Islamic philosophy Islamic philosophy is philosophy that emerges from the Islamic tradition. Two terms traditionally used in the Islamic world are sometimes translated as philosophy—''falsafa'' (), which refers to philosophy as well as logic, mathematics, and p ...

, the qalb () or heart is the center of the human personality. The

Quran The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...

mentions "qalb" 132 times and its root meaning suggests that the heart is always in a state of motion and transformation. According to the Quran and the traditions of Muhammad, the heart plays a central role in human existence, serving as the source of good and evil, right and wrong. In

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

GOD In monotheistic belief systems, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. In polytheistic belief systems, a god is "a spirit or being believed to have created, or for controlling some part of the un ...

is more concerned with the motives of one's heart than their actions. The heart is also a medium for GOD's

revelation Revelation, or divine revelation, is the disclosing of some form of Religious views on truth, truth or Knowledge#Religion, knowledge through communication with a deity (god) or other supernatural entity or entities in the view of religion and t ...

s to human beings, and is associated with virtues such as

knowledge Knowledge is an Declarative knowledge, awareness of facts, a Knowledge by acquaintance, familiarity with individuals and situations, or a Procedural knowledge, practical skill. Knowledge of facts, also called propositional knowledge, is oft ...

faith Faith is confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept. In the context of religion, faith is " belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion". According to the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, faith has multiple definitions, inc ...

purity Purity may refer to: Books * ''Pureza'' (novel), a 1937 Brazilian novel by José Lins do Rego * ''Purity'' (novel), a 2015 novel by Jonathan Franzen ** ''Purity'' (TV series), a TV series based on the novel *''Purity'', a 2012 novel by Jackson ...

piety Piety is a virtue which may include religious devotion or spirituality. A common element in most conceptions of piety is a duty of respect. In a religious context, piety may be expressed through pious activities or devotions, which may vary amon ...

, love, and

repentance Repentance is reviewing one's actions and feeling contrition or regret for past or present wrongdoings, which is accompanied by commitment to and actual actions that show and prove a change for the better. In modern times, it is generally seen ...

. Without purification, however, the heart can become plagued with negative attributes such as sickness, sinfulness, evil, and hate. Theologically, the heart is regarded as the

barzakh Barzakh (Arabic: برزخ) is an Arabic word meaning "obstacle", "hindrance", "separation", or "barrier". In Islam, it denotes a place separating the living from the hereafter or a phase/"stage" between an individual's death and their resurrect ...

isthmus An isthmus (; : isthmuses or isthmi) is a narrow piece of land connecting two larger areas across an expanse of water by which they are otherwise separated. A tombolo is an isthmus that consists of a spit or bar, and a strait is the sea count ...

between this world and the next, and between the visible and invisible worlds, the human realm, and the realm of the Spirit.

In the Quran

The Quran frequently employs the term "qalb" (heart), which appears 132 times, and at times substitutes it with similar terms. The word's root meaning denotes concepts of change, transformation, and fluctuation, implying that the heart is constantly in motion and may undergo reversal or alteration. The Quran uses the term "heart" in various ways that highlight its central role in human existence. These diverse uses of the word imply that its original meaning - involving ideas of turning, changing, and overturning - remains relevant, as the heart is regarded as the source of good and evil, right and wrong. The Quran teaches that both believers and non-believers possess hearts. In general, the Quran portrays the heart "as the locus of that which makes a human being human, the center of the human personality". This importance of the heart is due to the profound relationship between humans and GOD, with the heart being the point of convergence where they can meet GOD. This interaction is multidimensional, encompassing both cognitive and moral dimensions. GOD pays special attention to the heart, as it is viewed as the true center of a person. Quranic verses highlight that GOD is more concerned with the motives of one's heart than their actions. While mistakes can be forgiven, the intentions of the heart are critical. For example, in 33:5 the Quran states: "There is no fault in you if you make mistakes, but only in what your hearts premeditate". In 2:225, it says: "GOD will not take you to task for a slip in your oaths; but He will take you to task for what your hearts have earned; and GOD is Forgiving, Clement" (cf. 2:118, 8:70). According to the Quran, the heart serves as a medium for GOD's revelations to human beings. Prophets receive revelations in their hearts, and it is also a place for vision, understanding, and remembrance. The heart plays a crucial role in fostering faith and directing guidance towards the right path. However, it can also serve as a breeding ground for doubt, denial, unbelief, and misguidance, which Satan may try to instill. The heart is associated with virtues such as purity, piety, love, and repentance, but these virtues are not inherent and must be instilled and nurtured by GOD. Without GOD's purification, the heart can become plagued with negative attributes such as sickness, sinfulness, evil, and hate. The heart is meant to be open and receptive to the divine guidance, light, and love. However, the hearts of those who do wrong can become hard and harsh. The Quran teaches that GOD has sent down a beautiful scripture, and those who fear Him tremble when they read it, causing their skin and hearts to soften. However, if the heart is not receptive, it can become hard like stone, or even harder, as the hearts of some have become.

In prophetic tradition

Muhammad frequently used supplications, where he called upon GOD as the one who makes hearts fluctuate or turn about. He described the heart as being like a feather in the desert, blown by the wind to and fro. One of his wives reported that he used to pray for his heart to be fixed in GOD's religion, and when she asked him about it, he explained that every person's heart lies between two fingers of GOD and that He can make it go straight or swerve as He wishes.

Theological aspects

In Islamic thought, the heart is considered the core of human being, encompassing not only physical and emotional aspects but also intellectual and spiritual aspects. It serves as a connection between individuals and the larger, transcendent realms of existence. According to

Seyyed Hossein Nasr Seyyed Hossein Nasr (born April 7, 1933) is an Iranian Americans, Iranian-American academic, philosophy, philosopher, theology, theologian, and Ulama, Islamic scholar. He is University Professor of Islamic studies at George Washington University. ...

, modern society rejects the importance of heart-knowledge because it fails to recognize the existence of individuals beyond their individualistic levels of being.

References

Sources

* * * {{Authority control Heart Sufi philosophy Arabic words and phrases Islamic belief and doctrine Sufi psychology

In the Quran

In prophetic tradition

Theological aspects

See also

References

Sources