Attaining and Understanding Sharh-e-Sadr – Part 2

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In our day, the world is a stage infested with doubts. People seek solutions through debates, arguments and counter-arguments and end up with confusion worse confounded. This is not a sound way to handle doubts as pointed out by the unique Indian poet, Akbar Ilahabadi:

”The philosopher deep in debate cannot find God He is untangling the string but cannot find where to begin!”

Sharh as-Sadr is a blessing that Allah’s grace bestows on whomsoever it chooses but this choice is never blind and unjust. A true and sincere urge never goes unanswered. Allah promises (2:186) that whenever His servants call on Him, He is there to respond and that whoever strives for Him is sure to be guided to His paths (29:69).
In its highest degree sharh as-Sadr is granted to Allah’s prophets who have to brave nerve-racking ordeals for the cause of Truth. In surah Shu’ara (26:13) we are told that when Musa alyhis sallam was commanded to take on the Pharaoh he complained of a sense of constriction in his bosom. Allah’s grace then taught him to pray:

ربي اشرح لي صدري

(Rabbishrah li sadri) – my Rabb, open my heart. (Surat (Taha) verse No 25.)

At the end of the verse it was said:

كَذَلِكَ يَجْعَلُ اللَّهُ الرِّجْسَ عَلَى الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ

which means that this is how Allah Ta’ala brings damnation and disgrace upon those who do not believe. For truth, their hearts are not open while to every evil they dash.

 وَرَوَى مَرَّة عَنْ اِبْن مَسْعُود قَالَ : قُلْنَا يَا رَسُول اللَّه قَوْله تَعَالَى : ” أَفَمَنْ شَرَحَ اللَّه صَدْره لِلْإِسْلَامِ فَهُوَ عَلَى نُور مِنْ رَبّه “

It comes in Hadith that the Syeddina Rasulullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم was once asked regarding this ayah; syeddina Abdullah ‘ibn masood رضي الله عنه mentions that when this verse was revealed; the Sahaba Karaam رضي الله عنه asked the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم

كَيْف اِنْشَرَحَ صَدْره ؟

(that Ya Rasulallah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم!) How is it that this person’s breast gets expanded(with this nur)?

قَالَ : إِذَا دَخَلَ النُّور الْقَلْب اِنْشَرَحَ وَانْفَتَحَ

Prophet saw said: when the noor from Allah Ta’ala enters their Qalb; enters into their spiritual heart; in the heart of their rooh then their heart expands and becomes opened up

قُلْنَا : يَا رَسُول اللَّه وَمَا عَلَامَة ذَلِكَ ؟

Sahaba ra asked: What is the sign that this person receives this noor; this Sharh-e-Sadr

  (قَالَ : الْإِنَابَة إِلَى دَار الْخُلُود وَالتَّجَافِي عَنْ دَار الْغُرُور وَالِاسْتِعْدَاد لِلْمَوْتِ قَبْل نُزُوله )

 الْإِنَابَة إِلَى دَار الْخُلُود

Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم  said that (once the noor enters their heart) all of their focus, yearning aspiration and striving is for the aakhirah; for the everlasting hereafter; for the eternal home in which they will dwell in

وَالتَّجَافِي عَنْ دَار الْغُرُور

and now they abstain from/refrain from/ or are uninterested in this world of deception

 دَار الْغُرُور

This is how Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم is explaining this world that it is the world of deception;the  world of illusion;the world of delusion – just like when a person sees a mirage in the desert; when they realize that it is fake, then they are concerned with the rest of their journey

 وَالِاسْتِعْدَاد لِلْمَوْتِ قَبْل نُزُوله

and they’re prepared for death before death overtakes them; they’re ready for death

So, these were the signs that Syeddina Rasoolullah صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَم mentions regarding a person who has Shrah-e-Sadr

This hadith was narrated by Imam Tirmidhi eah in  his Jaame’

May Allah open our bosoms for submission to Him!