Markaz Al Badr

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The Heart is the Core

On the authority of Nu’man ibn Bashir, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬say—while Nu’man pointed with his two fingers toward
his ears:

، ‫ وبْيَن ُه ما ُم ْش َتِبهاٌت لا َيْع َل ُم ُه َّن َكِثيٌر ِم َن الّن اِس‬، ‫ وإَّن الَح راَم َبِّيٌن‬، ‫ إَّن الَح لاَل َبِّيٌن‬، ‫ وَأْه وى الُّن ْع ماُن بإْصَبَع ْيِه إلى ُأُذ َن ْيِه‬: ‫َس ِم ْع ُت َرسوَل ِهللا ﷺ يقوُل‬
‫ ألا وإَّن ِلُكِّل‬، ‫ ُيوِش ُك أْن َيْرَت َع ِفيِه‬،‫ كالّراِع ي َيْرعى َح ْو َل الِح مى‬، ‫ وَم ن وَق َع في الُّش ُبهاِت وَق َع في الَح راِم‬، ‫ وِع ْرِض ِه‬، ‫َف َم ِن اَّتقى الُّش ُبهاِت اْس َت ْبَرَأ ِلِديِنِه‬
– . ‫ ألا وهي الَق ْل ُب‬، ‫ َف َسَد الَج َسُد ُكُّل ُه‬، ‫ وإذا َف َسَد ْت‬، ‫ َصَل َح الَج َسُد ُكُّل ُه‬، ‫ إذا َصَل َح ْت‬، ‫ ألا وإَّن في الَج َس ِد ُمْضَغ ًة‬، ‫ ألا وإَّن ِح مى ِهللا َم حاِرُم ُه‬،‫َم ِلٍك ِح ًم ى‬
‫متفق عليه‬

Indeed, the lawful is clear, and the unlawful is clear, and between them are doubtful matters that many people do not know
about. Whoever avoids the doubtful matters has safeguarded his religion and his honor. But whoever falls into the doubtful
matters falls into the unlawful, like a shepherd who grazes near a restricted pasture and is about to trespass into it.

Indeed, every king has a sanctuary, and indeed, the sanctuary of Allah is His prohibitions. Indeed, in the body, there is a piece of
flesh—if it is sound, the whole body is sound; and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Indeed, it is the heart.”

(Agreed upon – Bukhari & Muslim).

This hadith is a great fundamental principle regarding the reformation of the heart, as the soundness of the limbs depends on its
soundness, and their corruption follows its corruption.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
“In summary, the heart is the foundation, as Abu Huraira said: ‘The heart is the king of the body’s organs, and the organs are its soldiers. If
the king is good, the soldiers will be good, and if the king is corrupt, the soldiers will be corrupt.’”

This is similar to the hadith of Nu’man ibn Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him), as narrated by al-Bukhari (52) and Muslim (1599).

In the agreed-upon hadith of Nu’man ibn Bashir, the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said:

)‫ (رواه البخاري و مسلم‬. ‫ألا إن في الجسِد مضغًة إذا صَلحْت صَل َح لها سائُر الجسِد وإذا فسدْت فسد لها سائُر الجسِد ألا وهي القلُب‬

“Indeed, in the body, there is a small piece of flesh. If it is sound, the entire body will be sound, and if it is corrupt, the entire
body will be corrupt. Indeed, it is the heart.”

(Bukhari & Muslim).

Thus, the soundness or corruption of the heart inevitably leads to the soundness or corruption of the body, making this an evident reality
rather than a hidden one.

Everything that Allah has obligated upon His servants must first be an obligation upon the heart, as the heart is the foundation. If an
obligation extends to other parts of the body, they follow the heart’s lead. The servant who is commanded and prohibited perceives the
command and prohibition with his heart and intends obedience and compliance through his heart.

Knowledge of the command and the intention to obey come before the actual performance of the action, such as in prayer, zakat, and
fasting. If a person turns away from knowing the command and intending compliance, then this is the very beginning of disobedience—in
fact, the heart is the true source of disobedience, and the limbs merely follow it.

