This article is based on the purification of the heart and its religious status. It begins by stating that the heart is the “king” of all human organs; if it is righteous, then actions are correct, and if it is corrupt, then the organs also incline towards corruption. It will be proven from the texts of the Quran and Sunnah that the thing that benefits before Allah is the “pure heart,” the true abode of faith is the heart, the center of Allah’s gaze is also the heart and actions, and the value and worth of actions change according to the condition of the heart (humility, sincerity, intention). Then the purification of the heart, the virtue of truthful speech, and softness of heart, as well as the causes and remedies of hardness of heart, will be explained step by step.
Heart: The King of the Organs
It is said that the heart is the king of the organs and the rest of the organs are its army; the army obeys the king. A righteous heart makes the entire army (organs) righteous, and a corrupt heart corrupts them.
What will benefit in the Hereafter is only the “pure heart”:
﴿ یَوْمَ لاَ یَنْفَعُ مَالٌ وَّلاَ بَنُوْنَ ٭ اِِلَّا مَنْ اَتَی اللّٰہَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِیْمٍ ﴾
Translation: “On that Day neither wealth will benefit nor children, except for the one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.”
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
( أَلا وَإِنَّ فِیْ الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَۃً إِذَا صَلُحَتْ صَلُحَ لَہَا سَائِرُ الْجَسَدِ ، وَإِذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ کُلُّہُ ، أَلا وَہِیَ الْقَلْبُ )
Translation: “There is a lump of flesh in the body; if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupted, the whole body is corrupted. Beware! It is the heart.”
Avoidance of Doubtful Matters and the Soundness of the Heart
It is clear from the introduction of the hadith that the lawful and unlawful are clear, and between them are doubtful matters. Whoever avoids these doubtful matters protects his religion and honor, and whoever falls into them falls into the unlawful. From this connection, it is understood that the correctness of the actions of the limbs and abstaining from unlawful and doubtful matters all depend on the health of the heart.
If the heart has the love of Allah, fear (reverence), and a constant concern to avoid disliked matters, then the limbs also avoid the unlawful and doubtful matters.
And if the heart is overwhelmed by the desires of the self, then the limbs incline towards sins and doubtful matters.
Steadfastness of Faith, Heart, and Tongue
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
( لَا یَسْتَقِیْمُ إِیْمَانُ عَبْدٍ حَتّٰی یَسْتَقِیْمَ قَلْبُہُ ، وَلَا یَسْتَقِیْمُ قَلْبُہُ حَتّٰی یَسْتَقِیْمَ لِسَانُہُ )
Translation: “A person’s faith is not upright until his heart is upright, and the heart is not upright until the tongue is upright.”
Heart: The Abode of Faith
Allah Almighty adorned faith in the hearts:
﴿ وَلٰـکِنَّ اللّٰہَ حَبَّبَ اِِلَیْکُمُ الْاِِیْمَانَ وَزَیَّنَہٗ فِیْ قُلُوْبِکُمْ﴾ [الحجرات:۷]
Translation: “Allah has made faith beloved to you and has adorned it in your hearts.”
Warning regarding the Bedouins’ claim of faith:
﴿ قَالَتِ الْاَعْرَابُ اٰمَنَّا قُلْ لَمْ تُؤمِنُوْا وَلٰـکِنْ قُوْلُوْٓا اَسْلَمْنَا وَلَمَّا یَدْخُلِ الْاِِیْمَانُ فِیْ قُلُوْبِکُمْ﴾ [الحجرات:۱۴]
Translation: “The Bedouins say, ‘We have believed’; say, ‘You have not believed, but say, We have submitted,’ for faith has not yet entered your hearts.”
Regarding the hypocrites:
﴿ یٰٓاَیُّھَا الرَّسُوْلُ لَا یَحْزُنْکَ الَّذِیْنَ یُسَارِعُوْنَ فِی الْکُفْرِ مِنَ الَّذِیْنَ قَالُوْٓا اٰمَنَّا بِاَفْوَاھِھِمْ وَ لَمْ تُؤمِنْ قُلُوْبُھُمْ﴾ [المائدۃ:۴۱]
Translation: “O Messenger! Let not those who hasten into disbelief grieve you. Among them are those who say with their tongues, ‘We have believed,’ but their hearts have not believed.”
