Advice of Scholars - SIGN OF SICKNESS IN THE HEART

Hadrat Imâm-i Rabbânî says in the 17th letter of the third volume of his Maktûbât:

Not to do the commandments of Allahu ta’âlâ is caused by a sickness in the heart. A sickness in the heart means that it does not believe in the Sharî’at thoroughly. To be a Believer, it is not enough only to express the word Shahâdat (Ash hadu an lâ. . . ). Munâfiqs (those who pretend to be Muslims though being disbelievers) also express it. The sign of the existence of îmân in the heart is to do the commandments of the Sharî’at willingly. To give one gold coin to a poor Muslim with the intention of zakât is more blessed than giving a hundred thousand gold coins as alms, because to give zakât is to obey the Sharî’at’s command. But those that are given without the intention of zakât are supererogatory worships. Supererogatory worships are of no value when compared to fard worships. They are not even like a drop of water compared to an ocean. The Devil, by deceiving Muslims, prevent them from performing their omitted salâts. Performing the supererogatory salâts, [supererogatory pilgrimage, and umra] are made to appear more beautiful. Also, by misrepresenting supererogatory deeds and actions as beautiful, he prevents them from giving zakât. [The promised great rewards for the sunnats and for the supererogatory are for those who do not owe fard deeds and who have paid their omitted fard worships. But those who still have omitted fard worships will not be given any rewards for any worships besides the fard ones.]