What does Islam say about the heart?
The heart, the scholars said, is not an organ of blood. It is the seat of faith, the place where the servant meets his Lord, and the first thing to be healed or ruined.
10 passages from 9 books in the library
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 9 books by Imam al-Ghazali and Ibn Battuta — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"Whenever a person reflects on them with a clear mind and a present heart, the fire of envy in his heart is extinguished and he learns."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"If she lacks religious commitment in safeguarding herself and her chastity, she may bring disgrace to her husband and tarnish his reputation, causing turmoil in his heart with jealousy, thus making his life bitter."
-
"No soul predestined by Allah to exist except it will come into existence is agreed upon in a hadith from Abu Saeed the hadith"
14th century · Tangier, Morocco
The Riḥlah — a 30-year, 75,000-mile journey across three continents, and the most important travel account of the pre-modern world.
More on Ibn Battuta →
· Provenance →
-
"At that moment, I aimed to visit his exalted presence, motivated by memories of my homeland, longing for family and friends, and love for my country, which holds a special place in my heart over other lands."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"The purity of the soul means voluntarily giving up without necessity, unlike when forced to choose between two hardships, opting for the lesser one."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"This aligns with their observations of the tangible world, planting the belief in monotheism in their heart in a way that suits their intellect."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"Abu Sulayman the Sufi mentioned that wearing wool as a mark of renunciation is inappropriate if one's heart desires five dirhams."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"When asked during his illness if he desired anything, he replied, the fear of hell has left no room in my heart for desires."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"Where does grain grow? They replied, In the dirt. He responded, Truly, wisdom does not grow except in a heart like the dirt."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
-
"O Allah, lighten the earth on his sides and open the gates of heaven for his soul and accept him with a good acceptance."
Want a different angle?
Type your question below — JM Scholar will ground its answer in the same sources.