➤ These verses make it clear that the true abode of faith is the “heart”; mere verbal claim is not enough, otherwise hypocrites would succeed—although they will be in the lowest depths of Hell. والعیاذ باللہ۔
The Focus of Allah’s Sight
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
( إِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَنْظُرُ إِلٰی صُوَرِکُمْ وَأَمْوَالِکُمْ ، وَلٰکِنْ یَّنْظُرُ إِلٰی قُلُوبِکُمْ وَأَعْمَالِکُمْ ) [مسلم:۲۵۶۴]
Translation: “Allah does not look at your forms and wealth, but He looks at your hearts and deeds.”
Therefore, the one whom Allah’s sight is upon should be our foremost priority for reform.
Difference in Deeds: According to the Difference in the Heart
Many people perform the same worship, but there is a difference in reward; the reason is the humility and sincerity of the heart.
Example of Prayer:
( إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَیٍَنْصَرِفُ وَمَا کُتِبَ لَہُ إِلَّا عُشْرُ صَلَاتِہِ ، تُسْعُہَا ، ثُمُنُہَا ، سُبُعُہَا ، سُدُسُہَا ، خُمُسُہَا ، رُبْعُہَا ، ثُلُثُہَا ، نِصْفُہَا )
Translation: “When a person turns away from prayer, sometimes a tenth, ninth, eighth… even half of the reward is recorded for him.”
The same principle applies to the recitation of the Qur’an: mere pronunciation yields less reward, while reflection on meanings and emotional impact yields more reward.
The acceptance of deeds depends on “sincerity of intention”; ostentation nullifies the deed, and mixing worldly motives in the intention reduces the reward.
Who is the Best Among People?
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) declared that the criterion of virtue is not worldly wealth and means, but the purity of the heart and the truthfulness of the tongue. It is narrated from Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) that when asked: ( أَیُّ النَّاسِ أَفْضَلُ؟), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
( کُلُّ مَخْمُومِ الْقَلْبِ ، صَدُوقِ اللِّسَانِ )
The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) said: صَدُوقُ اللِّسَانِ (truthful tongue) we know, but who is “مخموم القلب”? He replied:
( ہُوَ التَّقِیُّ النَّقِیُّ ، لَا إِثْمَ فِیْہِ ، وَلَا بَغْیَ ، وَلَا غِلَّ وَلَا حَسَدَ )
Translation: “He is the pious and pure-hearted one; in whom there is no sin, transgression, malice, or envy.”
The Best Heart Among Hearts
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
( إِنَّ لِلّٰہِ آنِیَۃً فِی الْأرْضِ ، وَآنِیَۃُ رَبِّکُمْ قُلُوبُ عِبَادِہِ الصَّالِحِیْنَ ، وَأَحَبُّہَا إِلَیْہِ أَلْیَنُہَا وَأَرَقُّہَا )
Translation: “Allah has vessels on earth; the vessels of your Lord are the hearts of His righteous servants, and among them, the most beloved are those hearts which are the softest and most tender.”
Opposite of Tenderness of Heart: Forms of Collective Hardheartedness
Shirk and innovation: Prostrating at graves and shrines, offerings, calling the deceased as “wish-fulfiller/difficulty-reliever.”
Negligence in prayer: Staying away from prayers throughout the week except Friday.
Common occurrence of immodesty, music, and obscene scenes.
Spread of alcohol and intoxicating substances.
Dancing and revelry in the name of entertainment, mixed gatherings, and open expressions of love.
Considering betrayal, deceit, and bribery as “rights.”
Lies, financial fraud, violation of rights—hollowness of social foundations.
Allah Almighty described the hardness of the hearts of the Children of Israel as follows:
﴿ ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوْبُکُمْ مِّنْ بَعْدِ ذٰلِکَ فَہِیَ کَالْحِجَارَۃِ اَوْ اَشَدُّ قَسْوَۃً وَ اِنَّ مِنَ الْحِجَارَۃِ لَمَا یَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْہُ الْاَنْھٰرُ وَ اِنَّ مِنْھَا لَمَا یَشَّقَّقُ فَیَخْرُجُ مِنْہُ الْمَآئُ وَ اِنَّ مِنْھَا لَمَا یَھْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْیَۃِ اللّٰہِ وَ مَا اللّٰہُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُوْنَ ﴾
Translation: “Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. Indeed, there are stones from which rivers gush forth, and some split open and water comes out, and some fall down for fear of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.”
