What is the way to get rid of the hardness of hearts and to reflect upon the Qur'an?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, we sometimes find hardness in the heart. What is its cure, and how does a Muslim reflect upon the Book of Allah so that it has an impact on the soul of the one who reads it?
The Shaykh : Allah is the Greatest. By Allah, these are very important questions. The cause of the hardness of hearts is turning away from the religion of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, as Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:49] Sins have a great effect on the heart, on the methodology, and on the path. Every time a person commits a sin, a black spot appears in his heart. If he repents and reforms, this black spot is polished away; otherwise, the sins accumulate, and what the person has earned settles upon his heart. At that point, a seal is placed upon his heart, may Allah protect us from that. So you must engage in the frequent remembrance of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and read the Qur'an with reflection, deliberation, and consideration. Ibn 'Abd al-Qawi (may Allah have mercy on him) says in the famous *Manzumat al-Adab* (Poem of Etiquette):
"And guard the study of the Qur'an, for it *** softens a hard heart like a rock"
Also, among the causes of the softening of the heart is looking at the poor, the small children, and the orphans, for there is mercy in them. Indeed, showing mercy to them is a cause for the mercy of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1924Hasan (Darussalam) What? Sunan Abi Dawud 4941Sahih (Al-Albani) Try it and you will find: place yourself in the position of the child and treat him with the treatment appropriate for him, and show him compassion. You will find that this has a profound effect on your heart. Perhaps you read several pages of a book of exhortation that does not affect your heart as much as this lowering oneself to the child and caressing him does. For this reason, when al-Aqra' ibn Habis saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) kissing a child, I think it was al-Hasan or al-Husayn, he said: This is among the causes of the softening of the heart.
Also, among the causes of the softening of the heart is reading about the biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from his sending until his passing, for it has a profound effect on the heart.
Also, reading about the biography of some of the caliphs who were known for asceticism, scrupulousness, and justice, such as the Rightly Guided Caliphs and 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him) and their like.
The Shaykh : Allah is the Greatest. By Allah, these are very important questions. The cause of the hardness of hearts is turning away from the religion of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, as Allah the Exalted said:
And if they turn away - then know that Allah only intends to afflict them with some of their [own] sins
فإن تولوا فاعلم أنما يريد الله أن يصيبهم ببعض ذنوبهم"And guard the study of the Qur'an, for it *** softens a hard heart like a rock"
Also, among the causes of the softening of the heart is looking at the poor, the small children, and the orphans, for there is mercy in them. Indeed, showing mercy to them is a cause for the mercy of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Be merciful on the earth
ارحموا من في الأرضHe Who is in the heaven will show mercy to you
يرحمكم من في السماءDo you kiss your children? I have ten children and I do not kiss them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him: Do I have the power to prevent Allah from removing mercy from your heart?
أتقبلون أولادكم ؟ إنا لي عشرة من الولد ما قبلتهم قال له النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : أوأملك لك أن نزع الله الرحمة من قلبكAlso, among the causes of the softening of the heart is reading about the biography of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) from his sending until his passing, for it has a profound effect on the heart.
Also, reading about the biography of some of the caliphs who were known for asceticism, scrupulousness, and justice, such as the Rightly Guided Caliphs and 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him) and their like.