| Daily Reflections - Purity of Heart |
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Once the Prophet Muhammad 
Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him, upon whom be peace, was
sitting with his companions, when, sighting from afar a man
approaching, he said: "Oh my companions, if you want to behold one of
the inhabitants of Paradise, look at that man who is now approaching".
The man presently arrived and took his place among the congregation.
The next day, and yet the next day after that, the Prophet So often I have heard people lay claim to possessing pure hearts. Especially people who reject religion and mystical practices out of hand love to make such claims. We don't lay any such claims, but we believe that our Way is the way of purification, and that our efforts should set us in the right direction. Anyone who thinks of himself as a pure-hearted person should pay heed to this account and reexamine his claim in light of it. This account has reached our time through Abdullah, the son of Umar, the second Khalipha of Islam. When Abdullah heard the Prophet laud that person three times he decided to follow him to his house and seek both his blessings and knowledge of exactly what means had led to his attaining such a high station of perfection in this life. When Abdullah arrived at the man's home he knocked on his door and was welcomed in. The man asked him: "May I inquire as to the purpose of your visit?" Then Ibn Umar related to the man what the Holy Prophet had said about him each of the three preceding days. The man said: "I know". Abdullah Ibn Umar continued: "Oh my brother, I would also like to be one of those fortunate people to have secured a place in paradise while still living in this world. What exactly have you done to attain such distinction in the Divine Presence? What kind of ascetic austerities have you undergone? What kinds of superrogatory acts of devotion have you performed?" "Oh Abdullah, I don't worship more than you or anyone else does. My being given those good tidings is not a result either of my austerity or my devotions. There are, however, three attributes that I have cultivated and which I prize very much, as one would cherish rare pearls in his possession. First of all, every night as I lay in bed before sleeping I say to my Lord: "Oh my Lord, if any of Your servants has harmed me today, either with his hand or with his tongue, I have forgiven him with complete forgiveness, and will never raise a complaint against him to anyone nor to You, neither now nor on the Day of Judgement. You are my witness that I have forgiven them all: now and forever, here and hereafter." I must ask all people who claim to be pure of heart: Can you forgive in such a manner Or do you run to court over sixpence, reciprocate for a single word of abuse with a shower? When slapped do you turn the other cheek, or answer it with ten blows? Do you hold grudges over a long period of time? If you react in this manner to provocation you must know that you are cultivating filth and disease, not purity. Don't hold grudges, for their fruit is hatred and enmity. Where then is your purity? Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him delivered his companions the good tidings of that man's eternal felicity (without saying anything, however, to the man himself).
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