Question Summary:
I feel my Heart is Sealed and I am not Inspired to do acts of Worship

Question Detail:

I am really sick spiritually it feels like my heart is sealed. I don’t get inspired by any deeni talks or forms of ibaadat. I try to stay away from sinning. I don’t have any feelings. A long time ago I did do a really bad deed. I need Allah’s mercy to ask Allah for forgiveness from my heart but my heart feels sealed up. Please make dua for me and please advise me on what to do.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

A mother prohibits her child from going to play outside. The child slips away in the yard and begin enjoying himself playing in the sand and mud. After a while he comes back to his mother with his clothes and body covered up in mud. What will be the mother’s response? Will she leave like that saying I prohibited you from going outside but you did not listen? Or will she pick up the child, bath the child, put cream and powder for the child and dress him in clean clothes and then hug and kiss him?

Allāh Ta`ālā prohibited us from soiling ourselves in the filth of sin. Due to our negligence we did not take precaution. If we return to Allāh will He ever reject us from His infinite door of mercy and forgiveness? Allāh is waiting for His sinful servants like us to return to Him. Every night Allāh spreads His hand out so that the sinner of the day may repent and every day Allāh spreads His hands out so that the sinner of the night might turn to Him and repent.

_{قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ (53)}

[الزمر: 53]

Say (on My behalf), ―O servants of Mine who have acted recklessly against their own selves, do not despair of Allah‘s mercy. Surely, Allah will forgive all sins. Surely, He is the One who is the Most-Forgiving, the Very-Merciful. [39:53]

When a child is learning to walk or ride a bicycle many times he falls down. However, he does not remain on the floor. He immediately stands up and continues. If we commit a sin a thousand times, we should stand up and repent a thousand and one times. Be sure that Allāh will most definitely forgive you. Be confident in the Most wonderful, Merciful, Loving, Kind and Compassionate creator you have. He loves you and waiting for you to come back to Him.

*Dear brother, you might have committed something in the past which you were not supposed to commit, but remember that Allāh is waiting for you. Never be despondent of His mercy. Turn to Him, repent for the past and make a resolution to do your best for the future. Indeed you should be regretful and cry for the past but never let yourself be bogged down on the past.*

Neither concern yourself too much of the future. Focus on the present, for this will be the past of tomorrow and pave the way for the future. Lamenting too much on the past will prevent you from progressing.

Dear brother, allow me to suggest you to continue doing whatever good you are doing even though who do not feel any enjoyment or you feel as your heart is blocked. The object is the obedience of Allāh and not any feelings.

One candle is lit by joining it to another candle which is already lit. Ignite your heart by joining it to a heart which is already ignited with the love and recognition of Allāḥ.

And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best. 

Mufti Ebrahim Desai