Part of Concepts of Ahl as-Sunnah (series completed)
· Lesson 545 of 1251
Summary of Sunni concepts | Concept (543) | The effect of the apparent obedience of the limbs on the heart and its inner actions
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Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
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A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
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The impact of the physical acts of worship on the heart and its inner states.
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The limbs are the gateways and frontiers of the heart.
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Whatever the limbs are engaged in regarding acts of obedience serves to strengthen and support the heart.
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Just as the strength of a nation’s frontiers contributes to the strength of its capital and its sovereign power.
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Is it not evident how prayer imparts contentment, tranquility, humility, and repentance to the heart?
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And is the effect of fasting on piety, sincerity, and certainty not equally clear?
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Allah the Almighty says:
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“O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, even as it was prescribed for those before you, that ye may ward off (evil);” (2:183)
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Likewise, it is well known that striving in the way of Allah fosters a love for the Hereafter.
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And detachment from this worldly life.
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And total submission to Allah and steadfastness upon the truth.
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It suffices, in demonstrating the impact of the limbs' obedience on the vitality of the heart,
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To detail the effects of one specific act of obedience upon the heart.
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That is the act of lowering the gaze from what is forbidden.
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This produces the following results:
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First:
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It unites the heart in the love of Allah and intimacy with Him.
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Whereas letting the gaze wander causes the heart to be diverted from Allah and scattered.
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And it creates a sense of alienation between the servant and his Lord.
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Second:
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It clothes the heart in light.
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Just as letting the gaze wander leaves it in darkness.
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This is why Allah first commanded the believing men and women to lower their gaze.
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As He, the Almighty, says:
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“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and be modest. That is purer for them. Lo! Allah is aware of what they do.” (24:30)
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Then, after detailing that, He mentioned the Verse of Light:
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“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.” (24:35)
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“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.” (24:35)
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The lamp is within a glass.
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“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.” (24:35)
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“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.” (24:35)
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Light upon light.
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Allah guides to His light whom He wills.
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And Allah presents examples for the people.
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And Allah is Knowing of all things.
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This is to indicate that the light of the person who lowers his gaze,
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Is derived from the light of Allah and His divine guidance.
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Through this light, guidance is attained, and innovations and misguidance are warded off.
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Third: Lowering the gaze strengthens the heart and brings it joy.
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It grants the heart true insight, by which one distinguishes between truth and falsehood, and the truthful and the liar.
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Fourth: It imparts to the heart steadfastness, courage, and strength.
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Thus, Allah combines for him the authority of insight and argument with the authority of power and strength.
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Fifth: It frees the heart to contemplate its own interests and occupy itself with them.
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Instead of letting the gaze wander, which distracts the heart from all of that and plunges it into heedlessness.
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Sixth and finally:
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Lowering the gaze protects the heart from the poisoned arrows of Iblis directed toward it.
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For the devil enters the heart with his whispers through the forbidden glance.
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And he penetrates it faster than air rushes into an empty space.
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He then presents the image of what was looked at and beautifies it in the person's mind.
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He makes promises and stirs up desires, inflaming the heart with them and thereby distracting it from acts of obedience.