyones advice or constructive criticism

Kibr (pride)
6

Displays

vanity and feels that others dont know her stature lowlevel work, feels that this is a burden and beneath her stature

If she needs to do some

Ujab (egotistical, self-conceit)

X Y Z K

Causes of Takabbur

Knowledge

People of knowledge
Worship

Imam al-Ghazali:

are in greater danger of arrogance than anyone else.

Lineage

actions hold him back, his lineage will NOT speed him
up.

Hadith: Whoevers

Beauty

Takabbur

Wealth

Power

Connections/
Popularity

Remedies
1) Ilmi (intellectual remedies)

Know yourself

Remember your end

Remember your origins

Let man reflect from what he was created. He was created from a fluid that ejects from between the loins and ribs (86: 7)

Study the life of the Prophet (pbuh), the Companions, and other Islamic personalities

2) Amali (practical remedies)

View them as better than you

2

Make dua to Allah

Change the way you speak

Treat those you view as inferior to you with respect

3

Be first to say salaam to everyone you meet

5

Do acts of humility openly

Love for the World: Hubb-e-Dunya

Rather, you prefer the worldly life. And the Akhirah is better and Eternal (Al-Aala)

Definition
love anything that
enjoyment but

To

gives you of

makes you

negligent

Allah and the Akhirah

Difference between:

having in

hand
having in

and

heart

Other Verses in Quran

The worldly life is just a place of deception (Al-Noor, 22)

Hadith
Love of the dunya is sin The world is a

root of all

prison for
heaven for
the disbeliever

the believer and a

The worldly life is just play and futile act. And the home of the akhirah is better for those who have taqwa. Do you not understand? (Al-Anaam:4)

The

dunya is a
A worldly person

corpse/dead
dogs

body. And those who want it are like

cannot be
safeguarded from

sin

Signs of Hubb-e-Dunya
Always talking about worldly matters

Slave to desires

Prefers worldly gain over spiritual gain

Always wants to enjoy and have fun

Becomes depressed and down due to loss of wealth/business

Hoards wealth

Regards others as inferior

Possesses an abundance of entertainment goods

Does not have regard for the rights of others

Always thinking of how to earn more

Makes long-term plans

Hubb-e-Dunya Alert!!

Remedies
1

Important Note
Differences between in the world and

working

Reflect on the reality of the world

loving the world

concerned about and haram spends money without

halal

grief

Shahwat
Entangled in the Web of Desires
As for the one who fears standing before Allah and stops his nafs from unlawful desires, verily jannat is his abode (Surah Naziaat)

Definition
of

Shahwat

Linguistic: desire, want, wish,

passion

Definition: An excessive desire

for something

Common Usage: A desire for

something unIslamic and unlawful

Types of Shahwat
Shahwat of the stomach Shahwat of the eyes

adith
Hidden Shahwat I fear two things for my ummat: Shirk and Hidden Shahwat [shahwat alkhufiyyah]

Shahwat of the farj

Shahwat of the mind

Shahwat of the heart

Purpose of Shahwat

For reproduction

Why is

shahwat so bad?

Emotional Effects Physical Effects

Spiritual Effects

As a Test

Blessing of Allah

Controlling Desires

Ways of Fitrat

Mentally

Reflection and Remembrance

Hadith If you knew what you will undergo

Modesty

Marriage

after death,
you would eat or drink with

Fasting

Lowering the Gaze

never

desire
Thought

traffic control Not to be idle or alone

enefits of Shahwat Control

Maghfirat

Acceptance of dua

Contentment

Safeguarded from other social ills and problems

Better family life, children, and society

Keena: Malice and Rancor

And those who came after them say: Our Lord, forgive us and our brethren who came before us in faith, and do not place in our hearts any rancor (ghill) for those who believe. Our Lord, You are kind and compassionate. (al-Hashr: 10)

hat is Keena?

