What do you keep in your chest?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّ حِيْمِ

The ending of Surah Adiyat is quite interesting because Allah says;

And that which is in the breasts (of men) shall be made known.  Verily, that Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) their Lord will be Well-Acquainted with them (as to their deeds), (and will reward them for their deeds).  (100:10-11)

 
When we see the word breast mentioned it usually denotes to the human chest and everything inside it, particularly the heart.  As we’ve mentioned in previous discourses the heart is the seat of the personality and it is from the heart where all our emotions emanates from.

So what Allah is telling us is that on the Day of Accountability everything in ones chest will be revealed; whether it is good or bad. 

When we commit any wrong doing it is not whipped out or taken out completely from our book of records.  We know that the Qur’an says good removes evil but it is not completely erased.  Instead it is covered.  This is why we pray Allahummas turrnaa bi satrikal jameel (O Allah!  Cover us (i.e. our faults) with a beautiful covering).

On the Day of Judgement Allah will look at these evil deeds and will ask the person if he/she did commit them.  In relation to this Prophet Muhammad (pboh) is reported to have said;

Allah will bring the believer very close and privately and ask him “Do you know this sin?  Do you know that sin?” The believers reply will be, “Yes Oh Lord,” until he is reminded about all of his sins, and he thinks he will perish.  Then Allah will say “I covered up your sins during your life, and I will forgive your sins today”.  Then he will be given his book of good deeds.

It is only then will all your evil deeds be completely erased as you cannot go heaven with stains against you.

The higher you ascend the thinner the air becomes and the more constricted the chest will be.  This is possibly why Prophet Moses (as) prayed O My Lord! Open for me my chest (20:25).  And possibly why before he was taken up in the Mir’aj Prophet Muhammad’s (pboh) chest was opened and washed.

So to we don’t want a constricted heart and in order to safe guard against this we must prepare from now.  Satan doesn’t want this.  This is why it is recorded in Surah Naas concerning Satan’s motives: who whispers in the breasts of mankind.

And on that point a noteworthy mention is that some people argue that it is impossible for Prophet Muhammad (pboh) to be present at more than one place at one at the same time.  If Satan can whisper to the hearts of men at one at the same time; what about the greatest creature that has ever been created?  But that is a different subject.

We need to take note that all our deeds and all the secrets we hold in our chest will come to light on that Day and no one will want any impurity and evil to come out in front of the Lord and Master.  So start preparing for that great meeting from now. 

Work hard to cover the blemishes that are recorded against you.  Remember Satan doesn’t want this and he will try tirelessly to divert your focus away from Allah.  That is an individual battle.  No one else can ward off Satan from you.  You need to put your faith and trust in Allah and let him take care of your affairs.

We beg Allah to enable us to cover up our wrongs by engaging in good and beneficial deeds and may He bless us and reward us so that on the Day of Accountability when our chest is opened up it will be pleasing to Him, insha Allah.