This is why, regarding the doomed ones, Allah says:

)٣٢-٣١ :‫ (القيامة‬. ‫ َو َل ِكن َكَّذ َب َو َت َو َّل ٰى‬، ‫َف َلا َصَّد َق َو َلا َصَّل ٰى‬
‫ٰـ‬

“So he neither affirmed the truth nor prayed, but rather he denied and turned away.” (Al-Qiyamah: 31-32).

And regarding the righteous, Allah says in several places:

)٢٧٧ :‫ِإَّن ٱَّل ِذیَن َءاَم ُن و۟ا َو َع ِم ُلو۟ا ٱلَّص ِل َح ِت … (البقرة‬

‫ٰـ ٰـ‬
 “Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds…” (Al-Baqarah: 277).

The commanded actions are of two types:

1. Actions that are outwardly performed by the limbs—these cannot be done without the knowledge and intention of the heart. Thus,
the heart is the foundation of such actions, like wudu (ablution), ghusl (ritual purification), and the physical acts of prayer, such as
standing, bowing, and prostrating, as well as the actions of Hajj, like standing at ‘Arafah and circumambulating the Ka’bah. And if
they are Verbal actions (speech)—these are even more closely tied to the heart because the heart must be aware of what is being
said, or at least understand and intend the words spoken.
2. What resides inwardly in the heart—such as sincerity (ikhlāṣ), love for Allah and His Messenger, reliance upon Him (tawakkul), fear of
Him, the very faith (īmān) of the heart, and its affirmation of what the Messenger has informed—this type is clearly connected to the
heart, for it is its place. And this type is the foundation of the first type.
Thus, in all cases, the heart is the origin of obedience, as no outward action is valid without the knowledge and intention that comes from
it.

From this, it becomes clear that the heart is the foundation of all actions and speech:

• Every outward action that Allah has commanded must be accompanied by the heart’s knowledge and intention.

• Every spoken word that Allah has commanded must also be accompanied by the heart’s knowledge and intention.

Furthermore, it is also understood that when the heart is filled with true faith in Allah—love for Him, veneration, fear, hope, reliance upon
Him, and sincerity in worship—then the limbs follow in righteousness and integrity.

In fact, no outwardly commanded action can be complete without these inner qualities. Otherwise, a person may perform outward acts
while lacking inner sincerity, which would make them a hypocrite.

Ultimately, a sound and sincere heart naturally leads to outward actions that align with righteousness and uprightness.

Understanding the rulings of the heart is more important than understanding the rulings of the limbs, because the heart is the foundation,
and the rulings of the limbs branch out from it.

The heart is where Allah looks, as Muslim narrated in his Sahih from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him), who said:
 )‫ (رواه مسلم‬.‫ إن هللا لا ينظر إلى أجسادكم ولا إلى صوركم ولكن ينظر إلى قلوبكم‬:‫قاَل َرُس وُل ِهللا ﷺ‬

The Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬said:

“Indeed, Allah does not look at your bodies or your appearances, but He looks at your hearts.” (Muslim: 2564)

And he pointed with his fingers toward his chest.

Likewise, Muslim and Ahmad narrated from Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said:

)‫ وأحمد‬،‫ (رواه مسلم‬.‫التقوى ههنا؛ و أشار بيده إلى صدره ثلاث مرات‬

“Taqwa (piety) is here”, and he pointed to his chest three times. (Muslim: 2564, Ahmad: 7727)

Thus, the heart is the foundation. If it is truly and sincerely upright in fearing Allah, then all the limbs will follow in righteousness, acting in
obedience to Allah and seeking His pleasure and reward.

