Our hearts and the core of carrot

Something has ignited the flame of meditation in that day which was full of different activities and among which was peeling carrots and recognizing the spoiled ones. How many works which we delay not in favor of something more important!

We delay them because we have not learned how to arrange our priorities. Because carrots were abundant, we did not notice that they were spoiled except after a while because they looked healthy.

I paused for a while to read the message which was: Had it been the corruption of our inner self, the corruption would not have affected our society. Did not Allah say: "And on the earth are signs for those who have Faith with certainty." [Surat Az-Zariyat: 20].

A question that should be answered: Have we paid attention to the cleanliness of our inner self and protected it against corruption? Is the matter hidden and invisible, and does not deserve that much attention? If the matter is as mentioned, why did that carrot became worthless and futile? It became part of the things which we should get rid of to keep the soundness of the rest.

How many people live without realizing the values they have, so you see them fagged because of working day and night to beautify the outward. However, if we allow ourselves to dive a little inside ourselves, you will find ruins and dirt that may need the whole lifetime to clean and get rid of.

Indeed, this state of worthiness —which we live in our today's world and which the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) told us about— is just a damage that hit ourselves and we were not keen to fix it continuously so that it may not move, spread, and become difficult to get rid of.

For example, if we speak about mercy, compassion, altruism, and feeling with others, we will find these qualities almost lost from our lives even from doctors who are the most compassionate and the more feeling with the pains of others. So, what is the secret behind the low level of feeling with others? Why do we see and hear the cries and pains of mothers who lost their babies daily on TV without being touched?

Indeed, this heart, which contains feelings and sensations, is the basis for the righteousness of individuals, societies, and civilizations, for no nation will rise when its people pay attention to the external more than the internal.

The Messenger (peace be upon him) started his call from this small circle: Is not he who said: "Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt which is the heart."

Had not the people found those clean and good hearts and good-manner of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) —which they have learnt from the Prophet (may He be Glorified and Exalted) whom was described as "And Verily, you (O Muhammad peace be upon him) are on an exalted (standard of) character." [Surat Al Qalam: 4] which are genuine—, Islam would not have spread all over the world and openings spread worldwide.

The Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) gives hint to us that there is no value to the body if the heart is not good and there is no value to the heart if the heart is not full of the meanings for which it was created.

It is a call for salvation and searching in ourselves for these meanings that many people have neglected in our today's life.