Jumaa Khutba yesterday described how some of Muslim brothers today use there own uneducated judgment to come up with decisions regarding Islamic matters. This decision is usually to avoid an obligatory action or to engage in a forbidden one. Of course the khutba described this as an illness of heart and the usual excuse is that “Allah knows what is in my heart best!” a person may think “As long as I have a good intention I can do what I wish”.. One thinking in this manner is forgetting a very basic fact.. That is Allah, most Majestic most High, is more merciful with one than oneself; in fact He, Allah, is more merciful with one than his own parents. So, if you truly believe that your Lord is more merciful with you than you with yourself then you would come to accept his creed gladly and conscientiously avoid what you should avoid and engage in what benefits you.
“Allah knows what is in my heart best..” so one would go and do so and so is really like if one is driving on the highway and the speed limit is 75 MPH but one still goes as fast as 95 MPH or more knowing that there are no police monitors in that section. And in case of a pullover, one would make up a story and an excuse. What one wants to accomplish is to trick the system forgetting that the ruler of this system is Allah the most wise, the most knowledgeable, Who knows what is hidden between one’s ribs. Allah says in His Quran: {{That Allah might test what was in your breasts and that He might purge what was in your hearts; and Allah knows what is in your breasts.}} 3:14. From that it is obvious that hearts are tested and the test is how one is going to use his free will, is it by going for what satisfies his desires, in a forbidden manner, or what satisfies His Lord, by yielding to righteousness? In cases one honestly lakes the knowledge; in such case it is known sensibly and by the Quran to ask who knows better than oneself: {{So ask the followers of the reminder if you do not know}} 16:7 and 21:7.
But it is not meant that one should completely put aside his heart. The believer lives by his heart from one day to the next. It is your present heart that keeps you satisfied with your actions for the day. It is your heart that tells you to look away if you encounter profanity. It is your heart that tells you to praise your Lord when you remember his gifts upon you. You as a believer recognize what is forbidden, what is allowed, and what is a doubtful matter. And by your awake conscious you choose to avoid what is forbidden and steer away from what is doubtful and enjoy what is permissible. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him advised us in his hadith: ((The Halal, permissible, is clear and the Haram, forbidden, is clear. Between the two are doubtful matters concerning which people do not know whether they are halal or haram. One who avoids them in order to safeguard his religion and his honor is safe, while if someone engages in a part of them he may be doing something forbidden, like one who grazes his animals near the Hima, boundary; it is thus quite likely that some of his animals will stray into it. Truly, every king has a boundary, and the boundary of Allah is what he prohibited)) Reported in Bukhari and Muslim and others.
Thanks be to our Lord Who, by His mercy, taught us that our creed is the cure to illnesses of heart and soul, He says: {{O men! There has come to you indeed an admonition from your Lord and a healing for what is in the breasts and a guidance and a mercy for the beleivers. Say: In the grace of Allah and in His mercy – in that they should rejoice; it is better than that which they gather. Say: Tell me what Allah has sent down for you of sustenance, then you make (a part) of it unlawful and (a part) lawful. Say: Has Allah commanded you, or do you forge a lie against Allah? And what will be the thought of those who forge lies against Allah on the day of resurrection? Most surely Allah is the Lord of grace towards men, but most of them do not give thanks.}} 10:57,58,59,60.
P.S. I am no scholar nor am I a preacher. I am merely a Muslim. If I have mistaken then it is from my weak self or Satan. Please be kind and correct me. May Allah reward us all.