A state of

hatred and enmity in the

heart towards certain people

Rooted in extreme

anger in which a
person cannot take

revenge

or

act

Leads to hasad,

upon their anger

takabbur, ghibbat, and injustice

Note: Ghill originates from aghlal (yokes around the neck)

Reasons for keena

Hadith regarding Keena

Do not have hatred for one another (Bukhari and Muslim) The deeds of humans are presented every Monday and Thursday. Every believing servant is forgiven except two believers

Differences of opinion

Hatred or strong dislike for a person for no legitimate reason

Arguments

who have malice for one

another. Allah says, Leave them

until they have set things aright between themselves. (Muslim)
Hurtful comments and behavior

Long hadith: Do you want to see a man of Paradise?

o you have keena? Check Yourself

arms of having keena

Always having feelings of bitterness and grief

Looking for faults in others and informing others about these faults Being happy when they have difficulties and problems Do not like to say anything positive to them or about them Regarding that person as inferior Spreading their secrets and private matters to others Making fun of them and taunting Hurting them when given an opportunity

Not being forgiven by Allah

Hadith:
That person who has keena toward a believer will not be

forgiven on Laylatul Qadr

emedies
Forgiveness and Hilm (forbearance)

Have positive thoughts by

Disliking the bad traits of a person, NOT the person herself Regarding them in the same light of family (as parents, siblings, or children) Realizing Allah is the Distributer of all Things and the True Giver and Taker

Show good will/ Ahsan towards that person (in deeds and words) Make dua for that person

Definition of Hasad

Hasad: Envy
Or do these people envy what Allah has Bestowed upon them from His Bounty (An-Nisa: 54) [I seek refuge in Allah] from the envier when he envies (an-Nas: 5)

A feeling

negative

which arises when a person dislikes that someone else

receives a blessing.

Blessing/Naimath:
Religious/spiritual blessing

Materialistic Bounty

Hadith about Hasad

Stay away from hasad. For hasad

Levels of Hasad

Emotional feeling:

Uncontrollable
and common in

If people did

eats up good deeds like fire

human nature

not do hasad with one

another, their

eats up wood. [Abu Dawud]

Acting upon this feeling: Haram and a major sin

Acting against this feeling: Sawab and Success

bounties would never end.

Do do hasad with one another. [Muslim and Bukhari]

not

Is there a Good type of Envy?

When a person desires a bounty someone else has, but does not wish for the other person to lose it. Arabic: ghibta Urdu: Rashk

Check Yourself
Do you feel?
agitated and unhappy when you see someone else doing well in any area? happy when you see that person in a difficulty? that person doesnt deserve that blessing/attention and you deserve it? Are you always attentive to anything said about that person? Do you dislike hearing praise about that person, or even get angry when you do? Do you engage in negative talk about that person, i.e. destructive criticism and backbiting? Do you never admit any wrongdoing on your part, and avoid saying sorry?

Hadith: There is no acceptable envy except for two people. One who has wealth and spends it towards is one who has others.

good causes. The other wisdom and teaches it to

Causes of Hasad
Ujab and Takabbur Poor self-esteem Enmity Being of the same age, field, class, etc. [Competing for same things/ Professional Jealousy]
Anger

Effects of Hasad
Emotional effects

Resentment Lack of motivation/ Demoralized Tension, Anxiety, and Depression Makes one spiteful and malicious

Love of

Leadership
Ruins own deeds

Spiritual Effects
Others angered by that person to extent of losing out on their love

Fall in the eyes of other people

Grief and sorrow on Day of Judgment

How to overcome Hasad?

Taawudh

Practical Solutions
Must actively go against the negative feelings of hasad by Praise when you wish to criticize

Taqwa: Remember death and the Akhirah. And rid the heart of love of dunya.

Give gifts when you wish for loss of blessings Interact with them with humility when you wish to act arrogantly Dua for them when you dont wish to do so

Sabr

To be Raadhi/ Content with Allah

ositive Thinking

Imam Ghazali: If one

hates envy and is

ashamed that he harbors it, the

person is not essentially an envious person Objective: Transform it into something beneficial Convert negative feelings into positive ones

Bukhl: Miserliness
He who is being miserly (bukhl) is being miserly only to himself (Surah Muhammad: 38)

Definition of Bukhl
To feel a

tightness of the heart

on spending on:

Those one is commanded by Allah to do so (zakat, dependents)

Those one is encouraged in Islam to spend upon (other needy people, religious causes)

Hadith regarding Bukhl far from Jannat, far

A miser is from people, and

Check Yourself
Do you Find it difficult to spend on others? Feel

close to the fire

(Tirmidhi)

A miser will not enter Jannat (Tirmidhi)

tightness in your heart when giving zakat or sadqa?

your own expenses when you have to spend on others?

