TOPIC: A CURE FOR HARD HEARTS

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful Dear Muslim brothers and sisters, Last week we mentioned the factors that result in a hardened heart, and today we will inshaAllah discuss some of the cures to such a dangerous disease, and we will discuss ways to make it humbled and purified. Brothers and sisters, a soft heart is a bounty from Allah SWT, and there is no heart that is prevented from such bounty, except that it is under the risk of the punishment of Allah, as Allah SWT said in the Quran: Then woe unto those whose hearts are hardened against remembrance of Allah. [ Az-Zumar,39:22 ] No heart becomes softened against the remembrance of Allah, except that you find such person eager to do good, and diligent to perform the acts that are pleasing to Allah SWT. Such a persons heart then becomes filled with the love of Allah SWT and away from acts of disobedience.

The cures are : 1. Acknowledging who you are dealing with, knowing Allah SWT. No hardened heart is found except that its owner is ignorant of Allah SWT, and the greater the ignorance of Allah, the greater is a persons transgression against the boundries of Allah. Allah SWT Has informed

Khutba: Sheikh Cherif Hussein, IDCSA South Australia

us of Himself in the Quran, and there is no surah in the quran except that it tells us about His blessed names and attributes, His magnificent creation, knowledge, Power and wisdom and the list goes on. Allah SWT said in His Book,

Then acknowledge that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah and seek forgivness for your sins [ Muhammad, 47:19 ] 2. Allah SWT urged us to learn and seek knowledge about Him (SWT), then the order came for worship and actions (in the case of this verse, seeking forgiveness). True servitude will not be achieved unless Allah SWT is acknowledged, and recognized. For the knowing Allah (SWT), brings with it humility, and fear of Him (SWT), which results in commitment to what He has enjoined upon us, and staying clear of that which He has forbidden, as Allah (SWT) said: It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. [Fatir, 35:28] meaning, it is the people of knowledge who fear Allah in the truest forms, those who possess knowledge of Him(SWT). One of the best ways of learning about Allah SWT, is to learn about His Names and attributes, what are their meanings, to ponder upon them and their evidence, take for instance the name of Allah Al aleem (The Allknowing). Allah SWT in Surah Taha:

Khutba: Sheikh Cherif Hussein, IDCSA South Australia

Your God is only Allh, None has the right to be worshipped but He. He has full knowledge of all things. [At-Taha, 20:98] Meaning, His knowledge embraces both the knowledge of the apparent and the knowledge of the unseen. He (SWT) knows what happened in the past, and what is happening in the present and what to happen in the future, and nothing ever becomes hidden from Allah(SWT). Allah(SWT) also said: And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land and in the sea; not a leaf falls, but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record.[ AlAnaam, 6:59 ] We also find Luqmaan the Wise, one of the first things hew taught His son, after He enjoined upon to recognise Allah, and not associate partners with, He said to him: O my son! If it be (anything) equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, Allh will bring it forth. Verily, Allh is (Lateef) Gentle, (khabeer) Well Aware of all. [ Luqman, 31:16 ] Allah (SWT) is aware of the thoughts that go in our mind, even if we do not utter it aloud, He (SWT) said in: And indeed We have created man, and We know what his ownself whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge.[ Qaf, 50:16 ]

Khutba: Sheikh Cherif Hussein, IDCSA South Australia

When the conquest of Makkah took place and the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was performing Tawaf, Fudala bin Umair intended to kill the Prophet(Peace be upon him) as there there was nothing in the whole of creation that was more hated to him than the Prophet (Peace be upon him). As he began to walk behind Prophet (Peace be upon him), Allah(SWT) informed the Prophet of the man and his intentions. When Prophet (Peace be upon him) came near him he asked, Are you Fudala? Fudala replied in the affirmative. Prophet (Peace be upon him) then asked, What were you thinking in your heart? Nothing, he replied, I was only doing the remembrance of Allah. Prophet (Peace be upon him) smiled and said, Continue with this remembrance and then placed his blessed hand on Fudalas chest. His heart suddenly and immediate went calm and was at peace. Fudala (May Allah be pleased with him) later used to say, By Allah! Even before Prophet (Peace be upon him) began lifting his hand off my chest, nothing in the whole of creation then became dearer to me than Prophet (Peace be upon him)." END OF FIRST PART

