We have entered the blessed and sacred month of Dhul Hijjah. The first ten days of which are the best of days, and the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, the Day of Arafah, is the best day of the year. But how can we best journey to Allah and make the most of these weighty days? We can begin by purifying our hearts.
Let us consider the ayah: “The Day when there will not benefit [anyone] wealth or children. But only one who comes to Allah with a sound (pure) heart.” (Quran 26:88-89) The words used are “Qalbin Saleem”: a heart that is sound, pure, and freed of blemishes.
The Prophet SAW also said: “…Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.” (Sahih al-Bukhari)
From these, it shows us the importance of having a pure heart. A heart that is free from sins, and worldly distractions. A pure heart is key to attaining Allah’s pleasure and mercy. It is often our own nafs that prevents us from drawing close to Allah the Most High. In these blessed days of Dhul Hijjah, about which the Prophet said:
“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days”.
Therefore, we should strive to purify our hearts. We can do this by repenting from our sins, increasing our remembrance of Allah, performing good deeds, and sacrificing for His sake the Qurbani on the day of Eid. By doing so, we hope to be among those who will witness the Day of Arafah with a sound heart. Insha’Allah we will receive Allah’s forgiveness and reward, on the greatest day of the year.
To learn more about the purification of the heart, join our Holistic Islamic Studies Diploma and begin your journey to Allah!