Causes of Hardness of Heart
① Negligence in the Remembrance of Allah
He said: ( لَا تُکْثِرُوا الْکَلَامَ بِغَیْرِ ذِکْرِ اللّٰہِ ، فَإِنَّ کَثْرَۃَ الْکَلَامِ بِغَیْرِ ذِکْرِ اللّٰہِ قَسْوَۃٌ لِّلْقَلْبِ) [الترمذی:۲۴۱۱]
“Do not talk excessively without the remembrance of Allah, for excessive talk without the remembrance of Allah hardens the heart.”
Example of life and death: «مَثَلُ الَّذِي يَذْكُرُ رَبَّهُ وَالَّذِي لَا يَذْكُرُ رَبَّهُ، مَثَلُ الْحَيِّ وَالْمَيِّتِ»
The example of one who remembers his Lord and one who does not is like the living and the dead.
② Negligence of the remembrance of death — forgetting death and the presentation before Allah hardens the heart.
③ Negligence in Obligations
﴿ فَبِمَا نَقْضِھِمْ مِّیْثَاقَھُمْ لَعَنّٰھُمْ وَ جَعَلْنَا قُلُوْبَھُمْ قٰسِیَۃً ﴾
So because of their breaking of the covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts hard.
The Children of Israel broke all covenants including prayer, zakat, supporting the messengers, and benevolent loans, so their hearts were hardened.
④ Persisting in sins and not seeking forgiveness
﴿ کَلَّا بَلْ رَانَ عَلیٰ قُلُوْبِہِمْ مَّا کَانُوْا یَکْسِبُوْنَ ﴾ [المطففین:۱۴]
Never! Rather, the rust of what they used to earn has covered their hearts.
Ibn Abbas (RA): إِنَّ لِلسَّيِّئَةِ سَوَادًا فِي الْوَجْهِ، وَظُلْمَةً فِي الْقَلْبِ، وَوَهْنًا فِي الْبَدَنِ، وَنُقْصَانًا فِي الرِّزْقِ، وَبُغْضًا فِي قُلُوبِ الْخَلْقِ۔
The effects of sin are darkness on the face, darkness in the heart, weakness in the body, decrease in sustenance, and hatred in the hearts of people.
Ibn al-Mubarak (RA):
رَأَيْتُ الذُّنُوبَ تُميتُ القلوبَ وَقَدْ يُورِثُ الذُّلَّ إِدْمَانُهَا وَتَرْكُ الذُّنُوبِ حَيَاةُ القُلُوبِ وَخَيْرٌ لِنَفْسِكَ عِصْيَانُهَا
I have seen that sins kill hearts, and the habit of sins causes humiliation. Abandoning sins is the life of the heart, and disobeying your own self is better for you.
⑤ Following the desires of the self and turning away from the truth
﴿ فَلَمَّا زَاغُوْٓا اَزَاغَ اللّٰہُ قُلُوْبَہُمْ ﴾ [الصف:۵]
So when they became crooked themselves, Allah made their hearts even more crooked.
﴿ وَإِذَا مَا أُنْزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ نَظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ هَلْ يَرَاكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدٍ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفُوا صَرَفَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ ﴾ [التوبۃ:۱۲۷]
And when a Surah is revealed, some of them look at each other (and say), “Is anyone looking at you?” Then they turn away (in aversion). Allah has turned their hearts away because they are a people who do not understand.
⑥ Blindly chasing the pleasures of the world — forgetting the Hereafter.
⑦ Excessive laughter and frivolity
( َلا تُکْثِرُوا الضَّحِکَ فَإِنَّ کَثْرَۃَ الضَّحِکِ تُمِیْتُ الْقَلْبَ)
Do not laugh excessively, for excessive laughter deadens the heart.
⑧ Idle gatherings with vain talk
⑨ Watching obscene and futile scenes
⑩ Being content with ignorance of the fundamental issues of religion
Warning of the Consequences
﴿ فَوَیْلٌ لِّلْقٰسِیَۃِ قُلُوْبُہُمْ مِّنْ ذِکْرِ اللّٰہِ اُوْلٰٓئِکَ فِیْ ضَلٰلٍ مُّبِیْنٍ ﴾ [الزمر:۲۲]
Destruction is for those hearts that have become hard from the remembrance of Allah; these are the ones in clear error.
