QALB AND ITS DISEASE

DEFINITION IN SCIENCE

Heart muscle: A type of muscle with unique features only found in the heart.

RECENT SCIENCE STUDY

Science has recently proven that the human heart is as sentient as the human brain, if not much more, as it
has its own form of intelligence. Not only this, but it has been proven experimentally that the human heart
does influence the brain's thinking capacity, and hence its physical capability of accepting, comprehending
and storing knowledge. It has also been proven that the human heart communicates with both the brain and
the rest of the human body neurologically (through the nervous system), biophysically (through pulse
waves), biochemically (through certain hormones), and electromagnetically (through energetic waves).

HADEES ABOUT HEART

This hadith has been submitted on the authority of Abu Huraira with some addition (and it is
this):
"Verily Allah does not look to your bodies nor to your faces but he looks to your hearts," and he pointed
toward the heart with his fingers.
Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (‫ )ﷺ‬as saying:
There would enter Paradise people whose hearts would be like those of the hearts of birds.
Abdullah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:
"Whoever has a mustard seed's weight of pride (arrogance) in his heart, shall not be admitted into
Paradise. And whoever has a mustard seed's weight of faith in his heart, shall not be admitted into the
Fire."
Ibn 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (‫ )ﷺ‬said, "Do not indulge in excessive talk except when remembering Allah.
Excessive talking without the Remembrance of Allah hardens the heart; and those who are the farthest
from Allah are those whose hearts are hard."[At-Tirmidhi]
Abu Hurairah narrated that :
the Messenger of Allah said: “Verily, when the slave (of Allah) commits a sin, a black spot appears on
his heart. When he refrains from it, seeks forgiveness and repents, his heart is polished clean. But if
he returns, it increases until it covers his entire heart. And that is the ‘Ran’ which Allah mentioned:
‘Nay, but on their hearts is the Ran which they used to earn.’”
Abu Hurairah narrated that :
the Messenger of Allah said: “Verily, when the slave (of Allah) commits a sin, a black spot appears on
his heart. When he refrains from it, seeks forgiveness and repents, his heart is polished clean. But if
he returns, it increases until it covers his entire heart. And that is the ‘Ran’ which Allah mentioned:
‘Nay, but on their hearts is the Ran which they used to earn.’”

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AND PRACTICAL CURES

Some of the diseases of the heart are:

1. ARROGANCE TAKABBURR;

Arrogance means having or showing an exaggerated opinion of one's own importance, merit,
ability, etc. This is the first step to many evils. Besides, it is unjustified. All our gifts are from
Allah.
َ َ‫َو َما بِ ُكم ِمن نِع َمة فَ ِمن‬
ِ‫ّللا‬
Whatever blessing you have is from God (an-Nahal 16:53).
What did we have when we came to this world? Nothing! What will we have when we leave this
world—nothing except two pieces of cloth to enshroud our body? We have to keep reminding
ourselves that we are the servants and slaves of Allah. We are totally dependent on Him for our
existence. Allah (SWT) says in Surat al-Insan,
ً ‫ان ِحين ِمنَ الدَه ِر لَم يَ ُكن شَيئًا َمذ ُك‬
‫ورا‬ ِ ‫س‬َ ‫اْلن‬ َ ‫هَل أَتَى‬
ِ ‫علَى‬
Was there not a period of time when man was not a thing worth mentioning? (al-Insan 76:1).
So what justification is there for man to be arrogant when there was a period of time when he did
not even exist and there will be a period of time when he will cease to exist. Ayah number 37 of
Surat al-Isra’ admonishes man in the following words:

َ ‫ض َم َر ًحا إِنَ َك لَن تَخ ِرقَ اْلَر‬

ُ ‫ض َولَن تَبلُ َغ ال ِج َبا َل‬
ً ‫ط‬
‫ول‬ ِ ‫َو َل تَم ِش فِي اْلَر‬
And do not walk in the land arrogantly, for you cannot cut through the earth, nor will you reach
the mountains in height (al-Isra’ 17:37).

The best treatment of this disease is to cultivate humility and modesty. May Allah make us more
humble.

2. OSTENTATION OR SHOWING OFF (AR-RIYA’).

Ostentation (ar-riya’) is a desire to show off and seek praises from others. It is referred to as the
“hidden shirk” (ash-shirk al-khafiy). This disease of the heart is so hidden and so dangerous that the one
who feels safe from it is usually the one who gets entrapped in it. The meaning of a hadith suggests that
just as the creeping of a black ant on a black rock on a pitch dark night is hidden and unnoticeable, so also
is the unnoticeable disease of ar-riya. For example, the one who writes an article so that people say he is
a scholar is showing off. The one who gives a lecture to impress the audience is showing off. Even the
person who performs the salat becomes guilty of ar-riya if his or her intention is to show off and impress
others. This is why we have is Surat al-Ma’un,

َ‫ الَذِينَ ُهم يُ َرا ُءون‬5( َ‫سا ُهون‬

َ ‫صالتِ ِهم‬ َ ‫ص ِلينَ () الَذِينَ ُهم‬
َ ‫عن‬ َ ‫فَ َويل ِلل ُم‬
So woe to those who pray; who are unmindful of their prayer; those who show off (al-Ma’un 107:4-6)

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The best cure for this disease is to check one’s intention (niyyah) before any action. Any action done should
only be for the sake of Allah (SWT).