In Musnad Ahmad, Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬said:

)‫ (مسند أحمد‬. ‫َلا َيْس َت ِقيُم ِإيَم اُن َع ْبٍد َح َّتى َيْس َت ِقيَم َق ْل ُبُه‬

“A servant’s faith will not be upright until his heart is upright.” (Musnad Ahmad: 13031)

Al-Hafiz Ibn Rajab (may Allah have mercy on him) commented:

“What is meant by the uprightness of one’s faith is the uprightness of one’s outward actions because the actions of the limbs cannot be
upright unless the heart itself is upright.

The meaning of an upright heart is that it should be filled with love for Allah, love for His obedience, and hatred for disobedience to Him.”

Al-Hasan (may Allah have mercy on him) said to a man:

“Treat your heart, for what Allah requires from His servants is the righteousness of their hearts.” (Reported in various sources)

This means that Allah’s true desire and requirement from His servants is the soundness and purity of their hearts.
A heart cannot be truly righteous until it firmly establishes within itself:

• The knowledge of Allah,

• His greatness,

• Love for Him,

• Fear and reverence of Him,

• Hope in Him,

• Reliance upon Him,

Until the heart is completely filled with these qualities, it cannot attain true righteousness.

This is the essence of Tawhid (monotheism) and the true meaning of ‘La ilaha illa Allah’ (There is none worthy of worship but Allah).

A heart cannot be truly sound until the only deity it worships, recognizes, loves, and fears is Allah alone, without any partners.

If there were another deity besides Allah in the heavens and the earth, the entire universe would fall into chaos and corruption, as Allah
says:

)٢٢ :‫ (الأنبياء‬. ‫َل ْو َكاَن ِفيِه َم ا آِلَه ٌة ِإَّلا الَّل ُه َل َف َسَد َت ا َف ُس ْبَح اَن الَّل ِه َرِّب اْل َع ْرِش َع َّم ا َيِص ُف وَن‬

“Had there been in them (the heavens and the earth) gods besides Allah, they would have been ruined.” (Al-Anbiya: 22)

From this, it is understood that neither the higher (heavens) nor the lower (earthly) realms can be in a state of righteousness unless the
movements of the hearts of their inhabitants are entirely for Allah.

Since the movements of the body follow the movement and will of the heart, if the heart’s movements and intentions are directed solely
toward Allah, then:

• The heart remains sound,

• The body’s movements are also righteous.

However, if the heart’s movements and intentions are directed toward other than Allah, then:

• The heart becomes corrupt,

• The body’s actions also become corrupted in proportion to the corruption of the heart.

In Sunan collections, the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said:

)‫ (سنن أبي داود‬.‫ فقد استكمل إيماَن ه‬، ‫ وأنكح ِهلل‬، ‫ وأبغَض ِهلل‬، ‫ وأحَّب هلل‬، ‫ ومنع ِهلل‬، ‫من أعطى ِهلل‬

“Whoever gives for the sake of Allah, withholds for the sake of Allah, loves for the sake of Allah, and hates for the sake of Allah
has perfected his faith.” (Reported in Sunan Abu Dawood and others)

This means that when all the movements of the heart and limbs are solely for Allah, the servant’s faith reaches perfection, both outwardly
and inwardly.

Since the righteousness of the limbs follows the righteousness of the heart, then:

• If the heart is pure, desiring only Allah and what He wills, the limbs will not act except in accordance with Allah’s will.

• The person will hasten toward what pleases Allah and will restrain from what He dislikes.

• Even in doubtful matters, the person will avoid anything that could potentially displease Allah, even if they are not certain it is wrong.

The matter of keeping the heart steadfast is of great importance. Many people focus on the outward appearance of righteousness while
neglecting to purify their inner selves, ensuring their hearts are truly devoted to Allah and free from spiritual diseases that hinder their
righteousness.

Hearts are susceptible to diseases and illnesses that weaken faith and decrease one’s obedience to Allah.

For this reason, part of remaining steadfast in obedience to Allah is to actively seek the purification and healing of the heart—striving to
protect it from the diseases and ailments that corrupt it.

Just as bodies fall ill, so do hearts—but the illness of the heart is far more severe and dangerous than physical illness.
One of the most important matters a person should focus on regarding the heart is ensuring its purity from diseases and ailments. This is
what will bring the greatest benefit to a servant on the Day they meet Allah and stand before Him.

