Blackened Heart: How to Avoid Ramadan Distractions and Practice Fikr-e-Madinah

Sins in Ramadan!

Sayyidatuna Umm-e-Hani رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا has narrated that the Beloved and Blessed Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم warned, ‘My Ummah will not be disgraced as long as it fulfils the rights of Ramadan.’ He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was asked as to what was meant by the disgrace of Ummah in this matter, he صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Committing sins in this month.’

He صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has further stated, ‘If anyone fornicates or drinks alcohol in this month Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and all His angels curse him, if he dies before the next Ramadan he will not have a single virtue to save him from the fire of Hell. So fear (Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ) concerning Ramadan. As the reward of good deeds is increased in this month compared to other months, the severity of sins also increases.’ (Mu'jam Sagheer, pp. 60, vol. 9, Hadees 1488)

تُوبُوْا إِلَى اللهِ                    أَسْتَغْفِرُ الله

صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبِيْب               صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّد

Beware, ungrateful ones!

Dear Islamic brothers! Tremble with fear! Don’t waste the blessed moments of Ramadan in sinful activities. As rewards for virtuous actions are increased in this month the nuisance of sins is also increased. One who fornicates or drinks alcohol in Ramadan is so unfortunate that if he dies before the next Ramadan he will not have a single virtue to save him from the fire of Hell.

Remember! The fornication of the eyes is to misuse them (by looking at Na-Mahram women etc.) and that of the hands is to touch a woman (or an attractive young boy with lust), so beware! In Ramadan, do your best to avoid misusing your eyes in any way. Do not look at women and attractive boys. Apply Madani guard to your eyes as long as possible (make every possible effort to keep your eyes lowered). Alas! Sometimes even the Muslims who offer Salah and fast face the wrath of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and the punishment of fire as a result of desecrating Ramadan.

Black spot on heart

A Hadees states, ‘When a person commits a sin, a black spot is marked on his heart. If he commits another sin another black spot is marked on his heart (and this carries on) until his (whole) heart becomes black. Then advice has no effect on his heart.’ (Ad-Dur-rul-Mansoor, pp. 446, vol. 8)

It’s obvious that if someone’s heart is rusty and black then how can words of piety and advice affect him? It becomes extremely difficult for such a person to avoid sins in Ramadan as well as in other months, and he finds it hard to perform good deeds. If somehow he does manage to occupy himself in acts of piety he does not enjoy himself carrying them out and tries to find the ways to avoid the Sunnah-Inspiring Madani environment. His Nafs makes him have long hopes and he becomes heedless and eventually dissociates himself from the Madani environment. Such a person wastes the blessed moments of Ramadan, playing and listening to music, playing cards and chess, gossiping, chatting etc. and thereby ruins these sacred and blessed moments.

Cure for blackness of heart

It is absolutely vital to treat this blackness of heart. An extremely effective treatment is to become the disciple of a perfect Murshid. In other words, one should become the disciple of a pious and righteous man who abides by Sunnah, whose vision makes his disciples remember Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and His Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, whose speech motivates his followers to offer Salah and act upon the blessed Sunnah and whose company inspires others to prepare for death and the afterlife. If one is fortunate enough to find such a competent Murshid then this blackness of heart will certainly be cured, اِنْ شَآءَ اللّٰه.

Remember! We are not allowed to pass such comments about any particular Muslim sinner as his heart is black or it has been sealed, due to which he does not accept my call to righteousness. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has the power to make him repent and come onto the straight path. May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ remove the blackness of our hearts!

آمِيْن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِ الْأَمِيْن صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم

Here is an admonitory parable, please read it and tremble with fear of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Those who play cards, chess, video games, watch films and dramas, listen to music etc. despite fasting should particularly listen to it attentively.

Horrific scene of grave!

Once Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyiduna 'Ali كَرَّمَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى وَجْهَهُ الْكَرِيم went to a cemetery in Kufa to visit graves. Seeing a newly-prepared grave, he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ desired to get to know of its internal state, so he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ implored Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ humbly, 'Ya Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ reveal to me the condition of the deceased buried in this grave.' Immediately, all the veils between him and the deceased were lifted. What he saw was a horrific scene; the deceased was being burnt in fire and screaming out for help from Sayyiduna 'Ali رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ:

يَاعَلِيُّ! اَنَا غَرِيْقٌ فِي النَّارِ وَحَرِيْقٌ فِي النَّارِ

O 'Ali كَرَّمَ اللّٰهُ وَجْهَهُ الْكَرِيم! I am drowned in fire and I am burning in fire.

The dreadful scene of the grave and the screams of the deceased person saddened Sayyiduna 'Ali كَرَّمَ اللّٰهُ وَجْهَهُ الْكَرِيم. He lifted his hands in the court of his Merciful Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and began to pray with utmost humility for the forgiveness of the deceased. A voice from Ghayb echoed, ‘O ‘Ali (كَرَّمَ اللّٰهُ وَجْهَهُ الْكَرِيم)! Do not intercede for him as he used to disrespect Ramadan in spite of fasting, he did not refrain from committing sins even in Ramadan, he used to fast during the day but would indulge in sins at night.’

Listening to this voice, Sayyiduna ‘Ali كَرَّمَ اللّٰهُ وَجْهَهُ الْكَرِيم became even more sad; he رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ prostrated and began to cry. (With tears in his eyes) he said, ‘Ya Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ! Please accept my supplication, this man has called out to me for help with high hopes, O Creator عَزَّوَجَلَّ do not disappoint me in front of him, have mercy on him and forgive this helpless man.’ Sayyiduna ‘Ali كَرَّمَ اللّٰهُ وَجْهَهُ الْكَرِيم continued to pray in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. He then heard a voice say, ‘O ‘Ali (رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ)! We have forgiven him for the sake of your grieved heart.’ The man was then relieved of punishment. (Anis-ul-Wa'izin, pp. 25)