The heart opening towards Islam
Transcribed from the Islaahi Majlis conducted on 13/07/2023
Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Quraan Sharif,
فمن يرد الله ان يهديه يشرح صدره للاسلام
“Whoever Allah Ta’ala wishes to guide, He expands his bosom for Islam.” [Re: Surah An’aam, Verse 125]
Hidayat (guidance) is of 2 types;
One is to show somebody the way. For example, a person comes from out of town and asks for directions to the Masjid, so you show him the way.
The second type is, to reach your desired destination without losing your way.
A person offers to accompany you to your destination, so you don’t get lost on the way. Similarly, when Allah Ta’ala wants to make someone His Wali and beloved, not only does Allah Ta’ala show him the way, but Allah Ta’ala makes him reach his destination and makes him his beloved.
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 even Nafl fasts. Where it was difficult on the Nafs to discharge Zakaah, now it becomes easy for him to discharge optional charity. These are signs that Allah Ta’ala is pulling him to his destination. It becomes easy for this person to give up all forms of vice, which is an indication that Allah Ta’ala is guiding him.
When this verse of the Quraan Sharif was revealed, Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said to the Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum that the meaning of this verse is that Allah Ta’ala will make it easy for a person to do good deeds and stay away from sins.
The Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum asked Nabi Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam to explain what is meant by the bosom of a person expanding. Nabi Salallahu 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 we will quote an incident. There was a Rajah in India. Once, whilst riding his elephant, he saw a poor person and his heart inclined towards this person. The Rajah expressed his desire to befriend him. The poor person told the Rajah that he is riding an elephant whereas the Rajah lives in a tin house, which is so small that he has to lower his head when he enters it, so how will the Rajah visit him? The Rajah said he need not worry over this-when he becomes his friend and wishes to visit him, he will sort out his accommodation and make it comfortable and large enough for even his elephant to pass through.
From this, the Buzurgs 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. A certain pious person saw a 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 “Inshirahus Sadr – a opened bosom”.
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 to him.”
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 Shuhada. In conclusion, if these signs are found in a person’s life, it is an indication that Allah Ta’ala has opened his heart and has granted him Hidayat. May Allah Ta’ala open all our hearts towards Islam and bless us with his love. Ameen!