Transforming the Aching Heart

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

Remembrance of Allah (dhikr) and making du'a to Him transforms the aching heart into a calm and tranquil heart, by Allah's mercy.

Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with father and son) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

Whomsoever of you the door of supplication is opened for, the doors of mercy have been opened for him. And Allah is not asked for anything - meaning - more beloved to Him, than being asked for Al-`Āfiyah. And the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: “The supplication benefits against that which strikes and that which does not strike, so hold fast, O worshipers of Allah, to supplication.”

مَنْ فُتِحَ لَهُ مِنْكُمْ بَابُ الدُّعَاءِ فُتِحَتْ لَهُ أَبْوَابُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَمَا سُئِلَ اللَّهُ شَيْئًا يَعْنِي أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ أَنْ يُسْأَلَ الْعَافِيَةَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِنَّ الدُّعَاءَ يَنْفَعُ مِمَّا نَزَلَ وَمِمَّا لَمْ يَنْزِلْ فَعَلَيْكُمْ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ بِالدُّعَاءِ ‏"‏ ‏.

[at-Tirmidhi]

It plays a huge part in re-writing destiny. The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said that the only thing that can change Divine decree is du'a.

Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:

Nothing turns back the Decree except supplication, and nothing increases the life-span except righteousness.

لاَ يَرُدُّ الْقَضَاءَ إِلاَّ الدُّعَاءُ وَلاَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْعُمُرِ إِلاَّ الْبِرُّ

[At-Tirmidhi]

Dhikr protects us, guides us, and changes our outlook on life. It gives us the strength to move forward beyond our painful tests because we know Allah is there as we say Subhan Allah, Alhamdulillah, la ilaha illa Allah, and Allahu akbar. It is a constant reminder that life is nothing but a journey to a better home.

This life is all about our dedication to constantly remembering Allah, thanking Him, and seeking beautiful patience, for us and for those around us. Its trusted companion is du'a: to seek His aid in times of both ease and hardship.

Don’t be disheartened if you feel that you are not properly remembering Him all the time. Start somewhere, even if you make the dhikr monotonously, without reflection.

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim says that dhikr “is sometimes performed with the heart and tongue, which is the best dhikr; sometimes with only the heart, which ranks second; and sometimes with only the tongue, which ranks third.” While dhikr with the tongue alone does not yield the fruits of knowing Allah, Divine love, and intimacy as does dhikr with the tongue and heart combined, it still has its benefits. In fact, for most people it begins with dhikr of just the tongue.

Imam al-Ghazzali adds, “It starts with dhikr of the tongue; then by the heart being pressed into remembering; then the heart remembering spontaneously.”

Imam Ibn Ata-illah al-Iskandari said, “Do not abandon dhikr because you do not feel the presence of Allah therein. For your heedlessness of the dhikr of Him is worse than your heedlessness in the dhikr of Him. Perhaps He will lift you from dhikr with heedlessness to dhikr with vigilance; and from dhikr with vigilance to dhikr with presence; and from dhikr with presence to dhikr wherein everything but the One being remembered becomes absent (nothing other than Allah is in our hearts):

وَمَا ذَ‌ٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ ﴿٢٠ ...

...And that, for Him, is not difficult. [Qur'an, Ibrahim 14:20]

These are our tickets to His love: remembering Him and making du'a to Him.

The best form of remembrance is prayers and reciting Qur'an.

May Allah make us among the people of His remembrance. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam