37: Cleansing the Heart - Tasfiya-tul-Qalb
[Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)]
Defining the "Heart"
It is obvious that the physical heart is an indispensable part of the body that works like a motor,
pumping blood through the whole body system, thereby providing the required nourishment and necessary
supplies to the rest of the body.
Four particular terms have been used to refer to the heart in the Qur'an:
- Sadr [Q 94:1][Q 39:22]
- Fu'aad [Q 53:11]
- Shaghaf [Q 12:30]
- Qalb [Q 22:46].
The word qalb is most often used with reference to the heart.
In the Qur'an, the heart signifies ...
- the symbol of the spiritual dimension of the physical self,
- the axis between the physical and the metaphysical realms of a person,
- the confluence of the spiritual intellect (seat of discrimination) and the physical perceptions (the seat of cognition and emotions).
Dimensions of the Heart
Broadly speaking, the Qur'an and Sunnah clearly present the heart as the locus of ... true self (Q 33:51), intention (Q 2:225), affection (Q 9:60), inner dimension of our perceptive faculties (Q 47:24), cognitive and emotional transformation (Q 24:37), human socio-ideological transformation (Q 3:103). The heart could also be the locus of ... ideological diseases (Q 2:10), doubt (Q 9:45), heedlessness (Q 7:147), hypocrisy (Q 3:167), harshness (Q 2:74). The Heart is that locus around which Allah "reveals" himself to the individual (Q 8:24), the locus for Allah consciousness (Q 13:28), the locus of the essence of worship and divine revelation (Q 26:193), and the essence of the value of the human effort (Q 26:89).
Hearts, Deeds & God-consciousness
Since Allah knows the secrets of all hearts [Q 33:51], Jalal-Uddin Rumi remarked that everyone sees the unseen in proportion to the clarity of his heart. The ancient Roman Philosopher Seneca promised: "I will govern my life and thoughts as if the whole world is seeing my life and reading my thoughts; for what good is there in keeping secrets from people, when to God, who is the searcher of our hearts, all our privacies are open?" Wise indeed are the words none of your faith will be correct unless your heart is correct.
Humility
We must also be cognizant of the fact that humility lies in the modesty of the heart and not in physical appearance.
The second Caliph 'Umar reprimanded a person who bent forward in prayer due to what he claimed to be humility. Caliph
'Umar responded by pointing to his heart and saying At-taqwahu haahuna - "Humility is in here."
Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq said: "Be careful of hypocritic humility, where the body appears humble but the heart is not
humble." Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said "That person who has an atom's weight of pride in the heart will not enter
Paradise"
Sincerity and Uprightness
The Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said
Love & Affection
The fact that mu'allafah / affection [Q 9:60][Q 3:103], and mawaddah wa rahmah / love and compassion [Q 30:21], considered the most positive aspect of the human relationships, are associated with the "heart", it is obligatory to overcome hard-heartedness [Q 2:74]. We are exhorted to emulate the prophetic example of being compassionate and forgiving [Q 3:159].
Tasfiya-tul-Qalb / Cleansing of the Heart
The promise of Allah that no condition of people will be changed unless people change themselves requires
changing and purifying the Self (tazkiya-tun-Nafs) and begins with the cleansing of the Heart (tasfiya-tul-Qalb).
Prophet (pbuh) defined faith as ...
That is why the Qur'an emphasizes the most valuable assets we take from this world to the next are ...
- Albaqiyaat-us-saalihaat - the permanency of good actions (Q 18:46)
- Qalb-in-saleem - pure heart (Q 26:88-89)
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
Is my heart worthy of Allah's gaze?
Du'aa
O Allah! Let not our hearts be swerved after we have been guided, And grace us with Your mercy. Surely Thou art the dispenser of Grace.