The Heart as True Homeland of Peace.

[Abu Hafsat]

As-Salaam alaikum,

  Our Teachers, the 'Ulama of the Islamic tradition teach that the true homeland of peace is the Heart (qalb) when it is polished by dhikr (Zikr), Imaan (faith) and surrenders to Almighty Allah. External threats, insults or hardships can shake our body, but not the heart that has been anchored in the Divine. Says our Lord in the Holy Qur'an: --

                      ''Indeed, in the Remembrance of Allah [Zikr] do hearts

                            find peace.'' (13:28)

The peace referred to in this verse/ayat is not fragile; it is not given by people, and so it cannot be taken away by them. When faith flowers in the heart, the inner garden becomes a paradise before Paradise. Here, if you like you may recall that Hadith in which the Prophet, Sallallahu alaihi Wasallam, said: -

           ''Paradise is closer to you than your shoelace, and so is Hellfire''. (Musnad Ahmad).

And Sheikh Abu Madyan al-Ghawth, may Allah be Merciful to him, said: ''The true faqir is the one who is at peace in the storm, for his heart is with Allah while his body is among creation.''  So, no matter what others say or do, if your heart is with Allah [rooted] in Tawheed, you carry a sanctuary with you. This is what the Sufis call Sakina .... the tranquility Almighty Allah sends into the hearts of believers.