By: Samsul Nizar
Professor & Head of STAIN Bengkalis
In a hadith, the Messenger of Allah once said through his words, “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 and that is the heart (qalb)” ( Hadith by Bukhari and Muslim).
The hadith above explains the urgency of the human heart. Not only as a colorant for good and bad behavior but also as one of the organs that determine human biological health. If his heart is good, then all his affairs will be good. On the other hand, if it is damaged (let alone “rotted”), the whole business is bad.
From a biological perspective, scholars say that the heart is the malikul a’dho (the king of the limbs), while the limbs are the junuduhu (the soldiers).
As one of the important organs in the human body, the liver has various functions, including (1) destroying old red blood cells, (2) cleaning the blood, (3) storing energy and nutrient reserves, and (4) producing substances that the body needs. In health science, liver function for the body is very important, ranging from destroying toxins in the blood to helping the digestive process. When the liver does not function properly, various serious conditions can arise. Therefore, it is important always to maintain liver function. Or other things that might be discovered scientifically.
In the perspective of Allah’s verse, the heart has causality over the character-building of each human being and the hour of his destiny. The mirror of the heart is a picture of a self-character. Humans can be straight according to the heart that is moved by Divine truth or deceive the heart with a “chameleon” character. If the choice is a pure heart, then be safe. However, if the choice lies in the heart, then misery will occur because humans cannot lie to themselves in the words of their hearts.
The heart determines the journey of human life, self-character, and what will be obtained later. The movement of the heart can be seen in two characters, namely:
First, a clean heart’s character will birth positive thoughts. Positive thoughts breed positive words. Positive words breed positive behavior. Positive behavior breeds positive habits. Positive habits breed positive characters. In comparison, positive characters will reap a positive destiny. Positive destiny will bring positive happiness too.
Second, a dirty heart’s character will birth negative thoughts. Negative thoughts breed negative words. Negative words breed negative behavior. Negative behavior breeds negative habits. Negative habits breed negative characters. At the same time, negative characters will reap a negative destiny. Negative destiny will present misery that will be felt and cannot be denied.
Seeing the two choices of causality of the heart above, all humans hope for the first character. To get the first character, exercise the mind and heart to build oneself accustomed to thinking “point 0”. “Point 0” positions itself neutral to view the right and left sides. Phenomena, insults, praise, various issues (good or bad), and any problems that occur need to be responded to in a “point 0” thinking pattern. All are faced and assessed on a “point 0” basis. If the goodness that appears does not make him quick to give admiration, forget himself, and be arrogant. If the spectacle that appears does not make him blame, look for a scapegoat, especially with the accompaniment of hateful blasphemy. Or, when the power is in front, the truth gets a roar of admiration. Meanwhile, if an error occurs, the defense flows endlessly with “a million arguments” being sought. However, when the power has disappeared, and self “interest” is no longer (like honey that has lost its sweetness), admiration and defense have changed drastically, like the heavens and the earth changed to endless insults. All the “rows” that had been present all this time disappeared as if swallowed by the earth. Neat rows like a posse, one by one, disappeared and dispersed. As a result, the thunderous praise turned into a quiet silence like living in the grave.
Indeed, the thinking footing “point 0” will give birth to an objective attitude and intelligent behavior (ridho). If the heart is not grounded in “point 0”, there will be a subjective attitude towards what is judged and harmful, destructive behavior. If you are not alert, there is a concern that your subjective attitude will give birth to mistakes in judging others. A subjective attitude without a heart based on “point 0” will eliminate the nature of caution that causes behavior that begins with backbiting and ends in slander. Backbiting and slander arise from subjective judgments and try to find points of advantage for those who like it, shortcomings for those who hate it, and those who like to find excuses.
When the two poles of subjective hearts meet, there will be no way out of the chaos of subjective thinking because the group that likes (supporters or friends) does not need evidence for all their mistakes. Meanwhile, groups that hate (enemies or opponents) do not need a million proofs of the truth. Meanwhile, those who hate trying to find reasons for their mistakes bring them down.
Learn clockwork philosophy. If the clock hands move down, there will be no attempt to raise the clock hands. Likewise, if the clock is moving upwards, there is no attempt to lower it. On the other hand, if the needle of destiny is going down, don’t force it to be raised. If forced, it will damage the existing clock. That is the sunnatullah of human life and the universe. Meanwhile, if the needle of destiny is rising, don’t force it to be lowered. Because when forcing the needle of destiny to go up to go down and forcing the needle of destiny to be down to be raised, it will destroy the order of the universe, both the clock and the “hands” that oppose the movement of the clock. Let it go down when it’s time because there will be a time to go up. Likewise, those going up know there will be a time to come down. A destiny that is ascending does not step on the destiny that is descending. On the other hand, a destiny descending does not cause trouble to a rising destiny. Indeed, every era has its destiny, and every destiny has its time. For that, remember when the hour of destiny is above. Don’t think of yourself as the noblest. Moreover, you want to continue to be at the top without wanting to go down. This attitude belongs only to the “broken clock.” Because in time, the clock of destiny will spin up and down. When the hour of destiny is descending, please go through it with sincerity so that when the hour of destiny is up, you do not forget that you were at the bottom.
The ancestors of this country once gave a message when the hour of destiny was over that when you have power, your tongue is fire and your index finger is a sword. Take care of the tongue so it is not free to say words, and think wisely before scratching the pen using the index finger (and the five fingers). Depending on what his tongue says will become law, and pointing his finger is an order to be done. Be careful with the tongue and forefinger when the needle of fate is above because the prayers of the persecuted will be able to shake the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. Be careful with the tongue used to “backbiting” (with various variants) when the needle of destiny is being lowered. If the tongue and forefinger are always moved by the heart with Allah’s name, then the universe’s benefit will be obtained. However, if the forefinger and tongue depart from a dirty heart, self-deprecation only builds the abyss of destruction for others and civilization. It will increase sin and destroy the deeds of worship for those who do it for the possibility of spreading slander.
It is true that Sunan Bonang’s advice through Tombo Ati (heart medicine) always to be clean, namely: “Read the Qu’ran and its meaning, do not forget qiyamul lail (worship at night), be with pious people (not with the wrong person), do not leave sunnah fasting, and always remember Allah all the time (zikir).” However, each of these messages needs to be studied and understood comprehensively because each message has a broad and deep meaning.
If the choice is on the other side by poisoning the heart, then the heart will be darker, and in turn, blind the forgetful self will return. A sick heart, in reality, will produce a bitter fate (in time).
Such is the causality of the heart to one’s destiny. All of God’s promises are certain. All will be reaped in due time. Depending on the color and the impulse that will give birth to the fruit of destiny. A fruit that is sure to be harvested by every planter. The harvest may be reaped during the world’s life (perhaps depending on the level of power) or later the harvest in the hereafter (certainly before the Divine Court), whose justice is guaranteed.
Wa Allahua’lam bi al-Shawwab
Translated by: Ruzaini, M.Pd (Alumni of English Education Study Program of STAIN Bengkalis)
