Saving Our Souls Series | Part 2: Thirty-Two Obligations of the Heart – Shaykh Yusuf Weltch
When we think of obligations we often think of the five daily prayers, fasting, zakah, hajj, being good to your parents, etc; which are all bodily obligations. We hardly hear of obligations of the heart. Yes, the heart has actions and can commit haram and other vile deeds.
These obligations of the heart are:
- Faith in Allah Most High
- Faith in all that has come from Allah Most High
- Faith in the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace)
- Faith in that which the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) has brought
- Sincere affirmation:
- which is the essential meaning of faith
- Conviction:
- which is a lack of doubt in that which one believes
- Sincerity:
- which is acting in obedience to Allah, alone.
- Remorse for disobedience:
- since it is contrary to the command of Allah
- Trust (i.e. reliance on) in Allah in matters of provision, safety from harm, and other things:
- not relying on the means
- Constant awareness of Allah:
- which is to remain aware that Allah Most High knows, sees, hears, and is aware of you
- so that fear of Allah always prevents you from disobeying
- Contentment in Allah Most High:
- to submit to Him and to abandon objecting to Him
- Holding a good opinion of Allah Most High:
- to constantly bring to mind the blessings that Allah has bestowed on you in the past and to yearn for similar in the future
- Holding a good opinion of the creation of Allah Most High:
- not to assume bad of anyone without sufficient religiously recognized proof
- To revere the symbols of Allah Most High:
- everything that signifies obedience to Allah, like prayer
- i.e. to revere everything that is revered in the Sacred law
- To be grateful for the blessings of Allah Most High:
- meaning, not to use them in His disobedience
- Perseverance in fulfilling what Allah has obligated:
- meaning, forcing oneself to do that and to hold fast to that
- Perseverance in abandoning that which Allah has prohibited:
- restraining oneself from doing the forbidden
- Bearing patiently in the tests that Allah Most High sends your way:
- that the test does not drive you to the forbidden
- Being confident that Allah will provide:
- knowing that whatever is decreed for you to benefit from will never miss you
- Accusing the self:
- accusing yourself in that which your desires call you towards lest it deceive you and draw you toward the forbidden
- Never being pleased with the self:
- by always keeping in mind its deficiencies
- Abhorring the Devil:
- by inclining to his disobedience
- Abhorring the world:
- by not turning your attention to that which distracts you from the obedience of Allah Most High
- Abhorring the people of disobedience:
- by inclining away from them, being averse to their disobedience, and refusing to follow them therein
- Love of Allah:
- by accustoming the heart to His obedience alone, obeying His commands, and abstaining from His prohibitions
- Love of His speech:
- by venerating its verses, submitting to it, and acting upon it
- Love of His Messenger:
- our Master Muhammad (may Allah bless him and give him peace) by believing in him, honoring him, striving to follow him entirely
- Love of all the Prophets:
- by believing in them and honouring them
- Love of the companions:
- by keeping in mind their virtue; that they surpassed all in their Islam, in honor (by their companionship with the Prophet may Allah bless him and give him peace), their giving Him assistance, and their conveying the religion
- Love of the Prophetic family:
- having concern for them, out of honor for the Prophet, for they are His family and closest relatives
- Love of the emigrants and the Helpers
- those from the people of Mecca and Medina who helped the religion
- especially the predecessors amongst them. (Loving them) by keeping in mind their uniqueness.
- Love of the righteous:
- by revering them, turning to them, and travelling their path