Allah ‫ ﷻ‬says:

)٨٩–٨٨ :‫ (الشعراء‬. ‫ ِإَّلا َمْن َأَت ى الَّل َه ِبَق ْلٍب َس ِليٍم‬، ‫َيْوَم َلا َيْن َف ُع َم اٌل َو َلا َبُن وَن‬

“The Day when neither wealth nor children will benefit, except for the one who comes to Allah with a pure heart.” (Ash-Shu‘ara:
88-89).

A sound heart—free from spiritual diseases, corruption, and insincerity—is the greatest asset a person can bring before Allah.

A pure heart (‫ )القلب السليم‬is one that is:

• Free from shirk (associating partners with Allah) and doubt.

• Free from anything that displeases Allah.

• Free from persistence in innovation (bid’ah) and sin.

To be truly sound, the heart must not only be free from these corruptions but must also be filled with their opposites:

• Sincerity (ikhlas) to Allah.

• Certainty (yaqin) in faith.

• Devotion to obedience.

• Love for Allah.

• Reverence for Him and His laws.

If a heart is characterized by these virtues and free from their opposites, it is a truly sound heart. Such a heart will attain salvation on the
Day of Judgment and the highest ranks in the Hereafter when meeting Allah.

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

*“People have expressed different interpretations of what a ‘pure heart’ means, but the comprehensive definition is: it is a heart that is free
from every desire that contradicts Allah’s commands and prohibitions, and free from every doubt that challenges His revelations.

It is a heart that is free from worshiping anything other than Allah and from submitting to any authority besides His Messenger ‫ﷺ‬.

It is a heart that is pure in its love for Allah, while fully submitting to the judgment of His Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬in:

• Fear of Allah

• Hope in Him

• Reliance upon Him

• Repentance and return to Him

• Humility before Him

• Preferring His pleasure in all situations

It constantly strives to avoid His displeasure in every possible way.

This is the essence of servitude (‫)عبودية‬, which is due to Allah alone.”*

A pure heart (‫ )القلب السليم‬is one that is completely free from any form of association (shirk) with anything other than Allah in any way.

Instead, it is fully devoted to Allah alone, in:

• Intention (‫)إرادة‬

• Love (‫)محبة‬

• Reliance (‫)توكل‬

• Repentance and turning to Him (‫)إنابة‬

• Humility and submission (‫)إخبات‬

• Fear of Him (‫)خشية‬

• Hope in Him (‫)رجاء‬

This is the true essence of a sound heart, one that is fully purified for Allah and free from any distractions or attachments that take away
from sincere servitude to Him.

A truly pure heart is one that:

• Purifies its actions for Allah alone.

• Loves for the sake of Allah.

• Hates for the sake of Allah.

• Gives for the sake of Allah.

• Withholds for the sake of Allah.

However, this alone is not enough until the heart is also free from submission to and judgment by anyone other than the Messenger of
Allah ‫ﷺ‬.

It must be firmly bound to following only him ‫ ﷺ‬in both speech and actions, without taking anyone else as a guide in matters of faith.

This applies to all aspects of a believer’s life:

1. Beliefs of the heart (Aqeedah – ‫)أقوال القلب‬:

• The convictions and principles a person holds.

2. Speech of the tongue (Qawl al-Lisan – ‫)أقوال اللسان‬:

• What the tongue expresses about what is in the heart.

3. Actions of the heart (A’mal al-Qalb – ‫)أعمال القلب‬:

• Intentions, love, hatred, and all internal states that influence outward behavior.

4. Actions of the limbs (A’mal al-Jawarih – ‫)أعمال الجوارح‬:

• Physical deeds that manifest one’s faith and obedience to Allah.

A heart is truly pure only when it submits entirely to Allah and His Messenger ‫ﷺ‬, ensuring that every belief, statement, intention, and
action aligns with divine guidance.

