Or are there locks upon our hearts?

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Or are there locks upon our hearts?
Kashif
11/29/00 at 19:31:20
assalaamu alaikum

Spending the past few evenings in taraweeh prayers at the local masjid has been a real blessing from Allah. I pray that i'll have the opportunity to offer them in Mecca in following years.

Lots of practising brothers in my part of the city attend a certain masjid, but yesterday i couldn't help but notice something that is all too apparent in my masjid and probably in others too: the lack of affect that the recital has on the hearts - mine included.

Have you noticed how at the end of each two rak'aat the brothers almost immediately turn to the side and start laughing and joking with each other? Its worse at the end of the prayers - when the voices of brothers makes it sound as if they're attending a wedding ceremony.

Earlier in the day i'd recited an ayah which translated to: "Will they then not meditate on the Qur'an, or are there locks on the hearts?" [Qur'an 47:24] and this was the ayah that came foremost to my mind.

Having stood there for over an hour listening to the the speech of Allah it was very disappointing to see brothers not even finish the night in a reflective mood.

And i believe this is due to our own sins. When the slave of Allah commits sins, a stain is put on the heart. The more sins that he commits, the larger becomes the stain of sin on his heart. Mujahid the student of Ibn Abbas demonstrated this with his hand while saying: "They used to say that the heart is just like this - meaning the open palm. When the servant commits a sin, a part of the heart will be rolled up - and he rolled up his index finger. When the servant commits another sin, a part of the heart will be rolled up' - and he rolled up another finger, until he rolled up all his fingers. Then he said, "Then the heart will be sealed."

So if we're leading a sinful lifestyle... cheating here, lying there, backbiting a little there, these all affect our ability to respond to the Words of Allah.

Its time to look at our actions and resolve to weed out those things which are sending our balances down the wrong way.

Allah described the believers:

"They only are the (true) believers whose hearts feel fear when Allah is mentioned, and when His revelations are recited unto them they increase their faith, and who trust in their Lord" [Qur'an 8:2]

Why isn't this describing me?

Kashif
Wa Salaam


Re: Or are there locks upon our hearts?
jannah
11/29/00 at 22:31:19
Brother Kashif a main reason for this might be that they probably didn't understand a word of what is recited. It is easy to space off and not concentrate and drift during the salah. That's why it's so important that people read before so they can understand the gist of what is being recited. It's also a good way to pick up some Arabic words.
Re: Or are there locks upon our hearts?
h_m_r00
11/30/00 at 14:00:45
Salaam
Brother Kashif...the case in our mosque is a little bit worse..well a lot worse.There are brothers that instead of pray, they would lean against the farthest wall and do what? TALK. I bet you that it's not about what is being read, or their islam either.I would love to have our imam talk to them about it though. They laugh loudly and not even respect the people that are praying.
This is what I see from the sister's side...I wonder what the brothers that pray think of this...
Their hearts must be totally covered with sin...I even wondered why they do come to the mosque sometimes.                        
                                         Hiyam
Re: Or are there locks upon our hearts?
tq
11/30/00 at 14:17:04
Assalamo elikum
I agree with Janah,  it could be that they don't understand Arabic .
I envy the people who speak/understand Arabic - they don't have to read the translation/tasfeer to understand,-  they understand right away .
I really get excited when the Imam recite the surah I know - it definitely make salat more meaningful and joyous.
Wasalam
tq
Re: Or are there locks upon our hearts?
widad
11/30/00 at 16:46:46
slm
It is true that is most beautiful to listen to quran from the imam when you can understand what he is saying,but knowing that this is kalam Allah and that we are in  the mosque for worshipping Him,and knowing that we are there to win a lot of good deeds,should help us at least to keep quiet in reverence.
Here in SAudi Arabia,when we attend salat at the masjid or at the salat AL-Eid,there are a lot of pakistani and Indian brothers and mashallah they are all quiet and all sit in the mosque in complete abandonement for they know they are in a place of worship and that we are all standing in front of Allah,our Creator.I have seen this as well in Mecca and MAdina,from all the non-arabic speakers,the majority of them stand in awe from the greatness of the time and place,be it in masajid al_Haram or in other masajid.
MAy Allah give us all the fear and respect due to Him.ameen,ameen,ameen.
NS
Re: Or are there locks upon our hearts?
widad
11/30/00 at 16:48:45
slm
This has nothing to do with the post,but how come some members have an icon of a running person amd others a flower??
Re: Or are there locks upon our hearts?
destined
11/30/00 at 18:12:30
[quote]slm
This has nothing to do with the post,but how come some members have an icon of a running person amd others a flower??[/quote]
wlm,
The running man is for people who have Aol instant messenger http://www.aol.com/aim/home.html

