An Important Excerpt from
Ibnul Qayyim’s Book on Remembrance
(Al Wabilu Sayyib)
Indeed the servant is
able to strengthen his concentration in prayer and focus on his Lord (during
it) if he is successful in overcoming his desires and cravings. However if his
heart has been conquered, his desires have taken him captive, and the Shaytan
is able to find a place within it, then how can this individual escape the
whispers and thoughts (that disturb him during prayer)!
Verily the hearts are of
three types:
1. The
heart which is void of Eeman and all types of good, this is the dark heart. The
Shaytan no longer needs to confront this heart with whispers because he now
dwells in it. He decrees what he wishes in it and has taken complete control of
it.
2. The
heart which has been illuminated with the light of Eeman. Faith has kindled its
lanterns within it, but at the same time there is still present some darkness
of desires and winds of disobedience. The Shaytan approaches and retreats from this
category of hearts, and at times he takes advantage of opportunities. The war
(in this heart) is sometimes severe and at other times calm.
The affair of the individuals who fall into
this category of hearts varies between many and few. Some possessors of this
category are usually victorious over their enemy, while others regularly allow
their enemy to get the upper hand. A third group are those who have equal
moments of defeat and victory.
3. The
heart which is filled with faith. This heart is illuminated with the light of
Eeman and the veil of desires and darkness has been lifted from it. The light
of Eeman is glowing within the chest and that glow contains flames. If desires
attempt to approach the heart they are burned by the flames (of Eeman). This heart
is protected similar to the protection of the sky by the stars. If the Shaytan
attempts to advance toward the sky to steal (information) he is flogged with a
star and he burns. The sky is not more precious than the believer and Allaah’s
protection of the believer is greater than His protection of the sky. The sky
is a place of worship for the Angels, it is also the place of revelation (The Qur'aan
was brought to the last sky and then revealed to the Prophet (صلّى
اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم)
piece by piece), and in it (the sky) are the rays of obedience. But the heart
of the believer is the place of Tawheed, love (of Allaah, the Prophet صلّى
اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم, Islaam,
etc…), understanding and faith. In it are the rays of the previously mentioned
elements, and therefore it is befitting that it is protected from the plots of
the enemy. As a result of this, he (the enemy) cannot obtain anything from it
(the heart of the believer) except by deceitfully seizing it.
A good example of this has
been made with the example of 3 homes:
1. The
home of the king: In it are his treasures and precious jewels and belongings.
2. The
home of the slave: In it is his wealth and precious jewels and belongings, but
indeed his belongings are much less (in value and quantity) than that of the
king’s.
3. The
empty home: There is nothing present in it.
A thief approaches with the intention of
stealing from one of the homes, which one would he burglarize?
If you say that he would
rob the empty home, this is something impossible because the empty home possess
nothing for him to steal. Based on this (reality), it was mentioned to Ibn
Abbass (رضي
اللّه عنـه):
Verily the Jews claim that they do not experience whispers (distractions) in
prayer. Ibn Abbass thereupon commented: “What would the Shaytan do to a heart
that is already destroyed.”
If you said that he would steal from the home
of the king, this would also be impossible due to the strong presence of guards,
consequently the thief cannot approach this home. How could he, while the king
himself is protecting his own home! How could he come close while this home is
surrounded and guarded by an army!
Consequently there is nothing left for the
thief except the third home. This is the home the thief attempts to approach.
It is incumbent for the
intelligent individual to reflect upon this example with true reflection and
contemplation, and apply this example to the hearts for indeed it is
applicable.
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