And He said: ( إِنَّ أَبْعَدَ النَّاسِ مِنَ اللّٰہِ الْقَلْبُ الْقَاسِی )
Translation: “The farthest from Allah is the one whose heart is hardened.”
Causes for Softening the Hearts
When the causes of hardness of heart are known, then the opposite actions become means to soften the hearts. Among them, the most important are the following:
① Remembering death
Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (RA) narrates:
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:
( کُنْ فِیْ الدُّنْیَا کَأَنَّکَ غَرِیْبٌ أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِیْلٍ )
Translation: “Live in this world as if you are a stranger or a traveler.”
Abdullah bin Umar (RA) used to say:
«إِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ فَلَا تَنْتَظِرِ الصَّبَاحَ، وَإِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَلَا تَنْتَظِرِ الْمَسَاءَ، وَخُذْ مِنْ صِحَّتِكَ لِمَرَضِكَ، وَمِنْ حَيَاتِكَ لِمَوْتِكَ»
“When evening comes, do not wait for the morning, and when morning comes, do not wait for the evening; prepare for your sickness while you are healthy and prepare for your death while you are alive.”
In Musnad Ahmad, there are further words:
«كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ، وَعُدَّ نَفْسَكَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقُبُورِ»
“Live in this world as if you are a stranger or a traveler on the road, and consider yourself among the people of the graves (i.e., the dead).”
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:
( أَکْثِرُوْا ذِکْرَ ہَاذِمِ اللَّذَّاتِ الْمَوْتَ )
“Frequently remember death, the thing that breaks pleasures.”
And in another hadith:
( أَکْثَرُہُمْ لِلْمَوْتِ ذِکْرًا وَأَحْسَنُہُمْ لِمَا بَعْدَہُ اسْتِعْدَادًا أُولٰئِکَ الْأکْیَاسُ )
“The most intelligent person is the one who remembers death the most and prepares best for the stages after it.”
② Visiting the Graveyard
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
( کُنْتُ نَہَیْتُکُمْ عَنْ زِیَارَۃِ الْقُبُورِ، أَلَا فَزُوْرُوْہَا، فَإِنَّہَا تُرِقُّ الْقَلْبَ، وَتُدْمِعُ الْعَیْنَ، وَتُذَکِّرُ الْآخِرَۃَ )
Translation: “I used to forbid you from visiting graves, but now visit them; they soften the heart, bring tears to the eyes, and remind one of the Hereafter.”
③ Reflection and Contemplation in the Quran
The Quran is a cure and healing for the diseases of the heart (disbelief, hypocrisy, envy, hatred):
﴿ یَا أَیُّہَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَائَتْکُمْ مَّوْعِظَۃٌ مِّن رَّبِّکُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِّمَا فِی الصُّدُورِ وَہُدًی وَّرَحْمَۃٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِیْنَ ﴾ [یونس: ۵۷]
O people! A reminder has come to you from your Lord, and it is a cure for the diseases of the hearts, and guidance and mercy for the believers.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ اَللّٰهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُّتَشَابِهًا مَّثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ ﴾[الزمر: ۲۳]
Translation: “Allah has revealed the best speech — a book consistent (in words) and repeated (in meaning). It causes the skins of those who fear their Lord to shudder, then their skins and hearts soften to the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah; He guides whom He wills, and whoever Allah leaves astray, there is no guide for him.”
And He said:
﴿ لَوْ اَنْزَلْنَا ہٰذَا الْقُرْاٰنَ عَلٰی جَبَلٍ لَّرَاَیْتَہُ خَاشِعًا مُّتَصَدِّعًا مِّنْ خَشْیَۃِ اللّٰہِ ﴾ [الحشر:۲۱]
“If We had sent down this Qur’an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah.”
Therefore, whoever reflects upon the Qur’an, softness and tenderness inevitably develop in their heart.
﴿ أَفَلَا یَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَی قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُہَا ﴾
Do they not then reflect upon the Qur’an? Or are there locks upon their hearts?
