The 64th Syarah of Wisdom – Syarah al-Hikam

 

WISDOM OF WISDOM, SYARAH AL-HIKAM

Bismillahirrahmaanirrahim

Assalamualaikum Mr. Wb   

 "The sign of a stupid student is when he commits a mistake, he even says (while humming): 'if what I did was wrong, then it is impossible for me to be helped by God. Maybe I'm also getting further away from God! But the truth is, there's nothing, right!"

"So know (said Ibnu Athaillah) that God's help, no matter how small/big it is, sometimes we don't even feel it"

"Just keep quiet and don't react when you are far from God, that's the same as letting your own passions go wild!".

The Hikam theme this time is like an invitation; invite us to introspect ourselves, so that we can feel God's presence at all times. The focus of this theme emphasizes the improvement of self-quality as a whole. So we need to know the definition of Disciple: who is he really?

The meaning of "Student" here is not as commonly understood. Usually the student is identical as a person who wants to be good. But this is not! Students, Ibn Athaillah said, are those who improve themselves and istikamah step on the right path because they want to be close to God.

These two definitions are almost similar, but actually not. The second definition is deeper, because it focuses on the hope of God's pleasure.

Ibnu Athaillah mentioned that there are several heart diseases that often afflict His servants. One of them is the nature of "underestimating". Example: one day you made a fatal mistake, not praying, for example. This means you have violated a rule of God's law.

In your wishful thinking, you must now be wretched by God's law/punishment, because you violated God's law earlier. But it turns out, after so many days and so many months, you are still healthy. Your body condition is fit and not less than one thing.

Your negative thoughts then say; "If I break a little, it's okay. If it's wrong, God will reprimand me immediately". Well, that's where the disease lies. Underestimating the law is actually a sign of a hard heart. Don't let your heart be like that.

A hard heart will usually have negative effects. If you are not hard-hearted, of course the effect will not be like that. If your heart is meek, you will usually fear God. A soft heart is always worried about sinning.

A person whose heart always remembers God, then he will always try to present God in his life. See QS 8:2 below:

Verily, the believers are those whose hearts tremble when the name of God is mentioned, and when His verses are recited, their faith increases (therefore), and only in God do they put their trust.

Another example: when you feel comfortable with the various pleasures of the world, because you are a person who obeys God, you will usually be calm. Feeling that the blessings you have will last forever. The point is, you feel safe.

Well, this kind of heart also has a dangerous effect, because it will always hope that the blessings it has will last forever. If one day God takes that pleasure away from you, maybe your first thought is a strong rejection or resistance.

"I am a diligent worshiper. How could my property be lost? This cannot happen to me!", you lamented. This kind of thing has been explained by Allah as clearly as possible in QS 17:83 as follows:

And when We give pleasure to man, he will surely turn away; and turned his back with a proud attitude; and when he is afflicted with hardship, he will surely give up.

So be careful when your heart starts to get attached to the pleasures of the world. Living rich is possible, as long as the heart is not attached to the wealth. The lost enjoyment is snatched away, don't make yourself pessimistic. Because, the Quran says, there is not a single good thing in pessimism.

Human behavior sometimes often blames bad events/disasters experienced as negative things. Even though it is destiny from God. Look at verse QS 11:9-10, which explains the nature of human greed.

( 9 )    And if We make man feel a grace (favor) from Us, then We take that grace away from him, he will surely become hopeless and ungrateful.

( 10 )    And if We make him feel happiness after the calamity that befell him, he will surely say: "Those calamities have disappeared from me"; indeed he was very happy and proud,

Whereas if the heart is good, then it will always be grateful when it receives favors, or patient when it receives bad trials. So the most important point lies in your motivation! Often invite your heart to fantasize positively, by remembering God. The more often you try the practice, the greater your opportunity will be to get closer to God, the Creator of Nature. Amen..

Never try to have various and unnecessary thoughts, because that will have bad consequences later on. Focus it on positive things.

Wassalamualaikum Mr. Wb.