Heedlessness

[Beardo]

Heedlessness
By: Hafiz Raakin Hossain & Rashad Abdullah

Heedlessness is the lack of attention towards the compulsory truth and righteous ways. It shows one’s unconcern and desire to attain salvation in the next world. Proving one’s ignorance, scholars consider heedlessness to be the roots for all the diseases of the heart. For example miserliness, despite all the warnings given to a person through Qur’aan, Hadith, and seminars, one will be persistent with his greed. Eventually, the heart hardens and closes itself towards further advice and admonitions from the people. In Imam Mawlud’s Matharat al-Qulub, he puts in a few poetic verses:

“Heedlessness is being careless concerning what God has commanded one to do and has prohibited.
Scholars of the science consider (heedlessness) to be the source of all wrongdoing. Its cure is to be found in four deeds, all of which possess rectifying qualities:
Seek forgiveness from God; visit the righteous; invoke benedictions upon the Prophet; and recite (God’s) Book.”

The poet here describes the highest position a man can degrade himself through heedlessness. There is a difference between heedlessness and forgetfulness. For example, the one who sleeps passed the Fajr timings is not sinful, though it will show a certain degree of concern a person has towards Salah. However, as soon as he remembers, he should perform the Salah without delay. On the other hand, there is the one who completely denies the existence of the Fajr Salah and continues through the journey of life pretending there is no morning prayer. That is the sin of heedlessness.

The pious scholars gave a beautiful example regarding the difference between a mistake and a sin. In schools and educational centers, there are tests, exams, and quizzes. These can be both announced or “pop” quizzes, which are without notice. To commit a mistake is no crime and there is no penalty for that. However, to cheat is worse. That is why the academic teachers say that it is better to receive a failing grade than to cheat, as cheating holds more consequences. In that same metaphor is our life, except in the classroom of life there is no cheating. Allah is aware of all things. There is, however, heedlessness. It is better to be forgetful than to be heedless. Heedless is when one commits a sin knowingly, and without shame. If one crosses the stage wherein he feels no shame, then for him awaits destruction. Allah states in the Noble Qur’aan: “I shall turn away from My signs those who are prideful on the earth without right. If they see any sign, they believe it not. Any if they see the way of righteousness, they choose it not for their way; but if they see the way of error, they indeed choose it for their way. That is because they deny Our signs and are heedless of them.” (7: 146)

Therefore Allah demeans the one who is distracted from the path through heedlessness. An ignoramus will never be bestowed with the ability to see the clear signs Allah has provided. Allah will then condemn that person who commits a sin openly and knowingly. “thus does Allah srt a seal upon every presumptuous, arrogant heart.” These such people should we be steered away from, just as the Prophets had been commanded. The Prophets had not only been commanded to flee from their people due to the calamity which was destined to befall them, but also to remain in liberty from their ignorance and evil methods. Such as the Prophet Nuh, on which Allah commanded a flood which had picked up the righteous and drowned the wrongdoers; such as the Prophet Lut, on which Allah commanded the righteous to flee and the wrongdoers who were heedless of the sign; such as the Prophet Musa on which Qarun was drowned in dirt. By the time the signs had come, their doors for acceptance had been closed and their conversion towards the truth was rejected. Those who turn to heedlessness, Allah will turn them towards the wrong to a greater extent.

[Gubbleknucker]

...so either I'm an ignoramus or a heedless sinner, along with 5 billion+ other people?

Hm.

[Gubbleknucker]

It was a rhetorical question.