A pure heart is one that takes as its sole judge—in both great and small matters—what the Messenger of Allah ‫ ﷺ‬brought.

It does not precede him in:

• Beliefs (Aqeedah)

• Speech

• Actions

As Allah says:

)١ :‫ (الحجرات‬. ‫َيآ َأُّيَه ا ٱَّل ِذيَن َءاَم ُن وْا َلا ُتَق ِّد ُم وْا َبۡيَن َيَد ِي ٱلَّل ِه َو َرُس وِلِهۖۦ‬

“O you who believe! Do not put yourselves ahead of Allah and His Messenger.” (Al-Hujurat: 1)

Meaning:

• Do not speak before he has spoken.

• Do not act before he has commanded.

A sound heart is in complete submission to the guidance of the Prophet ‫ﷺ‬, ensuring that all beliefs, words, and deeds follow his teachings
without deviation.

One of the early scholars said:

“There is no action—no matter how small—except that it is recorded in two registers, and two questions will be asked about it:

1. Why? (‫)ِلَم؟‬

2. How? (‫)كيف؟‬
The first question concerns the motive and reason behind the action:

• Was it driven by a worldly desire?

• Seeking praise from people?

• Fear of criticism?

• Attaining some immediate benefit?

• Avoiding some immediate harm?

• Or was the action purely for the sake of Allah?

• Fulfilling the duty of servitude to Him?

• Seeking nearness and love from Him?

• Pursuing a means to draw closer to Allah?

This question of intention determines whether an action is sincere or corrupted. A person will be judged based on whether their deeds
were done for Allah alone or for personal gain.

These two questions will be asked regarding every action:

1. Did you perform this action purely for your Lord, or did you do it for your own desires and self-interest?

2. Did you follow the guidance of the Messenger ‫ ﷺ‬in this act of worship, or was it something that I (Allah) did not prescribe or approve?

Thus, every deed is judged by two essential conditions:

• The first question concerns sincerity (‫)الإخلاص‬:

• Was the action done exclusively for Allah?

• The second question concerns adherence (‫)المتابعة‬:

• Was the action in accordance with what the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬taught?

Allah accepts no action unless both conditions are met.

• To be free from the first question, one must purify their intention and ensure the action is done solely for Allah.

• To be free from the second question, one must follow the teachings of the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬and avoid innovations in worship.

A pure heart is one that is free from desires that oppose sincerity and whims that contradict true adherence to the Sunnah.

This is the true meaning of a sound heart, the heart that is guaranteed salvation and happiness in the Hereafter.

A pure heart (‫ )القلب السليم‬has clear signs that indicate its soundness, purity, and righteousness.

One of these signs is that the heart:

• Is detached from the dunya (this world).

• Does not cling to it or become deceived by it.

• Recognizes its true nature—that it is a temporary abode, destined for destruction and vanishing.

• Understands that the Hereafter is the true destination and the only permanent reality.

As Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“The dunya is departing, turning away, and the Hereafter is approaching, drawing near. Each has its followers—so be among the people of
the Hereafter, not the people of the dunya.

For today is action without reckoning, and tomorrow is reckoning without action.” (Reported in various sources).

A pure heart is one that lives in this world but is not attached to it, always focusing on the Hereafter and preparing for it.

One of the signs of a pure heart is that its main concern is singular—it is solely focused on:

• Attaining the pleasure of Allah.

• Avoiding what displeases Him.

A sound heart is not distracted by worldly desires or conflicting ambitions. Instead, it remains steadfast in seeking Allah’s approval in all
aspects of life.

Among the signs of a pure heart are:

1. Striving to avoid sins, innovations, and forbidden acts

• A sound heart actively fights against disobedience and wrongdoing.

• Allah says:

)٦٩ :‫ (العنكبوت‬. ‫َو اَّل ِذيَن َج اَه ُد وا ِفيَن ا َل َن ْه ِد َيَّن ُه ْم ُس ُبَل َن ا َو ِإَّن الَّل َه َل َم َع اْل ُمْح ِس ِنيَن‬

“And those who strive for Our cause—We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.”
(Al-‘Ankabut: 69).

