The Eyes Within

[ummtaalib]

 

 

If a person were to lose his eyesight, he would instantly feel helpless, vulnerable, and overwhelmed. He would grope about in darkness, unable to distinguish right from left, danger from safety, or enemy from friend. For such a person, even walking within the familiarity of his own home becomes challenging.

Now imagine a person whose outward eyes are sound, yet his inner sight – the sight of the heart – is blind. He looks at the world but fails to perceive the signs of Allah Ta’ala surrounding him. He can admire the splendour of a sunset, the intricacy of a leaf’s design, or the awe-inspiring motion of the oceans, yet it stirs no thought, awakens no emotion, and inspires no yearning within his heart. His body may see, but his soul remains blind.

Allah Ta’ala declares in the Quraan Majeed:

فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَٰكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ

 

“Indeed, it is not the eyes that become blind, but rather it is the hearts within the chests that become blind.” (Surah Hajj ; V:46)

 

True blindness is not the loss of physical sight. Rather, it is the inability to recognise the greatness of Allah Ta’ala and to connect what one sees to the One who created it. The truly blind person is he who sees the signs of Allah Ta’ala daily, yet remains unmoved, unchanged, and unaware.

The great commentator of the Quraan Majeed, Imaam Mujaahid (rahimahullah), explains that every human being has been endowed with four eyes: two on the face, through which he perceives the fleeting matters of this world, and two within the heart, through which he perceives the realities of the eternal Hereafter. If the outward eyes are deprived of sight, yet the eyes of the heart remain open, such blindness will cause him no real loss. However, if the outward eyes are sound while the eyes of the heart lie veiled in darkness, then his worldly vision will be of no benefit to him. (Tafseer Qurtubi vol. 14, pg. 419)

 

One of the greatest cures for this inner blindness is to set aside time for Tafakkur – pausing to ponder deeply over the creation of Allah Ta’ala. This was a constant practice of the pious throughout history. It is such reflection that transforms ordinary sights into moments of recognition and connection with the Creator, Allah Ta’ala.

Every reflection on the creation of Allah Ta’ala is like a drop of water falling upon the parched soil of the heart, gradually reviving it until it blossoms into a garden of Imaan.

Consider the simple honeybee. It hovers over flowers, gathering nectar, and then returns to its hive, where it works in perfect harmony with thousands of others. From this, it produces honey – a sweet liquid that not only nourishes but also heals. What power directs the bee to the flowers it must choose? Who instilled within it such precision and discipline? It is none other than Allah Ta’ala.

Reflect on the delicate balance that allows a single drop of rain to revive a withered tree. Consider the endless cycle of the sun rising and setting, never failing its appointed time. Ponder the complexity of the human eye that captures colours and shapes in astonishing detail. Each of these is a sign – a testimony of Allah Ta’ala’s wisdom and control.

The Quraan Majeed repeatedly encourages us to reflect upon the skies and the earth, the alternation of night and day, the rainfall, the mountains, and the animals – not as mere observation or amusement, but to awaken our hearts. Whoever ponders sincerely cannot help but be humbled by Allah Ta’ala’s magnificence and drawn to Him in love, awe, and submission.

Sayyidah Ummud Dardaa (radhiyallahu ‘anha) was once asked as to what the best action of her husband, Sayyiduna Abud Dardaa (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), was. She replied that it was his contemplation. (Musannaf ibn Abi Shaibah #35729) 

 

On one occasion, Sayyiduna Abud Dardaa (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) himself said, “A single moment of reflection is better than standing in Salaah for the entire night.” (Musannaf ibn Abi Shaibah #35728)

 

We are surrounded by signs – from the stars that adorn the night to the birds that glide across the sky. Yet if our hearts are preoccupied and distracted, we will look but never truly see; we will glance but never grasp.

Set aside just a few minutes each day to look around and reflect. Do not simply scroll past the sunrise or swipe past the raindrops. Pause… Observe… Think… Who created this? Why did He make it so beautiful? What message is it conveying to me?

Through this simple habit, our hearts will begin to soften. Our eyes will begin to truly see. Gradually, the veils will be lifted, enabling us to witness the world not merely through the lens of the eye, but through the illumination of Imaan and the light of the heart.

uswatulmuslimah