‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Amr (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: “It was said to the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): ‘Which of the people is best?’ He said: ‘Everyone whose heart is Makhmoom and truthful (sincere) in speech.’ They said: ‘Truthful (and sincere) in speech we know, but what is a heart that is Makhmoom?’ He said: ‘It is (the heart) that is pious and pure, with no sin, injustice, rancour, or envy in it.’” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah no. 4216 and graded Saheeh]
Comments:
1 – The Hadeeth emphasizes the merit of the person whose heart is clean and pure from diseases such as envy, grudges, injustice, and so forth.
2 – A believing slave should take care of the soundness of his chest (heart) towards others. Our Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The disease of the nations before you is creeping towards you: Envy and hatred is the Haaliqah (shaver). I do not speak of what cuts the hair, but of what severs the Religion.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh At-Tirmidhi no. 2510 and graded Hasan]
3 – A believer who knows that brotherhood in this Religion is praised with all its great fruits, will be far away from having grudges and hatred, or he will try to give his brothers their rights, and try to help them.
4 – A believer should be humble; he should not wrong nor hate others. He should know that loving his believing brothers is an act of drawing near to Allaah (Ta’ala) and one of the means of protection from a bad end in this Dunya (world) and the Hereafter.
5 – Displaying good conduct will turn grudges away from the heart of the believer, especially if he apologizes for his faults and gives presents to his brothers.
6 – Ibn Hajar (Rahimahullaah) said: “Grudges, anger, and envy are from the major sins. These three diseases have a strong link between them. In sequence: anger comes first, then grudges, then envy.” To have a grudge is to hold enmity and evil in the heart towards others and wait for the chance to take revenge. The person who holds a grudge has a weak self because having grudges is one of the diseases which causes division between the believers, shows contempt for others, and prevents giving others their rights. Therefore, the Scholars said that having a grudge is one of the diseases that is legally prohibited.”
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “There are three things because of which hatred (or grudges) does not enter the heart of a Muslim:
Sincerity in doing actions for the sake of Allaah
Being sincere towards the rulers of the Muslims; giving advice to the Muslim rulers.
Adhering to the Jama’ah (the main body of Muslims).” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh At-Tirmidhi no. 2658 and graded Saheeh]
7 – The soundness of the heart from all sicknesses, especially grudges, hatred, and envy, etc. is included in Allaah’s Statement in Surat Ash-Shu’araa [26:88-89]:
يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٌ وَلَا بَنُونَ
“The Day whereon neither wealth nor sons will avail,”
إِلَّا مَنْ أَتَى اللَّهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيمٍ
“Except him who brings to Allaah a clean heart [clean from Shirk (polytheism) and Nifaq (hypocrisy)].”
When the believer reflects over the state of a man whose heart is filled with grudges, hatred, and envy, he will find that such a man is distressed. This distress will prevent the man from performing good deeds in this life that are needed for his Hereafter.
8 – A believer should repress his anger with forbearance and remember the virtue of repressing anger.
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever suppresses his anger at the time when he could express it openly, Allaah will fill his heart with contentment on the Day of Resurrection.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Al-Jami’ no. 176]
Another great reward is described in the following Hadeeth:
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever suppresses his anger when he is able to vent it, Allaah will call him on the Day of Resurrection over the heads of all creatures and let him choose whoever of Hur al-‘Iyn (bright and large eyed maidens) he wishes.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh Abu Dawoud no. 4777 and graded Hasan]
9 – The spiteful person is always in discomfort; his mind is restless when he hears about others’ blessings. He is ignorant of his Lord, the All-Wise, and the way of Allaah in dealing with this Universe. Allaah is All-Wise in all His decisions, and the wisdom in His decrees will not be shown to a person immediately. He may not know regarding the blessings that he missed and that were given to others, that they were, in fact, a test for them.
10 – The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) guided us to invoke Allaah for a pure heart and a truthful tongue. He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “O Shaddad! When you see the people hoarding gold and silver, you hoard the following words:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الثَّبَاتَ فِي الأَمْرِ وَالْعَزِيمَةَ عَلَى الرُّشْدِ وَأَسْأَلُكَ شُكْرَ نِعْمَتِكَ وَحُسْنَ عِبَادَتِكَ وَأَسْأَلُكَ قَلْبًا سَلِيمًا وَلِسَانًا صَادِقًا وَأَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ خَيْرِ مَا تَعْلَمُ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا تَعْلَمُ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا تَعْلَمُ
‘O Allaah, I ask You for steadfastness in all my affairs and determination in following the right path. I ask You to make me thankful for Your blessings and to make me worship You properly. I ask You for a sound heart and a truthful tongue. I ask You for the best of what You know and I seek refuge in You from the worst of what You know and I seek Your forgiveness for what You know.’ [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Al-Silsilah As-Saheehah no. 3228 and graded Saheeh]
This is a great Du’aa in which there is a salvation for the slave, especially when the hearts are diverted towards this Dunya and are tempted with and become their sole concern and utmost goal. So, hoard these supplications which comprise high and noble requests.
Should a conflict occur between a person and others, or a harm be inflicted on him by others, he should invoke Allaah (Ta’ala) to purify his heart from grudges and hatred as Allaah (Ta’ala) guided us in Surat Al-Hashr [59:10]:
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith, and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.”
The believers used to invoke Allaah (Ta’ala) to purify them from grudges and hatred, as the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) used to ask his Lord:
واسْلُلْ سَخِيمَةَ صَدْرِي
“And remove the treachery from my heart (i.e. remove from my heart grudges, hatred, envy, deception, fraud, etc.).” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani in Saheeh At-Tirmidhi no. 3551 and graded Saheeh]
Sources:
The Sicknesses of the Heart by Shaikh Sa’d ash-Shathri
As-Silsilah as-Saheeha by Shaikh Al-Albaani (Rahimahullaah)
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