④ Remembering Allah with Reflection
The remembrance of Allah is the source of life and tranquility for the heart:
﴿ اَلَّذِیْنَ آمَنُوْا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوْبُہُمْ بِذِکْرِ اللّٰہِ أَلَا بِذِکْرِ اللّٰہِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوْبُ ﴾
Those who have believed and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah—indeed, hearts find comfort only in the remembrance of Allah.
ا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ﴿٢﴾ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣﴾ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴾ [الأنفال:۲–۴]
The believers are those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts fear, and when His verses are recited to them, their faith increases, and they put their trust in their Lord alone. These are the ones who establish prayer and spend out of what We have provided them. These are the true believers; for them are high ranks with their Lord, forgiveness, and noble provision.
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ أَلَمْ يَأْنِ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ تَخْشَعَ قُلُوبُهُمْ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَمَا نَزَلَ مِنَ الْحَقِّ وَلَا يَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلُ فَطَالَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْأَمَدُ فَقَسَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَكَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ ﴾
Has the time not come for the believers that their hearts should humble themselves at the remembrance of Allah and what has been revealed of the truth, and they are not like those who were given the Scripture before them, and a long time passed over them, so their hearts hardened? And many of them are defiantly disobedient.
⑤ Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness After Sin
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
«إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا أَذْنَبَ كَانَتْ نُكْتَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ فِي قَلْبِهِ، فَإِنْ تَابَ وَنَزَعَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ صُقِلَ قَلْبُهُ، وَإِنْ زَادَ زَادَتْ، فَذَاكَ الرَّانُ الَّذِي ذَكَرَ اللَّهُ: ﴿كَلَّا بَلْ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ مَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ﴾»
Translation: Indeed, when a believer commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart. Then if he repents, abandons the sin, and seeks forgiveness, his heart is cleansed. But if he increases in sin, the spot grows larger — this is the “rust” mentioned by Allah Almighty: Never! Rather, their hearts are rusted due to what they have earned.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, said:
( إِنَّہُ لَیُغَانُ عَلٰی قَلْبِی، وَإِنِّی لَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰہَ فِی الْیَوْمِ مِائَۃَ مَرَّۃٍ )
“My heart also becomes veiled, and I seek forgiveness one hundred times every day.”
⑥ True Faith in Allah Almighty
﴿ وَمَنْ یُّؤمِنْ بِاللّٰہِ یَہْدِ قَلْبَہُ ﴾
“Whoever believes in Allah, He guides his heart.”
⑦ Feeding the Poor, Showing Compassion to Orphans
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
( إِنْ أَرَدْتَّ تَلْیِیْنَ قَلْبِکَ فَأَطْعِمِ الْمِسْکِیْنَ وَامْسَحْ رَأْسَ الْیَتِیْمِ )[الصحیحۃ:۸۵۴]
“If you want your heart to become soft, feed the poor and stroke the head of the orphan.”
⑧ Visiting the Sick
Visiting the sick increases gratitude, sympathy, and appreciation for well-being in the heart. It softens and moves the heart.
⑨ Observance of Obligations and Precedence in Voluntary Acts
Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
إِنَّ لِلْحَسَنَةِ ضِيَاءً فِي الْوَجْهِ، وَنُورًا فِي الْقَلْبِ، وَسَعَةً فِي الرِّزْقِ، وَقُوَّةً فِي الْبَدَنِ، وَمَحَبَّةً فِي قُلُوبِ الْخَلْقِ۔
The effects of righteousness are that the face shines, the heart is illuminated, provision is expanded, the body gains strength, and love is created in the hearts of creation.
⑩ Eating Halal Food and Avoiding Haram and Doubtful Matters
Allah Almighty has commanded the believers to eat pure, lawful sustenance.
The Almighty says:
﴿ یٰأَیُّہَا الرُّسُلُ کُلُوْا مِنَ الطَّیِّبَاتِ وَاعْمَلُوْا صَالِحًا ﴾
O Messenger! Eat from the pure things and do righteous deeds. Indeed, I am well aware of what you do.
And He said:
﴿ یٰأَیُّہَا الَّذِیْنَ آمَنُوْا کُلُوْا مِنْ طَیِّبَاتِ مَا رَزَقْنَاکُمْ ﴾ [البقرۃ:۱۷۲]
O you who have believed! Eat from the good things We have provided for you, and be grateful to Allah if it is Him you worship.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) informed that on the Day of Judgment, the first question asked to a servant will be about these matters:
“From where did you earn your wealth and where did you spend it?”
