Lesson 2: The Seven Limbs and Protecting the Heart
Taught By: Shaykh Yahya Rhodus
- Lowering the gaze
- Not listening to sinful matters
- The tongue,stomach, private parts, and the hands and feet
Next Lines to be studied:
He lowers his gaze from what is prohibited;and keeps his hearing from [listening to] sinful matters:such as, backbiting, malicious slander, false testimony and lying76; [obviously,] his own tongue should avoid any of them, firstandforemost;he guards his stomach from all that is prohibited,and assiduously abandons what is doubtful;he guards his genitals; he is conscientiously aware of Him who is the Witness to all things,in matters of aggression or when pursuing anything forbidden thathe might desire.
- The deen has two components:
1) Fulfilling the commandments.
2) Avoiding the prohibitions. (This is more difficult than fulfilling the obligations)
- Restraining one's self is more difficult to do then performing an obligatory action.
- However, performing an obligatory action is seventy times greater than performing a supererogatory action. There is something about the fardh that makes it heavy on you.This is because the nafs (soul, lower self) does not like to be told what to do.
- When something becomes obligatory, it becomes heavy on the nafs, this is why its a good thing. i.e more reward.
Hadith: Paradise has been surrounded by difficulties and the hell-fire by desires.
- Building and progressing is very difficult but falling off is very easy. The way that you fall off is by falling to a state of heedlessness where you neglect to put in action to move forward. As we go through various stages of life, we are susceptible to falling off because of certain circumstances that present itself and we lack clarity.
- In the spiritual realm, we can be going through many tribulations that it is very difficult to respond to each of them with focus and clarity.
Protecting our seven limbs and the heart
- Eyes, ears, tongue, stomach, private parts, hands and feet.
- The Heart'
- Some scholars state that the wisdom of the seven doors of hell pertain to the seven limbs and that every time you obey Allah (SWT) with your seven limbs, a door closes.
- Relationship between our limbs and the doors to hell.
- Tangent: Fear and hope has its place and in our times. Sometimes, we barely bring the topic of hell in our khutbas thinking it will diminish our popularity but this topic is important and has its place in our times. We should have balance between the two (paradise and hell) and talk about them. We should come to terms with the reality that Allah has created an abode of everlasting punishment and understand the wisdom and meta-physical aspects of it.
- The foundation of these seven limbs is the heart.
- Everything that manifests on the limbs stems from the heart and the various thoughts that comes to our heart. Thus why the author starts with the limbs.
Eyes
- Murabitul Hajj - There is no major wrong action associated with the eye. There are sins but no major sins associated with the eye but the eye is the quickest way to pollute the heart.
- The outward affects the inward. Inward and outward go hand in hand. Limbs are channels to your heart especially the eyes and the ears.
- When you see images (Internet, TV, advertising, billboards) they are being channeled in your heart.
- We live in an age of sensory over load. This is one of the reasons why we don't have memories as we used to, why we are less attached to the spiritual and more attached to the material and why we are not in tune with nature.
- GEM: When we are in touch with nature, we can become more in touch with nature (what is within you)
What does it mean to Lower the gaze?
-Quran states, 'Tell the believing men to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Indeed, Allah is Acquainted with what they do.' (24:30)
1) Looking at the opposite gender. (Min = From amongst their gazes. Many things that are permissible to gaze at as well)
2) Preserving modesty which is an important trait of the deen.
- Islam encourages modesty. (in our behavior, dress and our gazes)
- Gazing at something prohibited leads to arousal, thoughts, potential to act upon it and finally to act upon it.
- If we can learn to preserve modesty and purity, we wouldn't dream about certain things, which is essentially a replay at night of what our nafs desires.
- The more we learn to preserve the purity in day the more that it will reflect in the purity of the night. You'll start seeing righteous people, angels, prophets in your dreams. It will reflect the purity within you; meanings that will indicate to them in subtle ways what they should or shouldn't be doing but this requires a purity.
- The Prophet (SAW), 'There is a zina of the eyes, there is a zina of the two hands, there is a zina of the two feet and there is zina of the actual private parts.' Indicating that one thing leads to another.
- Story: A companion came in the presence of Uthman ibn Affan (r.a) that he had looked at the adornments of the woman along the way and Uthman (r.a) said to him: Is one of you going to come in my presence with the presence of zina upon their face. He said, is this revelation after the Prophet of God. Uthman said, 'no, this is firasa (inner sight).
- How does he know that? Those who are in touch perceive things that other people don't.
I) Not looking and leaving that which does not concern us.
- Sidi Ahmad Zurruq in his book, 'Complete advice': There are many other things that we need to restrain our gazes from. Amongst them is not looking at other peoples things without their permission. i.e looking at other people's email.
- we need to control what we look at. i.e don't look here and there, open up drawers or go through people's things when you are their house.
- When the Prophet (SAW) used to walk, he would look straight ahead or down below. He didn't look to the right or the left. He was determined with the way he used to walk. If someone would call to him, he would turn and look to them completely.
- Habaib who lived in Singapore who had a Chinese neighbor who had a nice decorative door. He was intrigued by this righteous man and he said I've lived here for ten years and not once have I seen him pass by looking at my door.
- These are people who are focused on ikhlas which requires a high level of emaan.
