We’re going to talk about the heart and the inner beauty. Often we worry about where our rizq is coming from, especially when we feel that our provision is being removed.
If our job or income is under threat in some way, then we start getting concerned about it. We start to worry, and start stressing out. But actually, when we have a pure heart, we can go through these times with an inner contentment and sakinah.
1- Acceptance
The following are four ways that can both purify your heart and help you approach life in a slightly different way that will give you inner peace when you’re going through tough times.
Allah says:
Indeed, it is Allah who is the [continual] Provider, the firm possessor of strength. (Quran 51:58)
Allah the Almighty is the provider of everything. So when we lose strength and we feel vulnerable, we start thinking in a negative way. And when our heart starts thinking in a negative manner, it opens a door to Satan and evil whispers.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
A soul will not die until it gets all of the rizq that has been written for it.
Our rizq is written. Allah the Almighty has already decided what we’re going to have and what we’re not going to have. When we contemplate this hadith, our hearts start to relax. Maybe you wish so much that you had something, but actually that thing is not good for you and Allah the Almighty is protecting you by not giving you that thing.
Some people get scared and panic, some people yearn to get the control back that they lost, some people start thinking in a negative way. This all affects the heart and can lead to being greedy and selfish.
Imagine you have something and that thing is removed from you, how would you react?
Your rizq is already written for you, you can strive for it in a halal way or haram way, it’s your choice.
A Lesson from Hajar
Think about Hajar, when she was in the desert holding her hungry baby; imagine her fear, she must have been terrified, but she:
1- Believed in Allah;
2- Accepted the situation that she was in; she didn’t run after Ibrahim (peace be upon him), she knew that Allah the Almighty was looking after her; and,
3- She trusted that Allah is the Almighty and knows that Almighty Allah will look after her.
When you’re in a situation where something is being taken from you, if you handle things in a good manner and accept what’s been taken away, even when it’s tough, Allah the Almighty will replace it with something better.
Our life is a lot of different chapters like in a book. Some chapters are long chapters and other ones are short chapters. When one chapter closes, another chapter will open and maybe the chapters that you don’t know about are going to be better than the ones that you are in right now.
2- Spring Cleaning Our Hearts
It’s important to spring clean your heart and get rid of sins. The first lesson of mankind was the cleansing of the heart from sins.
We can’t cleanse our hearts until we’ve pointed the finger of blame at our actions, this way your direction will change to the best because you’re taking the responsibility. Adam and Eve said:
They said, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.” (7:23)
Forgiving other people is not about the other person, it’s about you and about gaining inner peace. If you want to take revenge and getting that person back, holding on is not going to fix your heart, it will not hurt the person who hurt you.
3- Forgiveness and Letting Go
And when we hold on to resentment and negativity, it leads to negative things: depression, anxiety, mental health problems. This can cause unhappiness in our hearts.
Prophet Muhammad said:
No one forgives but Allah increases them in honor. (Muslim)
Why Allah the Almighty will increase you in honor if you forgive?
Because forgiving is tough and hard; it’s painful, you have to put your pride and ego down to be able to forgive.
Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
Be merciful to others and you will receive mercy. Forgive others and Allah will forgive you. (Ahmad)
4- Generosity and Kindness
Science has found that people who are generous and kind to others, not expecting anything in return, maybe they give charity, or they help other people, are healthier, happier, and they live longer.
Allah speaks about the people who spend in the way of Allah the Almighty:
The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies [His reward] for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. (2:261)
One good act to somebody, even if it’s someone who you maybe don’t like very much, even someone who you couldn’t forgive, can turn your anger into goodness and barakah.
Think about why Almighty Allah would use the simile of wheat in the Quran like a sadaqah.
Wheat is food. Every single community in the world has some wheat as their foundation. It nourishes you; it keeps you healthy.
Giving sadaqah is the food for the soul, heart, dunya, and Akhirah.
You give a sadaqah in a loan to Allah the Almighty that will be multiplied and returned to you.
And then you will find inner peace and contentment even when times are tough.
(From Discovering Islam archive)
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