Insha’Allah, the topic of today’s khutba is “Diseases of the Hearts and their Remedies.” The human is made up of the body and the spirit, inter-penetrating each other. The spirit is the inner dimension of our being. The essential reality of the human lies in the spirit or ar-ruh, also referred to as an-nafs, al-qalb or al’aql, the soul, the heart or the intellect.
According to a hadith reported by both Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (SAW) said, “Indeed there is in the body a piece of flesh which if it is sound, then the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, then the whole body is corrupt. Indeed it is the heart.”
The reference in this hadith is to the spiritual heart. Numerous times, the Qur’an alludes to the spiritual heart. For instance, describing the Day of Judgment, it says,
يَوْمَ لَا يَنْفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ () إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ ()
It is the Day when neither wealth nor children can benefit anyone except one who comes to Allah with a sound heart (ash-Shu’ara’ 26:88-89).
And in Surat Qaf, we have
مَنْ خَشِيَ الرَّحْمَنَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَجَاءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُنِيبٍ() ادْخُلُوهَا بِسَلَامٍ ذَلِكَ يَوْمُ الْخُلُودِ ()
The one who feared the All-Merciful in the Unseen and came with a heart turned to devotion. So enter it in peace. This is the Day of everlasting Life.’ (Qaf 50:33-34).
In a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA), Allah’s Messenger said, “Allah neither looks at your figures, nor at your outward appearance; He looks at your hearts and your deeds.” Now, just as there are diseases of the physical heart, so are there diseases of the spiritual heart.
So brothers and sisters, it is extremely important for the spiritual heart to be sound. Spiritual health is as important as physical health, if not more. Physical health is important for a meaningful life and success in this world, but spiritual health is indispensible for success and salvation both in this world and in the hereafter.
In his book Ihya’ `Ulum ad-Din (Revival of the Sciences of Religion), Imam al-Ghazali says that every organ of our body has a function; when it fails to do its functions, it means it is not well. The function of the soul or the spiritual heart is to know its Creator, to love Him and to seek closeness to Him. If the heart fails in this function then we must know that it is sick. It is important to know the ailments that make the heart weak and sick. In the language of the Qur’an it is not only the eyes that get blind; the hearts also become blind.
فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَكِنْ تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ ()
It is not their eyes which are blind but the hearts in their breasts which are blind (al-Hajj 22:46).
The Qur’an has spoken in many places about the sickness of the hearts. Referring to the sickness in the hearts of the hypocrites (the munafiqeen), Allah says in Surat ul-Baqarah,
فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ مَرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ ()
There is a sickness in their hearts and Allah has increased their sickness. They will have a painful punishment because they have been lying (al-Baqarah 2:10).
And what will be their fate?
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِ وَلَنْ تَجِدَ لَهُمْ نَصِيرًا
The hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of Hell, and you will find no one to help them (an-Nisa’ 4:145).
Now, who is a hypocrite? In a hadith reported by both Bukhari and Muslim, there are four qualities which if found in a person make him a pure hypocrite, and the one who has a portion of them has a portion of hypocrisy until he leaves them: (1) when given a trust, he betrays it; (2) when he speaks, he lies; (3) when he promises, he breaks it, and (4) when he quarrels, he behaves in an evil and insulting manner.
All these are the qualities of a sick heart. We have to be watchful if we knowingly or unknowingly, openly or secretly, intentionally or unintentionally harbor any of these qualities. When the heart gets sick, it loses its desire and ability to do right and good deeds. This affects one’s morals, manners and general behavior. What are the major diseases that affect the heart and how to take precaution and what are the cures in case one is affected with these ailments? Some of the diseases of the heart are: 1. Arrogance (takabburr); 2. Ostentation or showing off (ar-riya’). 3. Jealousy, malice and deceit (al-hasad, al-hiqd and al-ghish), 4. Suspicion (su’ az-zann), 5. Anger (al-ghadab), 6. Stinginess (al-bukhl), and 7. Excessive love of money, position, power and fame (Hub ad-Duniya)
The diseases of the heart if not treated may even lead to major sins. In the Qur’an and the Sunnah and in the spiritual writings of Muslim scholars such as al-Ghazali, Ibn Taymiyyah, and Ibn al-Qayyim we find a lot of discussion for the treatment of these diseases. Insha’Allah, I will very briefly go over a few of these spiritual diseases.
Arrogance means having or showing an exaggerated opinion of one’s own importance, merit, ability, etc. This is the first step to many evils. Besides, it is unjustified. All our gifts are from Allah.
وَمَا بِكُمْ مِنْ نِعْمَةٍ فَمِنَ اللَّهِ
Whatever blessing you have is from God (an-Nahal 16:53).
What did we have when we came to this world? Nothing! What will we have when we leave this world—nothing except two pieces of cloth to enshroud our body? We have to keep reminding ourselves that we are the servants and slaves of Allah. We are totally dependent on Him for our existence. Allah (SWT) says in Surat al-Insan,
هَلْ أَتَى عَلَى الْإِنْسَانِ حِينٌ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ يَكُنْ شَيْئًا مَذْكُورًا
Was there not a period of time when man was not a thing worth mentioning? (al-Insan 76:1).