Therefore, it is obligatory upon every Muslim to consume only lawful and pure wealth and to avoid forbidden and doubtful matters.
Whoever eats lawful and refrains from doubts, his heart becomes pure, tender, and desirous of good deeds, as mentioned in the Prophetic hadith that there are some doubtful things between halal and haram; whoever avoids them has protected his religion and honor.
⑪ Avoiding frivolous gatherings and vain talk
Excessive talking, excessive laughing, and purposeless speech deaden the heart.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
( لَا تُکْثِرُوا الضَّحِکَ فَإِنَّ کَثْرَۃَ الضَّحِکِ تُمِیْتُ الْقَلْبَ ) [ابن ماجہ:۴۱۹۳]
Do not laugh excessively, for excessive laughter deadens the heart.
Therefore, a believer should avoid frivolity, backbiting, lying, and obscene speech in his gatherings, and only attend those assemblies where the remembrance of Allah, advice, and discussion of religious knowledge take place.
⑫ Avoiding following the desires of the self
A major cause of hardness of the heart is following the self (nafs).
Allah Almighty says:
﴿ وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّہٖ وَنَہَی النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْہَوٰی فَاِنَّ الْجَنَّۃَ ہِیَ الْمَاْوٰی ﴾
“Whoever fears standing before his Lord and restrains the soul from desires, Paradise will be his abode.”
Similarly, He said:
﴿ وَنَفْسٍ وَّمَا سَوَّاہَا فَاَلْہَمَہَا فُجُوْرَہَا وَتَقْوٰہَا قَدْ اَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَکّٰہَا وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ دَسّٰہَا ﴾
“By the soul and Him who perfected it, then inspired it with its wickedness and its righteousness, indeed successful is he who purifies it, and indeed he who corrupts it is a failure.”
⑬ Belief in the instability of the world
The world is perishable; its life is merely a provision of deception.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
( مَنْ کَانَتِ الدُّنْیَا ہَمَّہُ فَرَّقَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ أَمْرَہُ، وَجَعَلَ فَقْرَہُ بَیْنَ عَیْنَیْہِ، وَلَمْ یَأْتِہِ مِنَ الدُّنْیَا إِلَّا مَا کُتِبَ لَہُ، وَمَنْ کَانَتِ الْآخِرَۃُ ہَمَّہُ، جَمَعَ اللّٰہُ لَہُ أَمْرَہُ، وَجَعَلَ غِنَاہُ فِی قَلْبِہِ، وَأَتَتْہُ الدُّنْیَا وَہِیَ رَاغِمَۃٌ )
Translation:
“Whoever’s entire concern is the world, Allah scatters his affairs, places poverty before his eyes, and he receives only what is written for him. But whoever’s concern is the Hereafter, Allah arranges his affairs, instills richness in his heart, and the world comes to him humiliated.”
Supplication and Pleading
So, O Allah! Soften our hearts, instill in them Your love, the love of Your Messenger ﷺ, and the inclination towards religion. Protect us from the trials of worldly love and desires, and keep us steadfast on the path of Your pleasure.
Summary of the Topic
❀ The heart is the foundation and soul of all human actions.
❀ If the heart is righteous, then all limbs become righteous.
❀ The true abode of faith is the heart, and Allah’s attention is also on hearts and deeds.
❀ Without the rectification of the heart, faith and righteous deeds are not valid.
❀ The cure for hardness of heart lies in the remembrance of Allah, contemplation on the Quran, remembrance of death, repentance and seeking forgiveness, compassion for orphans and the poor, hastening in good deeds, and detachment from the world.
❀ A soft heart is one that trembles out of fear of Allah, is illuminated by His remembrance, and rejoices in righteousness.
Conclusion
The one whose heart is firmly established with faith, sincerity, love for Allah, and fear of God, his deeds are pure and his tongue truthful. Such a person is closest to Allah and the most excellent among creation. Therefore, the reform of the heart is essentially the reform of religion, and the corruption of the heart is the destruction of religion.
May Allah grant us a “sound heart” and make our hearts soft and tender for His pleasure.آمین۔
