Correspondence of Hazrat Moulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahimahullah)

Letter:

Assalaamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh

Respected Moulana

Please advise me as to what is the best method of removing malice and jealousy from my heart, and how do I create humility within myself?

Jazakallah

Was-Salaam

Reply:

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Brother / Sister in Islam

Wa ‘alaikumus salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh

1. Masha-Allah, your concern for your reformation and the effort being made towards having a clean heart is very admirable. It is mentioned in a hadeeth that keeping the heart clean, from harbouring any malice, is from the blessed sunnah, and a means of being with Rasulullah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wasallam) in Jannah. (Sunan Tirmizi #2678)

A Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was given the glad-tidings of Jannah on the basis of having such a pure heart, wherein no ill-feelings were harboured towards any Muslim and no jealousy was accommodated, regarding any favour that Allah Ta‘ala had blessed anyone with. (Musnad Ahmad #12697)

2. Commonly, where there is jealousy, then hatred and malice will be found, as well as backbiting and desiring evil for others; all of which are grave spiritual ailments of the heart and cause immense destruction to one’s imaan and Deen, and deprive us of the mercy of Allah Ta‘ala.

We should bear in mind that Allah Ta‘ala is the Distributor of all bounties and He gives to whomsoever He wills. He does so with great wisdom and mercy, which we cannot fathom with our limited intelligence. Jealousy is objection, discontent and dissatisfaction with the decisions of Allah Ta‘ala. The one who is jealous has to contend with the most harm since his life becomes miserable and suffocating, and his own good deeds are destroyed.

The ahaadeeth present easy prescriptions to rectify and purify one’s heart from these ailments:

a. Make salaam and musafahah.

b. Make du‘aa for the person. Making du‘aa will create within the heart the qualities of love and well-wishing.

c. Give a gift.

d. Be conscious of Allah Ta‘ala. Remind yourself: Allah Ta‘ala is aware of and seeing the malice and jealousy in my heart. Insha-Allah, this will create a sense of shame in the heart and prompt towards taubah and du‘aa.

e. Frequently read this du‘aa: 

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

“Rabbanagh fir-lana wa-li ikhwaaninal lazeena sabaqoona bil Imaan, wala taj‘al fee quloobina ghillal lillazeena aamanu Rabbana innaka Ra-oofur Raheem.” (Surah Hashr v10)

3. Look at those who have less than you; those who are in want and dire need. Look at what Allah Ta‘ala has given you. There are so many bounties that we enjoy – spiritual, physical and material blessings – that cannot be counted. So increase shukr over the bounties and make taubah over sins.

4. Pondering over the greatness of Allah Ta‘ala engenders the quality of humility. Figuratively speaking, if a little candle flame brags and boasts before the bright, shining sun: “I am very bright and I have a lot of light!” the sun will say: “How foolish you are! What does your brightness offer in this brightness of mine!” When we consider the ‘azmat and greatness of Allah Ta‘ala, our true state and insignificance becomes evident to us. We realise that there is no bounty except that it is from Allah Ta‘ala; it is not our achievement and should thus not make us exultant, proud and arrogant. With recognition (ma’rifah), humbleness will follow.

Allah Ta‘ala bless us all with pure hearts and the reality of humility and submission.

Was salaamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh

Yunus Patel (Moulana)