2. Focusing on the correctness of deeds rather than just the quantity of deeds

• A pure heart is more concerned with ensuring that acts of worship are performed sincerely for Allah and in accordance with His guidance,
rather than merely increasing them.

• It reflects:

• Sincerity to Allah.

• A deep sense of Allah’s blessings and generosity.

• Self-criticism and humility, fearing that one is falling short in their worship.

The Importance of Purifying the Heart

A believer should pay close attention to their heart, working diligently to purify and cleanse it.

A well-known supplication (du’a) for this is:

)‫ (رواه مسلم‬.‫ َأْنَت َو ِلُّيها َوَمْو لاها‬،‫ َو َزِّكها َأْنَت َخ ْيُر َم ن َزّكاها‬،‫الَّل ُه َّم آِت َنْف ِس ي َتْق واها‬
 “O Allah, grant my soul its piety, and purify it, for You are the best to purify it. You are its Guardian and Master.” (Muslim: 2722).

A Powerful Du’a for a Sound Heart

In a hadith, the Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬said to Shaddad ibn Aws:

‫ وأسأُلك موِج باِت‬، ‫ والعزيمَة على الُّرشِد‬، ‫ الَّل هَّم ! إِّني أسأُلك الَّث باَت في الأمِر‬: ‫إذا رأيَت الَّناَس قد اكتنزوا الَّذ هَب والفَّضَة ؛ فاكِنز هؤلاء الكلماِت‬
‫ وأعوُذ بك من شِّر‬، ‫ وأسأُلك من خيِر ما تعَل ُم‬،‫ ولساًن ا صادًق ا‬،‫ وأسأُلك قلًبا سليًم ا‬،‫ وُح سَن عبادِتك‬،‫ وأسأُلك ُش كَر نعمِتك‬، ‫ وعزائَم مغفرِتك‬، ‫رحمِتك‬
)٣٢٢٨ ( ‫ وصححه الألباني في السلسلة الصحيحة‬،) ٩٣٥ ( ‫ (رواه ابن حبان في صحيحة‬. ‫ وأستغفُرك لما تعَل ُم ؛ إَّنك أنت عَّلاُم الغيوِب‬، ‫ما تعَل ُم‬

“When people hoard gold and silver, you should hoard these words:

O Allah, I ask You for firmness in my affairs, and determination in righteousness.

I ask You for things that bring Your mercy and for resolutions that lead to Your forgiveness.

I ask You for gratitude for Your blessings and excellence in worshiping You.

I ask You for a pure heart and a truthful tongue.

I ask You for the best of what You know, and I seek refuge in You from the worst of what You know.

I seek Your forgiveness for what You know, for You are the Knower of the unseen.” (Ahmad: 17291, authenticated
by Al-Albani).

This du’a summarizes the essence of a pure heart, as it includes:

• Seeking righteousness and guidance.

• Asking for sincerity, gratitude, and good worship.

• Praying for a sound heart and truthful speech.

A believer should frequently recite these supplications and constantly strive to purify their heart for true success in this life and the
Hereafter.

This is an authentic hadith that encompasses all aspects of goodness, righteousness, and virtue.

The Prophet ‫ ﷺ‬strongly emphasized the importance of this du’a, urging believers to:

• Give it great attention.

• Strive to implement its meanings.

• Work towards achieving the noble goals it contains.

Among its most significant objectives is the purification of the heart, which requires:

• Cleansing it from anything that displeases Allah.

• Avoiding all forms of shirk (associating partners with Allah).

• Being firm in faith without doubts about the religion.

• Steering clear of innovations (bid’ah) and sins.

• Guarding the heart against diseases and afflictions that can spiritually damage it.

Shaykh Abdur Razzaq Al Badr in his book ‫( أحاديث أصلاح القلوب‬Translated by Sabikul Islam)

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