“Indeed, the heart can rust like iron. Rasulullah SAW was then asked, ‘What makes the heart not rust?’ The Prophet replied, ‘Reciting the Qur’an and remembering death.’” (HR al-Baihaqi).
The illustration in the hadith shows that the human heart has the potential to become like iron which can rust. Before rusting, iron is strong, but when it is rusted, it will turn into fragile. A rusted heart is a disease or an unhealthy heart.
In order for the heart not to rust, Rasulullah SAW gave a solution, namely reading the Qur’an. Why can reading Qur’an make the heart not rust? Badiuzzaman Said Nursi in al-Mu’jizat al-Qur’aniyyah explained that the Qur’an is the most glorious word of Allah with absolute rububiyyah nature. It is an azali message in the name of a comprehensive and glorious divine power.
The Qur’an is a record of ar-Rahman’s attention and respect which is sourced from His vast graces which encompass everything. It is a collection of Rabbani’s communication treatises that explain the greatness of uluhiyah in which the beginning is partly symbolic and full of signs. It is the holy book that spread wisdom, which fell from the scope of His greatest name. He stared at what was covered by the greatest aryati.
Do not rust your heart! Even strong and sturdy mountain rocks can be “subdued and submissive” to the Qur’an if it is revealed to him. (Surat al-Hashr : 21).
The heart is a mirror of Divine light. Therefore, it is natural that a rusty heart will re-emit bright light if it is fed with Rabbani dishes. Because the Qur’an is a “special meal” of Allah SWT for His servants.
This supper of glory must certainly be enjoyed and interpreted. Understanding the Qur’an is synonymous with reading, understanding, loving, appreciating, and practicing the appeal of rational thinking, moral messages, and spiritually.
In other words, so that the heart does not rust, the Qur’an must be continued and cultivated, not just reciting and study the message, but more importantly is to understand, translate, and actualize its values in real life so that the spirit of the Qur’an animates and fosters life that is increasingly distant from the values of truth, goodness, justice, beauty, and peace.
Mudarasah Alquran is a shady heart and tamer of “stubborn and hard-hearted” character. History proves that Umar bin al-Khattab, who was before Islam, was known to be stubborn and wild. However, his heart melted after hearing the chanting of the Qur’an being recited by his biological sibling who had converted to Islam, Fatimah bint al-Khattab.
Perhaps, one of the causes of setbacks, backwardness, ignorance, and poverty that plagued Muslims today is that we are still far away from the shade and lap of the Holy Qur’an. In fact, according to Sayyid Qutub in the introduction to the interpretation of Fi Zhilal Alquran, life under the auspices of the Qur’an is a blessing.
Therefore, if the Qur’an has become our “daily menu” then we can be sure that the vision of Islam as a mercy for the universe can be realized and felt by all. We all certainly still need medicine and mercy from God so that our lives will be safe in the world and the hereafter.