- Focused on Allah and what's important in life.
- Anything that will help towards Allah, I will enjoin in it and anything that prevents me, I will avoid. This is a different type of fiqh!
- Leave that which does not concern him. (hadith) This hadith will open up doors of repose, tranquility and purity in your heart if acted upon.
II) Modesty with the self.
- In regards to the respect of awrah, It is even unlawful to sit in one's home without any clothes on unless they need to take a bath.
- Ali r.a - Never looked at his own private parts.
- Aisha r.a- I would take a bath with Rasool (SAW) and we never used to look at each others private parts.
III) Looking down upon someone else.
- Because they are poor.
- GEM: Preserve the eyes because they were created to gaze upon the noble countenance of Allah. Your eyes were created for looking at the Qur'an and looking at the wanders of God's creation. Your eyes were created to see the Prophet (SAW).
- By protecting our eyes and having Taqwa with them, we will start to see just the above. (beautiful things)
Ears
- Anything that is impermissible to say with the tongue is impermissible to hear with the ears. (i.e backbiting, false testimony, slander)
- By listening to that which is inappropriate, you are taking a part in the sin. (Stems from a weaker hadith)
- If such a scenario arises, you should:
1) Direct the conversation to something else.
2) Remove yourself from that particular place.Tangent: In our times, we are inundated with sounds. (i.e elevators, gas stations, shops etc) In previous times, one would have to be physically present to hear something. Part of fitnah and tribulation of our times.
Tongue
- The tongue is the most difficult to control in terms of the limbs.
- The most productive and destructive.
- Speech, articulation meanings.
- The greatness of the tongue can be understood by how one enters Islam i.e they utter the shahada. There is something special about the tongue.
- The higher the degree of something, at the same time, the more dangerous it becomes. i.e becoming a scholar and with it, there is an associated risk with it.
- When you learn to control your tongue, controlling other limbs becomes easy.
- Learn to restrain the tongue.
- The beauty of the tongue is that we have two ways to close it off:
1) Lips
2) Teeth.
The Prophet (SAW): "Whoever guarantees me (the chastity of) what is between his legs ( i.e. his private parts), and what is between his jaws ( i.e., his tongue), I guarantee him Paradise."
Gheebah- Backbiting, Nameemah - Tale bearing, Zur - false testimony and Kazab- lying
- Gheebah - Backbiting
- Mentioning something about your brother or sister that which they would dislike to hear. Whether it relates to their own self, physical appearance, their wealth or property, children, related to something they did, related to something of their religion, related to something they said, worldly possessions, garments, cars they drive or anything of that nature. Whether its done directly or indirectly. All of this is considered Gheebah.
- Allah says, ' O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.'
- Such a strong metaphor in that it equates backbiting to eating the dead flesh of a person.
- Its like this because one of the main things that is preserved in Islam is honor.
- Preserving one's honor - a maqasid of the Shariah.
- Beware of backbiting, it is a greater sin than adultery. (Hadith)
- Worse than 30 acts of fornication in Islam (Hadith)
- Nameemah - Malicious Slander
- Cause problems between people. i.e did you see the way such and such was talking about.
- Worst type of people. The one who does this will not enter paradise. (Hadith)
- To rectify between people is the greatest things one can do. A sign of a noble person is you will always mention something positive about the people and shift the conversation.
- If someone mentions someone in a negative way even if its something true and they do not like that person, they will refrain and mention good things about the person. This is the standard. Be very weary of people.
- If they do it in front of you, they will do it to you behind your back.
Zur - False testimony
- Someone doesn't believe in a certain thing but testify against it.
Kazab - Lying
- We should only speak about things that we are absolutely sure about.
- Ascertain certain things. (Quran, hadith, religious knowledge)
- Question to know and not just for the sake of asking.
- Allah the above relates to the tongue.
Stomach
- Fiqh of what to eat.
- Eat that which is good. Learn the basics of Halal and Haraam.
- Avoid intoxicants.
- Stomach is extremely important.
- Eat from the good things and do righteous deed (Hadith) Meaning there is a direct correlation between what we eat and what we do.
- Tangent: 'Beyond Halal' - Thinking beyond Halal, we should be thinking Ihsaan, Halal and Tayyib. i.e. Organic farming, local sustainable farming, fair trade, the way certain products are produces, labor.
- Flesh that grows from an unlawful source, the fire is more worthy of it. (Hadith)
- Strive to eat healthy, whole foods, lots of vegetables and fruits.
- We should be careful of what we place in our stomachs.
Wealth
- Unlawful income.
- Make sure you bring home a halal income (Sahabiyyat)
- Halal income is the foundation of the spiritual path.
- What are the halal and best ways to earn money.
Private Parts
- One should protect their private parts and all of the ahkam pertaining to it.
- Make righteous intentions when having children so there is an increase in the Ummah of the Prophet (SAW) who will make great contributions towards the Ummah and deen.
- Wisdom in the ability to procreate.
Hands and Feet
- Control them and allow them to function in a way that is pleasing to Allah (SWT).
- If a certain place is unlawful for you to go to, walking to that place is unlawful.
- Do anything which is inappropriate for the hands, don't do.
Avoid vices of the limbs and learn their virtues.
Allahuma Taqabal Mina Inakka Antas Sameeul Aleem!