Do you suddenly remember Miserliness Be careful of miserliness. Indeed, it has ruined those before you. It caused them to shed blood and Iman are not gathered together in any heart (Nisaai)

Get upset when someone needy asks you for something?

Bukhl

haram things halal

and make

Causes of Bukhl
Heedlessness of death
Love of Wealth Love of the world

Problems of Wealth
Acts of

disobedience and ease and

sin become easier

One gets used to becomes difficult

comfort, and mujahada Fear of Death status and fame

Love of

Heart and mind always

thinking about it
More

hisaab in the Akhirah

Remedies: Major one

Other remedies
Remember

death hadith

Reflect on the verses and regarding bukhl Reflect on the

Forcing yourself to spend wealth for the sake of Allah

purpose of wealth act

When a thought of spending on a good cause comes to you, immediately Do

spiritual and psychological effects

Has

not make long, complicated plans worship and acts of obedience

Spend more time in

Final Thoughts
And let not those who which them of His bounty think that it is better for them.

hoard up that Allah has bestowed upon

It is worse for them That which they hoard will be

.

on their collar on the Day of Resurrection. Allahs is the inheritance of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is Aware of what
you do (Aal Imran, 180)

Controlling the Tongue

Each word he utters is noted by a vigilant guardian (Qaf, verse 18)

Importance of the Tongue

Part of a larger system Reflects other spiritual problems

Manifested through bad language, hurtful speech, backbiting, lying, and useless talk

A double-edged sword

H
Who stays quiet, he will be

adith
Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day,

Types of Speech
120 0, 100 100

say something good or keep quiet

he should

100% Beneficial [Quran, Hadith, naseehat]

80 Beneficial Speech

saved guarantee you jannat if you safeguard two

I will things: What is

60 50, 50

Partially beneficial and partially harmful

40

A part of a persons

Islamic beauty is
that he leaves that which does not concern him

20

No Benefit and No Harm

100% Harmful [ghibbat, lying, taunting, hurtful speech]

between your jaws and What is

between your legs

0, 0 0 0 20 40 60 80 Harmful Speech

100, 0 100 120

Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA)

A man is

What
others have said
An

Story from the life of Hazrat Abdullah bin Mubarak

And complete the Haj and Umrah for Allah Who Allah makes astray, there is no one to guide him Enter the city if Allah Wills in peace Do good deeds. Verily Allah loves the good doer Read what is easy from the Quran Do not ask about such things that if they were revealed to you, it would displease you

intelligent
person

hidden under
his

speech

thinks
speaks,
a

then and

foolish
then

The

heart
The

is like a

person

pot.

tongue

speaks

is like its

spoon

thinks

 Wealth and sons are ornaments of the worldly life Ibrahim and Ismail and Ishaq Feed food for His love

the

Problems Solutions
and
Bad language

Indeed we feed you for the pleasure of Allah

Futile Talk

Backbiting

Telling Lies

Anger Management
Those who control their anger and are forgiving toward mankind. Verily, Allah loves those who do good (Aal Imran: 134)

Anger as an Emotion

Not a negative emotion in and of itself

Human Rights/ Dignity: Normal and Healthy

Anger

Courage:

Positive and

Controlled Anger

Rage: Negative Anger

Quranic verses regarding Anger

Those who control/ their anger (ghayzh) (aal Imran: 134)

Do you have

Negative Anger?
Are you

drink

always scolding your your

kids/servants/students/employee? Do people complain about

When they are angry (ghadab), they (Shura: 37)

temper?
Does your husband/parent/sibling call you

forgive

bad-tempered? rash decisions? negative

Do you make

Do you quickly become

ghayzh and ghadab

Difference between

Note:

about others? Are you

quick to anger and slow to

calm down?

Hadith regarding Anger

A man asked the Prophet, Advise me. Prophet (pbuh) said, Do not become angry. Three times Someone asked, What is the worst thing one can receive from Allah? The Prophet responded, His Wrath. Then, the man asked, How do we avoid it? The Prophet said, Do not become angry. Anger is from Shaitan, and Shaitan is made from the fire. Verily, anger ruins iman just as aloe ruins honey. Strength is not throwing someone to the ground, but strong is that person who can control his nafs when he is angry.

