Healing the Weak Iman
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Shaykh Muhammad Salih al-Munajjid
Thinking about and trying to understand meanings of the Glorious Qur’an, which Allah has sent down for His slaves to clarify all things and as a Light that He gives to whom He wills among His slaves. Indeed, the Qur’an contains
tremendous medicine for all ills of the heart, as Allah said, what translated means, "And We sent down from the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (in Islamic Monotheism)." [17:82]
The Qur’an contains Islamic Monotheism; Allah’s promises, warnings and Commandments; stores of previous nations; and codes of the best conduct and behavior. These various subjects in the Qur’an have different effects on the heart. Some Surahs (chapters) of the Qur’an are more frightening than others. The Messenger of Allah said, what translated means, "Hud (chapter 11) and its sisters (chapters 56, 77, 78 and 81) have brought me white hairs before their due time." [As-Silsilah As-Sahihah]. Hud and its sisters brought white hairs to the Messenger of Allah because of what they contain of matters of Iman. These Surahs, and the rest of the Qur’an, showed their effect on the Messenger of Allah and his companions, exactly as they were ordered in the Qur’an, "So stand (ask Allah to make) you (Mohammed) firm and straight (on the religion of Islamic Monotheism) as you are commanded and those (your companions) who turn in repentance (unto Allah) with you." [11:112]
The companions would also be deeply moved with emotions when they recited the Qur’an. Abu Bakr, for example, who was a soft-hearted man, used to cry while reciting the Qur’an when leading Muslims in prayer. Once, Umar became ill as a result of his reciting the Ayah, "Verily, the Torment of your Lord will surely come to pass. There is none that can avert it." [2:7-8]
On another occasion, Umar wept when he was reciting the Ayah, "I (Prophet Jacob) only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah." [12:86], and he was clearly heard by those who were standing behind him. Furthermore, Uthman ibn `Affan said, "If our hearts were pure, they will never have enough from reciting Allah’s Speech (the Qur’an)."
As for later generations, Ayyub said, "I heard Sa`eed ibn Jubayr recite the Ayah, "And be afraid of a Day when you shall be brought back to Allah." [2:281], repeating it more than twenty times." This is the last Ayah that was revealed to the Messenger of Allah, and it ends with, "Then every person shall be paid what he earned, and they shall not be dealt with unjustly." [2:281].
Also, Ibrahim ibn Bashshar said, "If you could but see where they will be held over the (Hell) Fire! They will say, 'Would that we were but sent back (to the world).'" [6:27], was the Ayah that Ali ibn al-Fudhayl died while reciting. I was among those who prayed the Janazah (funeral) prayer on him, may Allah grant him His Mercy."
Furthermore, when our Salaf would reach a portion of the Qur’an where Sujud (bowing down) is warranted, they treated this incident different than ordinary people. A man once recited, "And they fall down on their faces weeping and it adds to their humility." [17:109], and then fell in Sujud. Then, he said to himself, "Here you are, you do the Sujud, so where is the crying?"
Ibn Al-Qayyim said with regards to what one should do to cure his weak Iman using the Qur’an, "First you should remove your heart from the life of this world and settle it in the Last Life. Then, pay your full attention to pursuing the meanings of the Qur’an, and try to comprehend and understand them and what they were sent down to accomplish. Then, offer these meanings to the sickness that your heart feels, and when they touch the disease, they will cure the heart, Allah willing."
*This article is excerpted from the writer’s book "The Weakening of Faith - Its Symptoms - Causes & Cure"
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