Quran Cordoba - In the Islamic view, the heart is not just a biological organ, but a spiritual center, where faith, feelings, awareness and piety reside.

The Quran frequently mentions the heart in various states: some are alive, full of light and tranquility, some are sick, and some are even dead. From this we learn that the heart determines the good and bad of all deeds. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:

God willing God willing أَلَا وَهِيَ القَلْبُ  

"Know, indeed in the body there is a lump of flesh. If it is good, then the whole body is good. If it is damaged, then the whole body is damaged. Know, that is the heart."
(HR. Bukhari and Muslim)

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The Qur'an describes four kinds of hearts which are a reflection of the human inner state. How do we understand it and which heart does it tend towards, our heart?

1. Qalbun Mayyit (Dead Heart)

Allah clearly states in Surah Al-A'raf and Al-Baqarah regarding the condition of a dead heart:

وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيْرًا مِّنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْاِنْسِۖ لَهُمْ قُلُوْبٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُوْنَ بِهَاۖ وَلَهُمْ اَعْيُنٌ لَّا يُبْصِرُوْنَ بِهَاۖ وَلَهُمْ اٰذَانٌ لَّا يَسْمَعُوْنَ بِهَاۗ اُولٰۤىِٕكَ كَالْاَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ اَضَلُّ ۗ اُولٰۤىِٕكَ هُمُ الْغٰفِلُوْنَ

And indeed, We will fill hell with hell, punishing many of the jinn and humans. They have hearts, but they do not use them to understand (the verses of Allah) and they have eyes (but) they do not use them to see (the signs of Allah), and they have ears (but) they do not use them to hear (the verses of Allah). They are like livestock, even more perverted. They are the ones who are careless. (QS. Al-A'raf: 179)

خَتَمَ اللّٰهُ عَلٰى قُلُوْبِهِمْ وَعَلٰى سَمْعِهِمْ ۗ وَعَلٰٓى اَبْصَارِهِمْ غِشَاوَةٌ وَّلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيْمٌ ࣖ

Allah has sealed their hearts and hearing, their vision has been closed, and they will suffer a severe punishment. (QS. Al-Baqarah, 2: 7)

A dead heart is a heart that has lost its way . It no longer recognizes the light of truth. Goodness, for it, is merely an empty echo. The owner of this heart lives without fear of sin, without hope of forgiveness. This is the most dangerous condition, because a dead heart closes the door to guidance.

"They are like livestock, even more misguided. They are the ones who are heedless." (QS. Al-A'raf: 179)

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2. Qalbun Salim (Clean Heart)

Allah says in surah Ash-Shua'ra:

يَوْمَ لَا يَنْفَعُ مَالٌ وَّلَا بَنُوْنَ ۙ اِلَّا مَنْ اَتَى اللّٰهَ بِقَلْبٍ سَلِيْمٍ ۗ      

"(That is) the day when wealth and children are useless, except for those who come to Allah with a clean heart." (QS. Ash-Syu'ara: 88–89)

Qalbun salim is a heart that is pure from shirk, envy and bad ambition . He is full of Divine consciousness, clear as a jewel. The owner of this heart always maintains sincerity, loves without destructive hatred, and serves the world selflessly. This is the heart that will be the savior on the Day of Judgment.

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3. Qalbun Maridh (Sick Heart)

Allah says in surah Al-Baqarah verse 10:

فِيْ قُلُوْبِهِمْ مَّرَضٌۙ فَزَادَهُمُ اللّٰهُ مَرَضًاۚ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ اَلِيْمٌ ەۙ بِمَا كَانُوْا

In their hearts there is disease, then Allah adds to the disease; and they will have a painful punishment, because they lied. (QS. Al-Baqarah, 2: 10)

A sick heart is not completely dead, but is plagued by doubt, hypocrisy, and excessive love of the world . He goes back and forth between faith and temptation.

However, the heart can still be healed. The cure is nurturing faith, strengthening remembrance of God, and renewed repentance . If left untreated, it can lead to death. If treated, the illness becomes a path to drawing closer to God.

"In their hearts there is disease, then Allah adds to the disease..." (QS. Al-Baqarah: 10)

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4. Qalbun Munib (Returning Heart)

Allah says with Munib's pronunciation in Surah Qaf verse 33:

مَنْ خَشِيَ الرَّحْمٰنَ بِالْغَيْبِ وَجَاۤءَ بِقَلْبٍ مُّنِيْبٍۙ

"(That is) the person who fears the Most Merciful God even though he does not see Him, and comes with a repentant heart." (QS. Qaf: 33)

Qalbun munib is a heart that always returns to Allah . He may have slipped, but he quickly got up. He is gentle, humble, and always looking for a way home to his God. This heart is full of hope, because Allah loves servants who do not delay repentance.

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Protecting and Caring for the Heart

To keep the heart alive and clean, Islam teaches several important practices:

• Dhikr : watering the heart so that it doesn't dry out.
• Reading the Qur'an with tadabbur : makes the heart reflect on the verses of Allah.
• Repentance : cleansing sins before they rot in the heart.
• Gratitude : calms the heart from worldly ambitions.
• Avoiding bad traits : removing thorns such as envy, arrogance and hatred.
• Prayer : asking Allah to strengthen your heart. Rasulullah ﷺ prayed:

       يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِى عَلَى دِينِكَ

“Yā muqallibal-qulūb, thabbit qalbī 'alā dīnik.”
(O Essence who turns hearts, strengthen my heart in Your religion).

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Conclusion

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَنْظُرُ إِلَى صُوَرِكُمْ وَأَمْوَالِكُمْ وَلَكِنpet

" Indeed, Allah does not look at your appearance and wealth. However, Allah only looks at your heart and your deeds." (HR. Muslim)

Therefore, we must seriously cleanse our hearts from all diseases that can pollute it.

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Imam Nawawi gave an example, we must cleanse our hearts from hatred, revenge, arrogance, showing off, envy, and other heart diseases.

The four types of hearts in the Qur'an are a reflection of the human inner journey : a dead heart, a sick heart, a clean heart, and a heart that returns or repents.

Our duty is to guard the heart so that it does not die in negligence, care for it when it is sick, purify it so that it is safe, and always believe in and return it to Allah.

On the Day of Judgment, it is not wealth and position that will save, but qalbun salim – a clean and sincere heart for Allah.
Wallahu'alam

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