The Fire Within | خدا وندا یہ کیسی آگ سی جلتی ہے سینے میں | Al-Humazah 6-7

In the Noble Qur'an there is a small verse which sounds very simple to hear, but inside it there is such a reality hidden which shakes the world inside the human being:

نَارُ اللَّهِ الْمُوقَدَةُ ۝ الَّتِي تَطَّلِعُ عَلَى الْأَفْئِدَةِ
(Chapter Al-Humaza: 6-7)

We usually think that the fire of hell comes from outside, from some external source, burns us. But the scene which the Qur'an is presenting we can understand from this point of view also that this fire descends into the depths of the heart. It does not only touch the body, but touches the center of the soul—that is Fu'ad (the heart)—it reaches.

If inside the human there is a sound heart that is, a healthy, alive and awake heart—then even a small evil also produces restlessness inside it. This restlessness is not ordinary worry. This is mental and spiritual unrest which does not let the human being rest.

The Messenger of Allah said:

الْبِرُّ مَا اطْمَأَنَّتْ إِلَيْهِ النَّفْسُ وَاطْمَأَنَّ إِلَيْهِ الْقَلْبُ، وَالْإِثْمُ مَا حَاكَ فِي النَّفْسِ وَتَرَدَّدَ فِي الصَّدْرِ وَإِنْ أَفْتَاكَ النَّاسُ وَأَفْتَوْكَ (Musnad Ahmad, with authentic chain)

That is, righteousness is that which the soul and heart are contented with, and sin is that which bothers the heart and wanders in the chest—no matter what people permit you.

This bothering, this restlessness, this is the fire which Allah has placed inside the human. This is the fire that is burning in the form of conscience.

The Qur'an and Sunnah have also told us that according to the strength of faith, a human being opposes evil in different ways. In a famous hadith from Sahih Muslim,

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri narrates that the Messenger of Allah said:

مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ، وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الْإِيمَانِ (Sahih Muslim: 49)

First Level – Power and Action: If the human has strength then he will stop it with his hand. This is the sign of the strongest faith.

Second Level – Protest of the Tongue: If he cannot stop with the hand then he will say with his tongue that this is wrong. This is also proof of the presence of faith.

Third Level – Heart in Distress: If even this is not possible then at least he will hold distress in his heart and will pray that Allah removes him from this state. This is a weak condition of faith.

If a human sees evil and neither stops with his hand, nor says with his tongue, and nor holds distress in his heart—then what remains? Nothing. Faith has ended. The Messenger of Allah called this the weakest faith, that is, there remains no degree of faith weaker than this.

But this state does not come suddenly. This is a gradual process.

When a human commits evil for the first time then the fire is intense. The restlessness is severe. If he does not repent, does not return to his Lord and repeatedly ignores the conscience then the second time the fire is less, the third time even less. Slowly the restlessness ends and the heart becomes hard.

The Noble Qur'an describes this reality in these words:

كَلَّا بَلْ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِم مَّا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ (Chapter Al-Mutaffifin: 14)

Translation: No, but the rust of their own deeds has covered their hearts.

In the hadith also the explanation of this reality is found: When the servant commits evil then a black spot falls on his heart. If he repents returns to his Lord then the heart becomes clean, and if he persists in evil then the spots increase until they cover the heart (Sunan At-Tirmidhi, good authentic).

This rust is the veil which slowly suppresses the voice of conscience. Then the human neither hears truth nor feels it.

His soul becomes buried somewhere inside his body.

(Chapter Al-Baqarah 88) وَقَالُوۡا قُلُوۡبُنَا غُلۡفٌ​ؕ بَل لَّعَنَهُمُ اللّٰهُ بِكُفۡرِهِمۡ فَقَلِيۡلًا مَّا يُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ

(Chapter Al-Baqarah 18) صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ

This fire which reaches the hearts, is actually a mercy. This is a warning, a means of rescue. It tells us that we are still alive, that our conscience is still awake.

Therefore we should keep this internal fire alive. Do not ignore the restlessness of your heart. Whenever there is a mistake, repent immediately, return to your Lord and clean the heart. Because when this fire goes out then only darkness remains—such darkness from which the path to escape becomes very difficult.

(Chapter Al-Baqarah 88) وَتَرَكَهُمۡ فِىۡ ظُلُمٰتٍ لَّا يُبۡصِرُوۡنَ

May Allah grant us a sound heart, keep our conscience awake, and grant us the ability that we understand this fire as a warning for our rescue. May Allah protect us from burning in this fire.

Ameen.