A person sometimes gives his heart to Allah and sometimes he gives his life to Allah and in this way he is proving his loyalty to Allah tabaaraka wata'ala.

Shahaadat is not only in the battlefield. One is that Shahaadat which a person attains on the battlefield where by a sword or a bullet his life is taken and it is over. The other is that Shahaadat which is the continuous fight against the Nafs (Base self) where the person is prepared to sacrifice his base desires and make a connection with Allah subhaanahu wata'ala. This Shahaadat can be achieved every day, all the time; in the market place and shopping complex, in business dealings and in our relationships with our spouses, offspring, neighbours etc.

Anywhere there is a conflict where on one side there is the desire of the Nafs and Shaytaan and on the other side there is the desire of Allah subhaanahu wat'ala and His Rasool sallallaahu 'alayhi wasallam, and the person suppresses his Nafsaani Khwaaishaat (Base desires), he drinks the blood of his Aarzu (Yearnings) and proves his loyalty to Allah subhaanahu wata'ala, then Allah subhaanahu wat'ala gives him the stages of Shahaadat.

Shaykh Yunus Patel (Rahimahullah)
Short Inspirational Audio