Dear respected brothers and sisters, One of the names of Allah SWT is (Al Qader & Al Qadeer) which means The one who is able to do all things. Allah SWT said in the Quran:

Khutba: Sheikh Cherif Hussein, IDCSA South Australia

That is because Allh, He is the Truth, and it is He Who gives life to the dead, and it is He Who is Able to do all things(Qadeer). [ Al Hajj, 22:6 ] Allah SWT also said in surat al Nahl: And verily! In the cattle, there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink of that which is in their bellies, from between excretions and blood, pure milk; palatable to the drinkers.[Al-Nahl, 16:66] This verse goes to show the extent of Allahs ability and great design. An unmatched ability, no creation of Man or Jin could ever do such thing, and as Allah SWT said: This is the creation of Allh. So show Me that which those (whom you worship), besides Him have created. Indeed , the transgressors (polytheists, wrongdoers and those who do not believe in the Oneness of Allh) are in plain error. [Luqman, 31:11 ] Allah SWT said: And your Lord inspired the bees, saying: Take you habitations in the mountains and in the trees and in what they erect. "Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you)." There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying colour wherein is healing for men. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for people who thin.[ Al-Nahl, 16:68 ] Another great sign of Allahs power and might, the bees consumes the syrup from the roses, to produce for us the honey that we eat to day uncontaminated, just as the example of milk.

Khutba: Sheikh Cherif Hussein, IDCSA South Australia

So I ask you by Allah dear brother, what power can override the power of Allah? What might, can be even compared to the Might of Allah? Allah (SWT) says: And it is He Who sends the winds as heralds of glad tidings, going before His Mercy (rain). Till when they have carried a heavy-laden cloud, We drive it to a land that is dead, then We cause water (rain) to descend thereon. Then We produce every kind of fruit therewith. Similarly, We shall raise up the dead, so that you may remember or take heed.[ Al Araaf, 7:57 ] Allah SWT also said: 9. And We send down blessed water (rain) from the sky, then We produce therewith gardens and grain (every kind of harvests) that are reaped. 10. And tall date-palms, with ranged clusters; 11. A provision for (Allh's) slaves. And We give life therewith to a dead land. Thus will be the resurrection (of the dead.[ Qaf, 50:9-11 ] Allah the Exalted also said : And you see the earth barren, but when We send down water (rain) on it, it is stirred (to life), it swells and puts forth every lovely kind (of growth). That is because Allh, He is the Truth, and it is He Who gives life to the dead, and it is He Who is Able to do all things.[ Al-Hajj, 41:39 ] The verses are many that highlight to us, the greatness of Allah, which if one ponders upon regularly, humility, awe and fear of Allah, will be instilled in such a person.

Khutba: Sheikh Cherif Hussein, IDCSA South Australia

So fear Allah, O Slaves of Allah, and recognize that you have not been created in vain, and you will not be left alone, it is envitable that you will stand before your Lord the Exalted. Lost is he who misses out on the mercy of Allah, whose mercy encompasses all of that which exists, and who misses out on a Jannah(Paradise) whose width is equivalent to that of the heavens and the earth. Allah The Most Merciful Said: O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allh, He will grant you Furqn [(a criterion to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. a way for you to get out from every difficulty)], and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you; and Allh is the Owner of the Great Bounty.[Al-Anfal, 8:29]
*SWT Subhanahu wa taala, How Perfect and Glorified He is

END

Khutba: Sheikh Cherif Hussein, IDCSA South Australia