Rekindle Your Heart

By Mahrukh Waheed

Online Reality touch summer 2023

ٱللَّهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ مَثَلُ نُورِهِۦ كَمِشْكَوٰةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ٱلْمِصْبَاحُ فِى زُجَاجَةٍ ٱلزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّىٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَٰرَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِىٓءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ يَهْدِى ٱللَّهُ لِنُورِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَٰلَ لِلنَّاسِ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌ ‎﴿

Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth: His light (in the universe) may be likened (to the light of) a lamp in a niche: the lamp is in a glass shade: the glass shade is like a glittering star and lamp is lit with the olive oil of a blessed tree which is neither eastern nor western: its oil is (so fine) as if it were going to shine forth by itself though no fire touched it (as though all the means of increasing) light upon light (were provided); Allah guides to His light whomever He wills. He cites parables to make the Message clear to the people; He has perfect knowledge of everything.

Surah Nur:35 https://tanzil.net/

I have always loved the Ayah 35 of Surah Nur and reciting it always had a serene impact on my heart. I would always feel the vastness of my chest while reciting it but I never understood what it really meant until Allah heard my desire and fulfilled it when I was in a state of absorbing it. We often forget our own prayers but Allah remembers them. Right in the middle of the Surah, Allah gives a beautiful explanation of “Nur” with an example.

He describes Himself as the Light of the skies and the earth. Here, light not only denotes the physical light but also the spiritual one. Let us imagine a pitch-dark niche (مِشكت) that is surrounded by walls and only one side of it is uncovered. The niche has a lamp (مِصباح) inside and it’s glass (زُجاجَه) is crystal clear. All of it is enough to produce light but Allah mentions that when it’s lit by an external source [the olive oil, from a blessed tree] it produces more and more light. Following our metaphor, “Light upon Light.” Allah is so merciful!

Let’s see how Allah has programmed our chests into a niche. Our ribcage has a similar shape to that of a niche, Allahu Akbar. Our heart is a lamp and its pearly white glass is our soul. It’s so beautiful that everything He has created is in itself a source of light which works 70% and only 30% is what He wants from us to produce goodness, my sisters. The external source is what we light our hearts with. If the source is blessed our hearts produce more goodness. Once light enters the pure hearts it not only illuminates the chest but it starts reflecting in a person’s actions and then after every good act an opportunity for another good act is granted that’s goodness upon goodness. Isn’t it a blessing that He has already instilled Misbah and Mishkat in our bodies so it’s so much easier for us to become among the radiant ones? Let us thank Allah. If He hadn’t created Misbah and Mishkat, it would have been so difficult to come back to Him with the same potential and Khushu. But SubhanAllah, whenever we repent it’s always Nur un ala Nur, it’s always with more potential.

What are the steps that we can take to attain light upon light?

1. Niche: Don’t forget! It’s the first gate and most exposed to the whispers of our open enemy, Shaitan. Recite Surah Naas and Surah Falaq to protect your niche. Ask Allah to expand your niche, your chest, and your container of guidance so Hidayah can penetrate easily. The most beautiful way to invoke this is how Quran teaches us:

 رَبِّ اشْرَحْ لِي صَدْرِي ۝ وَيَسِّرْ لِي أَمْرِي ۝ وَاحْلُلْ عُقْدَةً مِّن لِّسَانِي ۝ يَفْقَهُوا قَوْلِي ۝

“O My Lord, expand for me my chest. And ease for me my task. And untie the knot from my tongue. That they may understand my speech.” (20:25-28)

2. Misbah and Mishkat: Purify your hearts. We are so weak we have to filter it punctually because contamination of the heart can turn into a disease. When the lamp is crystal clear only then can it reflect more light. We can also imagine the heart as a land,  the softer it is the greener it becomes. Recite Duaa’s for Hidayah and strength of hearts, avoid repeating your sins as it leads to heedlessness, help those in need and cry in front of Allah. Remember Allah as hearts find peace in His remembrance. This way the glass will remain clean.

3. Olive oil: Every sincere good deed will lead you to another. Allah says in the Quran:

إِنَّمَا ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ ٱللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًۭا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ۝

The true believers are only those whose hearts tremble at the remembrance of Allah, whose faith increases when His revelations are recited to them, and who put their trust in their Lord.” (8:2)

The companions became shining stars with the revelation of the Quran, Allahu Akbar. Let the Quran light our lamps at their full brightness. Do good deeds on an individual level as well as collectively. Attend gatherings where Allah is mentioned. He will increase your light with every drop of olive oil you pour into your lamp. Do not miss going to the Masjid as the Masjid is the house of Allah and one whose heart is connected to it will be under the shade of Allah, Allahu Akbar.