Transcribed from the Islaahi Majlis conducted on 13/07/2023
Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Quraan Sharif:”Whomsoever Allah Ta’ala wishes to guide, He expands his bosom for Islam (by placing the light of Imaan into it.) Whoever he desires to send astray, he narrows and constricts his bosom as if he is climbing into the sky. In this manner, Allah places impurity on those who do not have Imaan. [Surah An’aam, Verse 125]
2 types of Hidaayat
One is to show somebody the way. For example, a person comes from out of town and asks for directions to a Masjid. So, you direct him to the destination.
The second definition is, to reach your desired destination without losing your way. For example, a person offers to accompany you or guide you to your destination so that you don’t get lost on the way. Exactly like this, when Allah Ta’ala wants to make someone His Wali and beloved, not only does Allah Ta’ala provide the directions, but Allah Ta’ala brings him to the destination, and he becomes the beloved of Allah Ta’ala.
Result of Hidaayat
And what is the effect of this? Where once he could not wake up for Fajr, now he is awake from Tahajjud. Where fasting was difficult for him, now it becomes a pleasure to keep Nafl fasts. Where it’s difficult on the Nafs to discharge Zakaah, now it becomes easy for him to discharge Zakaat with pleasure. These are signs that Allah Ta’ala is pulling him to his destination. It becomes easy for this person to give up all his vices, which is an indication that Allah Ta’ala is guiding him.
When this verse of the Quraan Sharif was revealed, Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said to the Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum that the meaning of this verse is that Allah Ta’ala is making it easy for a person to do good deeds and Allah Ta’ala is making it easy for a person to stay away from sins.
The chest expanding!
The Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum asked Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam to explain what is meant by the chest of a person expanding. Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam explained that when the Noor of Allah Ta’ala enters a person’s heart, it causes the heart to expand.
To understand this point, there was a Rajah in India. Once, when riding his elephant, he saw a poor person and his heart inclined towards this person. The Rajah extended his hand of friendship to the poor person. The poor person said to the Rajah, you are riding an elephant whereas I live in a tin house, which is so small that I must lower my head when entering, so how will you visit him? The Rajah said, “You should not worry over this – when I become your friend and wish to visit you, I will sort out my accommodation and make it comfortable and large enough for even my elephant to pass through.”
From this, the Buzrugs say that, when Allah Ta’ala opens a person’s heart, He opens it to such an extent that not for one moment will a person be able to tolerate the disobedience of Allah Ta’ala. If he makes a mistake, immediately he will make Taubah to Allah Ta’ala.
Pious being affected by sin
A pious person saw some sin being committed. He became so upset that when he went home and relieved himself, he found blood in his urine. Such will be the condition of a person that he will be intolerant of the disobedience of Allah Ta’ala, and he will exert himself in doing good when he is blessed with “Inshirah-us-Sadr”.
The Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum then asked Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, “Are there any signs that Allah Ta’ala has opened the heart of a person?” Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam replied, “There are three signs. The first sign is that a person is disinclined to the home of deception i.e. Dunya. The second sign is that a person turns towards the home of eternity i.e. Aakhirah. The third sign is that a person prepares for death before death comes for him.”
عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ قَالَ: تَلَا النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَوْلَهُ تَعَالَى: أَفَمَنْ شَرَحَ اللَّهُ صَدْرَهُ لِلْإِسْلامِ فَهُوَ عَلى نُورٍ مِنْ رَبِّهِ [الزُّمَرِ: 22] فَقُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ يَشْرَحُ اللَّهُ صَدْرَهُ؟ قَالَ: إِذَا دَخَلَ النُّورُ الْقَلْبَ انْشَرَحَ وَانْفَسَحَ، فَقُلْتُ: مَا عَلَامَةُ ذَلِكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ؟ قَالَ: الْإِنَابَةُ إِلَى دَارِ الْخُلُودِ، وَالتَّجَافِي عَنْ دَارِ الْغُرُورِ، وَالتَّأَهُّبُ لِلْمَوْتِ قَبْلَ نُزُولِ الْمَوْتِ. (تفسير الرازي ص117 ج1)
Great Jihaad
Hadrat Molana Ashraf Ali Thanwi Rahimahullah has written, “What is Jihad? The big Jihad is to suppress the Nafs.” Hadrat Maulana continues further to say that on the Day of Qiyaamah a person who suppressed his Nafs will be raised with the Shuhadaa. If these signs (which we discussed above) are found in a person’s life, it is an indication that Allah Ta’ala has opened his heart and has granted him Hidayat.
