Then your hearts became hardened after that…

"Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth, and there are some of them that split open and water comes out, and there are some of them that fall down for fear of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of what you do," (2:74).

This beautiful verse in the Qur'an is filled with so many gems. In it, we see Allah comparing our hearts to rocks. Allah describes the potential of our hearts as rivers bursting forth. In order for the breakthrough to happen though there must exist that initial breaking. The fall. The cleaving and the splitting. That's hard to internalize when one goes through hardship. And it's only usually in retrospect that we understand the wisdom behind the hardship. But, look at what happens after the fall- there is a burst, a gush, a newer and better you.

Many of us have heard the phrase "Be like water." Usually, it conjures up traits like flexibility, steadiness, and consistency. Yet oftentimes we neglect the other attributes that water provides. Water polishes and cleanses. It also renews through hydration and sustains us. What are we doing to hydrate our spiritual hearts? To nourish and sustain us, to cushion our fall when we break? The third group that Allah describes, "there are some that fall down for fear of Allah." This last group is described with no water and they fall from their lofty heights, humbled in front of their Lord. I pray that Allah blesses us with hearts that race to do good and as our internal river gushes forth, it picks up our family members, friends, and allies along the way. May Allah make us amongst them!