Chapter 1.10. The Reality Of The Life Of The Heart

Know that the life of the heart and other than it is not merely one of sensation, movement and intent, or merely one of knowledge and ability as assumed and intent, or merely one of knowledge and ability as assumed by a group of investigators into the Knowledge of Allah and His power such as Abu al-Husain al-Basri. They said:

He can only be considered to have Life as long as He Knows and is Able.

This is not the case, rather life is an attribute existing independently in the described, and it is a condition for the existence of knowledge, intent and the ability to perform actions out of choice. Life is also a necessary outcome of these - so every living thing has understanding, intention, and everything that has knowledge, intent and performs actions and performs actions out of choice is alive.

The noun 'modesty' is derived from 'life', so the heart that is alive - it's owner is also alive - and it contains modesty which prevents it from performing evil and despicable actions, because in the modesty of the heart lies its immunity from these types of actions. This is why the Prophet said,

Modesty is from faith. [Bukhari and Muslim]

and he said,

Modesty and bashfulness are two branches from amongst the branches of faith, and obscenity and boasting are two branches from the branches of hypocrisy. [Tirmidhi]

This is why the living being is dearly affected by despicable actions and he has an intent that prevents him from performing them in contravention to the one who is shameless because he is not alive and therefore has no modesty and therefore no faith that would restrain him from evil. So if the heart is alive and the person dies in its separation from the body, then the death of the soul lies in its separation from the body not in the fact that it, in and of itself, has died - with the meaning of life leaving it. This is why Allah the Exalted said,

Do not say those who are slain. in the Way of Allah: 'they are dead', rather they are alive... [Surah al-Baqarah (2) : 154]

Think not of those who are slain in the Way of Allah as dead. Nay they are alive... [Surah Al lmran (3) : 169]

Despite the fact that they have died are included in His sayings,

Every soul shall taste of death ... [Surah Al lmran (3) : 185]

Indeed you will die and they will die... [Surah az-Zumar (39) : 30]

He is the One Who gave you life, then will cause you to die, then give you life. [Surah al-Hajj (22) : 66]

Therefore the death that is affirmed is not the same as the negated death.

'The affirmed death is the separation of the soul from the body, and the negated death is the leaving of life in totality from the body and soul. This is similar to the fact that sleep is the brother of death. Allah said,

It is Allah Who takes away the souls .at the time of their death, and those that die not during their sleep. He keeps those (souls) for which He ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed. [Surah az-Zumar (39) :42]

The Prophet used to say when he awoke from sleep,

All praise is due to Allah Who gives us life after He had caused us to die arid unto Him is the resurrection. [Bukhari and Muslim]

In another hadith,

All praise is due to Allah Who restored to me health and returned my soul and has allowed me to remember Him. [Tirmidhi]

When he lay down to sleep he said,

O Allah, verily You have treated my soul, and You shall take its life, to You belongs its death and life. lf You should keep my soul alive then protect it, and if You should take its life then forgive it. O Allah I ask You to grant me good health. [Sahih Muslim]

He said,

With Your Name, O Allah, I die and live.

• The Need For Beneficial Knowledge
• Envy Is A Sickness Of The Heart

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