Anger Control

The Prophets Anger:

Hadith: I get angry the way humans get angry,

my tongue only speaks the truth.]

[but in this anger

The Anger of Regular People:

family problems, social problems, and even

Can lead to

disbelief

Causes of Anger
Criticism Desire/ Hirs

Signs and Symptoms of Anger

Teasing Mocking
Ujab and Takabbur
and

Backbiting / ghibat Not looking

Telling the secrets of the other Malice/ Spite/ Keena

Envy/ Hasad

Not talking

You Are Angry!

Fighting/ Verbally or Physically

ANGER

Active Remedies

To be quiet

Change location

Do wudu and pray

Mental Remedy
To ponder over the anger and mercy of Allah

Verbal Remedies
Say taawudh Say La hawla wa la quwata illa bIllah

Say durood

Episodes from the Lives of Great Muslims

Benefits of Anger Control

1 The Prophet (PBUH) after Fatah Makkah 2 Hazrat Ali (RA)

Allah will put iman and sukun in the heart

630 C.E. 644 C.E. 650 C.E.

661 C.E. 1273 C.E.

The best thing to swallow in the eyes of Allah is Anger (hadith)

Hazrat ibn Masud (RA) Hazrat Salman Farsi (RA) 3 4 Maulana Rumi 5

That person will be called out on the Day of Judgment and granted an early entrance to Jannat (hadith) Allah will stop His punishment from reaching that person on the Day of Judgment (hadith)

Definition of Riya

Riya: Ostentation
Say: Whether you hide what is in your hearts or you express it Allah knows it (aal- Imran)

Performing

acts

of

obedience and worship merely to

obtain a place in the hearts of

others

Motivating factor: To show and please others

(rather than Allah)

Significance of Getting Rid of Riya

Indeed, even a little of riya is (Hadith, ibn Majah) Whoever prays in order to show others has indeed done shirk. And, whoever fasts to show others has done shirk. And, whoever gives charity to show others has done shirk (Hadith, Ahmad) Riya: lesser

Types of Riya
Clothing Speaking Acts/Deeds

shirk
Demeanor

Bodily

5
4 3 2

shirk and hidden

1

shirk

Major Signs of Riya

Laziness and lack of action for Allahs Sake when one is alone and out of view of others.

But everybody likes to be praised

Hadith:
When a believer hears somebody

But, driven and energetic when in front of others

Increasing ones actions when praised.

Decreasing them in absence of praise or even criticism

praising him,

his faith [iman] increases.

Check Yourself

Do you
Want to

be known for your private

oot sources of Riya

love of praise

good deeds and attributes AND are motivated by this desire? Mention your gathering? Yearn for

Desire and

Fear of Blame
Desire for

deeds and worship in a

worldly benefit from people

of harm from people

praise from others

Fear

for these deeds?

Is this Riya?
Riya Not Riya

Treatment: Spiritual
Nurture
If you do a permissible act for the sake of worldly gain If you make someone content to stay away from their mischief

If you do a good deed with a bad intention If you do a good deed for worldly motive (wealth, etc) If you make someone content just so they follow you in deeni matters

certainty in yourself of Tawheed and that only Allah can benefit or harm one
Hadith: Know that if the whole nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you, it would harm you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you

Be aware of the

harm of riya both in this world and the next world

 Think of

Allahs Raza in every act

Connect all praise to Allah:

Treatment: Practical
Keep a consistent check of your intentions Make a habit of doing worship in private

Only want His Praise and any praise for you is

actually praise of Him

Read surah Ikhlas often

Veil your acts from the eyes of people

Be conscience of the workings of your heart in doing good deeds and in hearing praise

3 Types of worshippers
Hazrat Ali (RA): Three type of people
Those who worship for the sake of Allah and His Pleasure

Should you leave deeds for fear of Riya?

Imam Mawlud:
Abandoning a good deed out of fear of riya is worse than engaging in riya itself

free person)

(like

Those who worship for attaining Jannah (like a merchant) Those who worship out of fear of Jahannum (like a slave)

Whisperings of shaitan Irrational fear