So what justification is there for man to be arrogant when there was a period of time when he did not even exist and there will be a period of time when he will cease to exist. Ayah number 37 of Surat al-Isra’ admonishes man in the following words:
وَلَا تَمْشِ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا إِنَّكَ لَنْ تَخْرِقَ الْأَرْضَ وَلَنْ تَبْلُغَ الْجِبَالَ طُولًا
And do not walk in the land arrogantly, for you cannot cut through the earth, nor will you reach the mountains in height (al-Isra’ 17:37).
The best treatment of this disease is to cultivate humility and modesty. May Allah make us more humble.
Ostentation (ar-riya’) is a desire to show off and seek praises from others. It is referred to as the “hidden shirk” (ash-shirk al-khafiy). This disease of the heart is so hidden and so dangerous that the one who feels safe from it is usually the one who gets entrapped in it. The meaning of a hadith suggests that just as the creeping of a black ant on a black rock on a pitch dark night is hidden and unnoticeable, so also is the unnoticeable disease of ar-riya. For example, the one who writes an article so that people say he is a scholar is showing off. The one who gives a lecture to impress the audience is showing off. Even the person who performs the salat becomes guilty of ar-riya if his or her intention is to show off and impress others. This is why we have is Surat al-Ma’un,
فَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ () الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ (5 الَّذِينَ هُمْ يُرَاءُونَ
So woe to those who pray; who are unmindful of their prayer; those who show off (al-Ma’un 107:4-6)
The best cure for this disease is to check one’s intention (niyyah) before any action. Any action done should only be for the sake of Allah (SWT).
Jealousy: A jealous person does not like to see others happy, successful and prosperous. One must realize that being jealous of others is actually being displeased with Allah for his bounties upon that person. Allah in His infinite wisdom bestows upon who He wills what He wills. We have to be able to deal with the situation by being grateful for what He has given us and being patient on what has not been given to us. It is not blameworthy for one to ask Allah to give him what has been given to another person, but it is blameworthy to ask for it to be taken away from that person. The Prophet (SAW) said: Jealousy devours good deeds like fire devours wood. (Ibn Maja). A person who is envious of another hurts himself by feelings of rage and frustration that consumes his heart, and in this process, he destroys his Hereafter in addition to eliminating his comfort and peace of mind. The disease of envy (hasad) is remedied by frequently praising the person against whom the jealousy is directed. Praise him no matter how difficult this may seem. Honor him and meet him with respect and humility. Another treatment is to compete with others in acts of goodness and this should be an incentive to achieve more and do better.
Suspicion creates cynicism, distrust and doubt and takes away hope and optimism. A suspicious person is usually inclined to think negatively about others. Suspicion may sometimes lead to making wrong decisions and even violence. It is good to be cautious and careful, but it is also important to have a positive attitude. If we want to be trusted we must trust others as well. Allah says in the Qur’an,
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا اجْتَنِبُوا كَثِيرًا مِنَ الظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعْضَ الظَّنِّ إِثْمٌ
O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion; verily some suspicion is a sin. (Al-Hujurat 49:12).
Anger is a natural human trait but if it is not properly controlled it becomes very destructive. In the Hadith it is called “fire.” The Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said that in a state of anger, one should change one’s environment, one’s position, and drink some water. He also advised the angry person to seek Allah’s refuge from Shaytan by saying أعوذُ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ. He also said, “The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger.” (Bukhari).
Stinginess is a terrible disease. The Prophet (SAW) taught us to seek Allah’s refuge from stinginess. It leads to an attitude of not caring for others. It holds people from fulfilling their duties and recognizing the rights of others. The Qur’an says,
وَمَنْ يَبْخَلْ فَإِنَّمَا يَبْخَلُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ
And whoever is stingy is only being stingy to himself (Muhammad 47:38).
This is because Allah (SWT) multiplies what we spend in His way and gives it back to us both in this world as well as putting it towards our homes in Jannah. Thus, the miser is only miserly towards himself or herself.
Excessive love of money, position, power and fame (Hub ad-Duniya) is another major disease of the heart. Do we not read in the Qur’an?
أَلْهَاكُمُ التَّكَاثُرُ (1) حَتَّى زُرْتُمُ الْمَقَابِرَ (2)
You are obsessed by greed for more and more; until you go down to your graves (at-Takathur 102:8).
In a well known hadith, the Prophet (SAW) said, “If a son of man had a valley full of gold, he would desire to have two. Nothing can fill his mouth except the earth (of the grave). Allah turns with mercy to him who turns to Him in repentance.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
The cure for this disease is to keep reminding oneself that the transitory life in this world is a test and trial. The real and everlasting life is in the hereafter.
Brothers and sisters, each and every one of us should know from which spiritual diseases we suffer from and try our utmost to get rid of them. Spiritual health has to do with curing the diseases of the hearts. Remembrance of Allah is a cure for the hearts. Reflecting upon the Qur’an is a cure for the hearts. Leaving sins and doing righteous deeds is a cure for the hearts. Making sincere repentance to Allah is a cure for the hearts. Leaving bad company and being in the company of good people is a cure for the hearts. And last but not least, remembering that we have one day to leave this world and being prepared for it is a cure for the hearts.
May Allah (SWT) bless us all with physical, mental, and spiritual health and sound hearts.