The flower is for people who have icq http://www.icq.com/

both are free services that you can download.  With AIM (aol instant messenger) you can chat with others who have AIM.  ICQ is similar but has more features.  

P.S  if you get either one of these programs you can add it in your profile
Re: Or are there locks upon our hearts?
lightningatnite
12/01/00 at 01:13:26
Salam :)

Brother Kashif, May Allah the Most Merciful reward you for your excellent advice.  I have never been so affected as when I understood the recitation of a beautiful qari.  Try this out, inshaAllah, by the Grace of Allah, it will melt your heart.

Go to http://www.islaam.com/audio/quran/ifasi/
and click on surah Sajdah.  Then go to http://jannah.org/qurantrans/quran32.html
and follow along with the meaning, its pretty easy if you know some basic words.

I never read the Quran until I read it this way :)

:) Salam :)
Re: Or are there locks upon our hearts?
widad
12/01/00 at 10:03:29
slm
JAzakallahu khayran,
I have the msn messenger,but non of the above.
Re: Or are there locks upon our hearts?
molasses64
12/01/00 at 22:18:17
Salams,

Like some of the others have said. It is important to read the quran before you go to prayer at night during this blessed month. This way you will have better understanding of where the imam is coming from. Another things is simply our hearts and self control. If you hear some one speaking when you are aware that they are not supppoed to be it is your duty to say something to them in a manner that is not disrecpectful nor distracting. Just firm. Lastly remember Allah looks at our intention so if it is in your heart to concentrate, inshallah this will happen.

Salams
Muhammad
Re: Or are there locks upon our hearts?
donia
12/03/00 at 08:34:39
I have a question.
Is it permissible to hold the Quraan while praying tarawih??
I speak Arabic, but don't always understand what's being said because of microphone problems in the ladies prayer hall.  It would be much easier to concentrate while reading what the imam is reciting.
Re: Or are there locks upon our hearts?
Al-Basha
12/03/00 at 08:44:58
Salamu alaikom,

I think as far as holding the Quran in your hand while praying taraweeh that this allowed, but I have been told it depends on your madhab. So check with your shaikh, but for one thing I know is that at my masjid the shaikh who reads told us that he has a small Quran in his pocket so that if he messes up something and no one corrects him he can quickly look it up and correct himself.

I have also prayed taraweeh behind people who were not hafiz but read from the Quran.

Reading along as in with a loud voice with the shaikh, I don't think is correct, because you are not only interrupting the shaikh but also the brother or sister next to you.

Wa Allahu A3laam
Re: Or are there locks upon our hearts?
h_m_r00
12/04/00 at 15:01:00
Salaam
As I know it is permissable in three of the four Madhahib. Plus it can't be done anyother way, except if you know the whole Quran...
                                   Hiyam
Re: Or are there locks upon our hearts?
jannah
12/04/00 at 15:18:49
There is more information on this in the Ramadan Courtyard
Re: Or are there locks upon our hearts?
Zahra
12/05/00 at 00:57:58
slm

I know that this message was posted a few days ago, but I still wanted to respond.  Brother Kashif, I have to say that your post brought tears to my eyes.  Although what everyone has said is true, many people are still unaffected by the Quran even if they understand every word.  I think what your talking about is the diseased state of our Ummah.  I too feel that I am not touched enough by the Quran-that I am missing out on something beautiful and eloquent because of the condition of my heart.  May Allah grant us wisdom and iman.  


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