In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

How can you cure hardness of the heart?

By Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-’Uthaymeen may Allah have mercy on him 

Question: O virtuous Shaykh, I am complaining about hardness of my heart and how acts of obedience are hard for me to perform. Is there any relief for me despite of the fact that I constantly disobey Allah? Also, what is your advice to my fellow young sisters and myself who are busied with fashion shows and anything else that diverts us away from our deen?

Answer: I say that surely hardness of the heart has a cure and its cure is by abundantly reciting the Qur’an. The evidence for this is the statement of Allah,

لَوۡ أَنزَلۡنَا هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٍ۬ لَّرَأَيۡتَهُ ۥ خَـٰشِعً۬ا مُّتَصَدِّعً۬ا مِّنۡ خَشۡيَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌

“Had We sent down this Qur’an on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rend asunder by the fear of Allah…” [al-Hashr: 21]

A mountain is a firm rock that if the Qur’an were to descend upon then it would become humble and break. The same goes for the heart, when the Qur’an is recited while pondering over its meanings with deep contemplation then there is no doubt that it will affect the heart. Listen to the statement of Allah,

إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَذِكْرَى لِمَنْ كَانَ لَهُ قَلْبٌ أَوْ أَلْقَى السَّمْعَ وَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ

“Verily, therein (the Qur’an) is indeed a reminder for him who has a heart or gives ear while he is heedful.” [Qaaf: 37]

Therefore, it is upon you O sister to recite the Book of Allah with contemplation and humility. As a result, Allah will replace hardness of the heart with softness and He will cause you to return back to Him.

As for the women who are busied with fashion shows, then certainly they have lost their worldly life as well as their Hereafter – except for those whom Allah has willed. You may be amazed by these women who busy themselves with fashion shows, but in reality all they are doing is exhausting themselves, their spouses, their fathers, and those in charge of their affairs (s. Walee p. Awliyaa). Where is all of the money they spent going? The money they spend goes to businesses which may even be owned by disbelievers and as a result aids our enemies.

Therefore, my sincere advice to the women and to those in charge of their affairs is to not attend these fashion shows which have no good and only waste time and money. There is no doubt that as a result, this action deviates the heart and prevents one from obedience to Allah.

Source: Silsilah al-Liqaa ash-Shahri #72

Translated by: Abu Awzaa’ee AbdusSalaam

الفقير الى الله