/ The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would often say: "O Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would often say: "O Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion

Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) would often say: "O Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion." I said: "O Messenger of Allah, we have believed in you and what you have come with. Do you fear for us?" He said: "Yes! Indeed, the hearts are between two of the Fingers of Allah and He turns them as He wishes."
Narrated by At-Termedhy & Ahmad

Explanation

The supplication the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to say most frequently is to ask Allah for steadfastness to the religion and obedience to Him and keeping away from deviation and misguidance. Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him) wondered at the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) making this supplication frequently. So, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) informed him that the hearts lie between two of the Fingers of Allah and He turns them as He wishes. The heart is the place where Imān or Kufr lies. It is called Qalb (in Arabic) due to its frequent Taqallub (fluctuation). It fluctuates more intensely than a boiling jar. So, Allah makes the heart of whom He wills steadfast to guidance and firm upon the religion, and He diverts the heart of whom He wills from guidance to deviation and misguidance.

Hadeeth benefits

  1. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was submissive and humble to his Lord and used to implore Him. The Ummah is also exhorted to make the same supplication.
  2. The Hadīth highlights the significance of uprightness and steadfastness to the religion, and that the important thing is the end.
  3. A person is always in need of Allah to make him steadfast to Islam.
  4. We are urged to supplicate Allah a lot, in adherence to the Prophet's example.
  5. Steadfastness to Islam is the greatest blessing a person should seek to obtain and for which he should be grateful to his Lord.