On one occasion, Sayyidah Ummu Salamah (رَضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْها), the respected wife of Rasulullah ﷺ, was asked, “ Which du‘aa would Rasulullah ( صََلَِّﷺوََسََـــلَِّـم) make the most when he was with you (in your home)?” She replied, “The du‘aa that he would make the most was:
يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوْبِ ، ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِيْ عَلَى دِيْنِكَ
Transliteration: Ya Muqallibal Quloob! Sabbit qalbee ‘alaa deenik
Translation: O the Turner of hearts! Keep my heart firm on Your Deen!”
Sayyidah Ummu Salamah رَضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْها asked Rasulullah ﷺ as to why he made this du‘aa in such abundance. He replied, “ O Ummu Salamah رَضِيَ اللّهُ عَنْها! Every person’s heart is in the complete control of Allah Ta‘ala. Whomsoever Allah Ta‘ala wishes, He keeps steadfast, and whomsoever He wishes, He allows to go astray.” (Sunan Tirmizi #3522)
In the Arabic language, the verb ‘qalaba’ means ‘to turn around’ or ‘turn over’ (e.g. to turn something upside-down). Hence, the heart is called ‘qalb’ in Arabic as the nature of the heart is such that in a mere ‘heartbeat’, it can take a complete u-turn and have a complete turnaround. From being interested, it can suddenly lose interest. From being happy, it can suddenly become sad. From feeling motivated, it can suddenly feel lethargic and depressed. From having conviction, it can suddenly be plagued with doubts and insecurities.
From this, we understand the great importance of safeguarding the heart from elements that influence it towards evil and tempt it towards haraam and sin.
May Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala Safegurd our hearts and help us stay firm on deen, Aameen.
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