When one thinks of hearts, the image of softness, comfort and all positive caring images are brought to life, for the heart is the seat of emotion. There is also a darker image of broken hearts that is conjured up, but iron hearts?

One would rarely, if never contemplate such a thing, for hearts are not made of iron. Never. One thinks of an iron fist in relation to firmness, and assertiveness but not an iron heart.

Yet if we look around us today it would appear that many hearts have hardened, many have loss feeling, as crimes and criminals are on the rise. Our hearts no longer absorb the numerous reminders and have turned to stone, but even stone cracks when water seeps through and is affected by the thikr;

“If We had sent down this Qur’an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought.” (Surah Hashr 59:21)

Without fail, this ayah always succeeds in stirring emotions. We need to reflect upon this. If mountains; the pegs of the earth, firm, unmovable rock, can become dust and crumble to rubble due to the impact and weight of the Qur’an, what about our hearts? Have they become iron?

We have locked away our own hearts, shut them off from the reminders, and prevented the light from penetrating their depths.

This reminds me of another ayah, in which Allah says,

“Then, do they not reflect upon the Qur’an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?” (Surah Muhammad 47:24)

This rhetorical question should awaken us, Allah poses this question to us for us to ponder. Perhaps we have chosen to shut off our hearts, and we ourselves have sealed them by our own actions. Our hearts are sealed and remain unaffected, tainted with the rust of sins. If only we could clean away those dark spots to open our hearts to ponder upon the words of Our Creator.

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: “Verily, when the slave (of Allah) commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart. When he refrains from it, seeks forgiveness and repents, his heart is polished clean. But if he returns, it increases until it covers his entire heart. And that is the ‘Ran’ which Allah mentioned: Nay, but on their hearts is the Ran which they used to earn.” (Tirimthi and Ibn Majah, Hasan)

Let’s clean our hearts, and turn to Allah. Let’s unchain our hearts, and open the flood gates and allow the words of Allah to penetrate deep.