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Protection of the Heart

"The pages of the book are like the heart. They turn easily."

This is what Irfana told our beginner's Arabic class today. I spent some time with her after class, sharing with her the vague details of my life. She told me, "Sadia you have to protect your heart." Protection of the heart can mean many things. For instance, you should avoid foods that are high in saturated fat. This is common-sense protection of the heart. Then, there is the more significant kind of protection, one in which you avoid engaging in affairs that are potentially harmful for you. I have tried to advocate for platonic relationships long enough (three unsuccessful years), and I will state unequivocally now, THEY DO NOT EXIST. Alhamdullilah. (Rayad you win.) Best practices suggest that being close to a guy--any guy who isn't gay or isn't already married/taken-- means there will be emotional hangups. This principle of protection demands that you anticipate the normal patterns of human behavior, and then, avoid what will harm you.


There are instances in which protection is not warranted. This is when your heart feels that it is doing somersaults, elated from the joy of another person's company. To shield yourself from goodness, from spiritual rejuvenation, from Allah, from life-altering opportunities--these are not warranted. The desire to protect the heart from good is not protection per se but rather fear of change. Protection and fear are difficult to distinguish. Nevertheless, being afraid for one's emotional stability is very different from being afraid of changing your lifestyle. Fearing for the condition of your heart is demanded upon you by God. Fearing a lifestyle change is just a personal hangup that is surmountable.

Comments

  1. Anonymous2/24/2006

    platonic relationships do exist - take a look around, tons of people have them.

    they just don't exist in your life. you don't allow yourself to experience them because you're too terrified of what they might feel like.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sadia2/24/2006

    platonic relationships ive only had with people who are emotionally unavailable. i can have a platonic relationship with my supervisor for example, or an uncle, or a grandpa. However, I cannot have that with a 22 year old single, heterosexual male. It's not that I am too terrified, but that what I want is something permanant and intimate, not something temporary and time-filling.

    its too bad you don't understand.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous2/24/2006

    ok

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sadia2/24/2006

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous2/24/2006

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete

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