3. JEALOUSY, MALICE AND DECEIT (AL-HASAD, AL-HIQD AND AL-GHISH),

Jealousy: A jealous person does not like to see others happy, successful and prosperous. One must
realize that being jealous of others is actually being displeased with Allah for his bounties upon that
person. Allah in His infinite wisdom bestows upon who He wills what He wills. We have to be able to deal
with the situation by being grateful for what He has given us and being patient on what has not been
given to us. It is not blameworthy for one to ask Allah to give him what has been given to another person,
but it is blameworthy to ask for it to be taken away from that person. The Prophet (SAW) said: Jealousy
devours good deeds like fire devours wood. (Ibn Maja). A person who is envious of another hurts himself
by feelings of rage and frustration that consumes his heart, and in this process, he destroys his Hereafter
in addition to eliminating his comfort and peace of mind. The disease of envy (hasad) is remedied by
frequently praising the person against whom the jealousy is directed. Praise him no matter how difficult
this may seem. Honor him and meet him with respect and humility. Another treatment is to compete with
others in acts of goodness and this should be an incentive to achieve more and do better.

4. SUSPICION (SU’ AZ-ZANN),

Suspicion creates cynicism, distrust and doubt and takes away hope and optimism. A suspicious
person is usually inclined to think negatively about others. Suspicion may sometimes lead to
making wrong decisions and even violence. It is good to be cautious and careful, but it is also
important to have a positive attitude. If we want to be trusted we must trust others as well. Allah
says in the Qur’an,
َ ‫ض‬
‫الظ ِن ِإثم‬ َ َ‫يرا ِمن‬
َ ‫الظ ِن إِ َن بَع‬ ً ‫َيا أَيُّ َها الَذِينَ آَ َمنُوا اجتَ ِنبُوا َك ِث‬
O you who believe! Avoid much suspicion; verily some suspicion is a sin. (Al-Hujurat 49:12)

5. ANGER (AL-GHADAB)

,
Anger is a natural human trait but if it is not properly controlled it becomes very destructive. In the
Hadith it is called “fire.” The Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said that in a state of anger, one should
change one’s environment, one’s position, and drink some water. He also advised the angry person to
seek Allah’s refuge from Shaytan by saying ‫يم‬
ِِ ‫ِِٱلر ِج‬ َٰ
َّ ‫ش ۡيط ِن‬
َّ ‫ِِمِنِِٱل‬
ِ َّ ِ‫أعوذِِب‬. He also said, “The strong
ِ ‫ٱَلل‬
is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself
while in anger.” (Bukhari).

6. STINGINESS (AL-BUKHL),

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Stinginess is a terrible disease. The Prophet (SAW) taught us to seek Allah’s refuge from
stinginess. It leads to an attitude of not caring for others. It holds people from fulfilling their duties
and recognizing the rights of others. The Qur’an says,
َ ‫َو َمن يَبخَل فَإِنَ َما يَب َخ ُل‬
‫عن نَف ِس ِه‬
And whoever is stingy is only being stingy to himself (Muhammad 47:38).
This is because Allah (SWT) multiplies what we spend in His way and gives it back to us both in
this world as well as putting it towards our homes in Jannah. Thus, the miser is only miserly
towards himself or herself.

7. EXCESSIVE LOVE OF MONEY, POSITION, POWER AND FAME (HUB AD-DUNIYA)

Excessive love of money, position, power and fame (Hub ad-Duniya) is another major disease of the
heart. Do we not read in the Qur’an?

)2( ‫) َحتَى ُزرت ُ ُم ال َمقَابِ َر‬1( ‫أَل َها ُك ُم الت َ َكاث ُ ُر‬

You are obsessed by greed for more and more; until you go down to your graves (at-Takathur 102:8).
In a well known hadith, the Prophet (SAW) said, “If a son of man had a valley full of gold, he would desire
to have two. Nothing can fill his mouth except the earth (of the grave). Allah turns with mercy to him who
turns to Him in repentance.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

The cure for this disease is to keep reminding oneself that the transitory life in this world is a test and
trial. The real and everlasting life is in the hereafter.

May Allah (SWT) bless us all with physical, mental, and spiritual health and sound hearts. Ameen!

ADD A BIBLIOGRAPHY
 The concept of heart in Quran Zahra Tahmasebi Master’s in sciences of Quran and Hadith Maaref
Abshenasan, Robat Karim, Tehran Iran
 https://www.al-islam.org/understanding-quran-part-1-ayatullah-murtadha-mutahhari/part-3-
quranic-view-heart
 http://quranproject.org/The-human-heart-in-the-glorious-Quran-481-d(dr. zaghloul el-naggar)
 https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9658
 Reference: Sahih Muslim 2564 b In-book reference: Book 45, Hadith 41 USC-MSA web
(English) reference: Book 32, Hadith 6220(deprecated numbering scheme)
 https://sunnah.com/muslim/53/31
 https://muslimmatters.org/2009/02/11/the-heart-fuaad-qalb-and-sadr/
 http://www.qtafsir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=426
 Disease of the Hearts and their Remedies - June 20, 2014
Written by Munawar Haque

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