The Heart, Divine Remembrance, and the Light of Nisbat-e-Rasooli (PBUH)
The Purification of the Heart through the Prophetic Connection (PBUH)
Discourse of Hazrat Pir Sahib (RA)
Dated: 4 October 1985 | Speech No. 26
بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
فَنِعۡمَ الۡمَوۡلٰی وَ نِعۡمَ النَّصِیۡرُ
رَبِِّ اشۡرَحۡ لِیۡ صَدۡرِیۡ وَیَسِّرۡ لِیۡۤ اَمۡرِیۡ وَ احۡلُلۡ عُقۡدَۃً مِّنۡ لِّسَانِیۡ یَفۡقَہُوۡاقَوۡلِیۡ
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِ عَلٰی سَیّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍوَّعَلٰی اٰلِ سَیِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍوَّعَلٰی اَصْحَابِہٖ وَعَلٰی اَذْوَاجِہٖ اَجْمَعِیْنَ وَبَارِکْ وَسَلِمْ وَصَلِ عَلَیْہٖ
All praise is for Allah.
Countless thanks to Allah Almighty, the Sovereign of all sovereignty, who has once again granted us the opportunity and ability to gather here for His pleasure, in His remembrance, and in His love. Millions and billions of blessings and peace be upon the Leader of the Prophets, the Beloved of Allah, Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (PBUH), through whose blessed means this favor has been bestowed upon us.
Respected listeners! The heart is a remarkable thing. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said that if the heart is sound, the entire body is sound, and if the heart is corrupt, the entire body is corrupt. Consequently, all actions become corrupt because every action is based on intention, and intention is connected to the heart.
It is narrated that the master of Hazrat Luqman (AS) asked him to bring the best part of a slaughtered goat, and he brought the heart. The next day, the master asked him to bring the worst part of another slaughtered goat, and again he brought the heart. The master asked, “How can the heart be both the best and the worst?” Hazrat Luqman (AS) replied, “If the heart is good, everything is good, and if the heart is bad, everything is bad.”
Dear listeners! These are matters that require understanding. To correct our actions, to become true servants of Allah in this world, and to attain success and honor in the Hereafter, it is essential to protect the heart. A person should constantly examine his heart and see how much love it contains for Allah and His Messenger (PBUH), and how much love it contains for the world and the people of the world. If the love of Allah and His Messenger (PBUH) is greater than everything else, then he is a believer. If the love of the world and worldly people dominates, then he is a hypocrite. May Allah protect us from that.
The Prophetic Connection (Nisbat-e-Rasooli) exists to cleanse the heart of impurities, remove darkness, and purify it from the love of others besides Allah. When a spiritual connection with the Holy Prophet (PBUH) is established, the heart becomes illuminated just as a bulb instantly lights up when connected to a power source, transforming darkness into light. However, for this illumination to occur, the connection must remain uninterrupted and free from any obstruction. Even a slight defect in the bulb prevents light from appearing; similarly, even a small impurity in the heart prevents the Prophetic Connection (PBUH) from being established properly.
The first lesson of the Prophetic Connection (PBUH) is the remembrance of Allah (Dhikr), both aloud and silently. Loud remembrance is practiced so that the blessings of its sound affect not only the heart but all parts of the body, thereby suppressing satanic whispers. Secondly, it breaks the locks that exist within the hearts of those who hear it. Thirdly, Satan flees upon hearing the sound of remembrance. It is mentioned in Hadith that his bones begin to break, and he runs away screaming. Because of these benefits, loud remembrance has been regarded as superior.
Qur’anic Reference
Surah Al-A‘raf 7:205
وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ فِي نَفْسِكَ تَضَرُّعًا وَخِيفَةً وَدُونَ الْجَهْرِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ
“And remember your Lord within yourself, humbly and with fear, and without loudness in speech, morning and evening.”
This verse, according to the commentators, relates to prayer. In the early days, when the Prophet (PBUH) led congregational prayer, the Companions would recite behind him. The command was given not to raise their voices. As for reciting loudly in general, authentic traditions mention that the Prophet (PBUH) himself would recite the Qur’an at night from the rooftop of his house with such a clear voice that it could be heard from a distance.
Dhikr is itself a verse of the Qur’an and is superior to many other forms of recitation because the Qur’an contains history, commands, prohibitions, and guidance, whereas Dhikr is the direct proclamation of the Oneness of Allah. A Hadith states that whatever portion of the Qur’an is recited is carried by the angels and presented before Allah, but the declaration of faith (Kalima Tayyiba) is presented directly before Allah Himself.
Another Hadith states that the greatest form of worship is the remembrance of Allah. The Companions asked the Prophet (PBUH), “Which act of worship is the best?” He replied, “Dhikr.” They asked, “Is it even better than Jihad?” He replied, “Yes, even if the sword of the warrior becomes covered with blood and breaks.” SubhanAllah! What a lofty rank.
O people of this gathering! To become a true Muslim and believer, purification of the heart is essential. The heart must be connected to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), and the means of purifying the heart is sacred remembrance (Dhikr), which has been taught to you. The sacred litanies (Awrad-e-Pak) are recited for this very purpose, so that through them we may present ourselves before Allah and pray: “O Allah, grant us the true Prophetic Connection (PBUH) and purify our hearts.”
The important matter is that while engaging in Dhikr and reciting the sacred litanies, one should know what one is doing and why one is doing it. This awareness creates concern for proper manners, concentration, and attention, enabling a person to benefit correctly. Without proper attention and focused awareness, no real benefit is achieved. Therefore, listen attentively and recite with full consciousness and understanding.
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
The Awrad-e-Naziriya Sharif were recited, and a supplication was made.
