Heart

The heart is a muscular organ in most animals, which pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. Blood provides the body with oxygen and nutrients, as well as assisting in the removal of metabolic wastes. In humans, the heart is located between the lungs, in the middle compartment of the chest.In humans, other mammals, and birds, the heart is divided into four chambers: upper left and right atria and lower left and right ventricles.

80538

Polytheism . Heart . God (Allah) . Tawhid

When I was 11 or so I heard a family member say something that was clearly Shirk but I repeated the exact same words. Does that mean I have committed polytheism although I believe with all my heart in Allah and Tawheed?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 4 months ago

If you repeated the wrong words of others with out intention of its meanings of Shirk, you are not a Mushrik. Your faith is what is in your heart. Still you need to repeat Estighfaar for saying something wrong.

Wassalam.

78890

Heart . Ahl al-Bayt

How does one attach their heart to the household of the Prophet (s)? Can I have practical tips other than Duas to achieve it?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 4 months ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Other than sending copious blessings on the Prophet (saw) and his family, one of the most important ways of building our relationship with them (as) is to educate ourselves about their stations in the eyes of Allah. This can be achieved through studying the scriptural sources as well as philosophy and theoretical mysticism. Through studying history a person can also gain an appreciation of their actions and efforts in transmitting true Islam to their followers.

May you always be successful

71216

Heart . Mosque

There is a saying in my locality that breaking someone's heart is equivalent to breaking a mosque. Is this an authentic saying in Islam?

Yes, we have a Hadeeth from the Prophet (SAWA) narrated by Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq (AS): Hurting the heart of a believer is worse than breaking down the Ka'bah into rubbles.

Wassalam.

66137

Soul . Heart

What is the difference between Ruh (soul) and Qalb (heart)?

Syed Nabi Raza Abidi, Syed Nabi Raza Abidi is based in the US and has a PhD in Theology and Philosophy having attended Howzah in Iran for several years. His research was conducted under the guidance of Ayatollah Ja... Answered 8 months ago

Salamoanlaykum

May Allah bless you and your family.

Scholars of different disciplines use these terms in different ways. In a loose sense, they refer to the same reality – the source of life which is inanimate and eternal. The exact sense will depend on in which context it the term is used.

Muhaqqiq Narāqī in his famous book of ethics, Jamiʿ al-Saʿādāt states, “The soul (nafs) is that heavenly essence which employs the body and uses its various organs to attain its goals and purposes. The soul has also other names as spirit (ruh), intelligence (`aql), and heart (qalb) although these terms have other usages as well.”

Shahīd Muṭahharī indicates that these terms are used distinctly in ʿIrfān based on the qualities of the soul: “The 'urafa' have different words for the human soul; sometimes they call it nafs (self), sometimes qalb (heart), sometimes ruh (spirit) and sometimes sirr (mystery). When the human soul is dominated and ruled by desires and passions they call it nafs. When it reaches the stage of bearing Divine knowledge, it is called qalb. When the light of Divine love dawns within it, they call it ruh.”

In the Qurʾān the terms Qalb and Nafs are used much more often than the term Rūḥ; Rūḥ is also sometimes used to refer to the Holy Spirit or to ʿIsā (ʿa)

63010

Heart . Salah (Prayers)

What is the best way to concentrate and have complete presence of heart in our prayers? What should one think of while praying and what are the recommended acts in Salah to help perfect it?

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Having complete concentration in every prayer is a station that takes time and much effort to arrive at. It is a journey that has many aspects to it, and it cannot be rushed. Here are a few basic aspects that can be started with:

1) know the meaning of what you are saying

2) create conditions which aid concentration such as praying in a quite place and without being in any kind of rush to do something else straight after

3) know the philosophy of why you are praying and pray out of understanding rather than routine

4) work on a natural type of concentration and do not rush to force a concentration that is solely a facet of the mind. There are other states in prayer that are the cause for absorption.

5) work on purifying the self and experiencing God's presence at all times.

6) try to not pray on a full stomach or when you need the bathroom

May you always be successful

61639

Heart . Soul

What are the major signs of a healthy and unhealthy heart and soul? What Qur'anic verses and Prophetic narrations touch on this topic?

Major signs of healthy heart include:

1. Loving Allah (SWT) more than anything or anyone else. In Quran (And the believers love Allah more )(2: 165). Loving Allah (SWT) makes the believer love what Allah wants and keep away from what Allah dislikes.

2. Feeling the taste of talking to Allah in Prayers and supplications as well as the taste of listening to Allah in reciting or listening to Quran. Nothing more tasteful than talking to the Most beloved and listening to His Words.

3. Enjoying performing the Prayers because it is a direct contact with Allah (SWT). Beside the obligatory Prayers, performing the recommended Prayers like Nawaafil and Night Prayers is a sign of healthy heart.

4. Loving Allah's most beloved ones who are the prophets and Infallible Imams, more than loving ourselves and our families.

5. Loving all the creatures of Allah and feeling sympathy to them except the enemies of Allah (SWT).

Wassalam.

61405

Heart . Intellect ('Aql)

If you have a dead heart does it also affect your intellect?

Dead heart does affect your intellect because it affects your soul and brain and way of thinking and your lifestyle. Dead heart disturbs the whole life in every dimension, that is why it is crucial to do everything possible to clarify the heart and remove the blots of sinful acts from it by repeating Estighfaar and performing the obligatory duties and avoiding the sins.

Wassalam.

61314

Heart

If one's heart is sealed can the seal ever be removed, and if so, how?

Repeated sins with out seeking forgiveness cause seal on the heart. Every sinful act causes a blot on the heart which can be removed by sincerely seeking forgiveness. When the sinful deeds are repeated, the black blots cover the heart and seal it. The person with sealed heart does not feel the taste of Prayers or Du'a or Quran etc. Sealed heart is like a dead heart.

Removing the seal from the heart is always possible if the person is really willing and ready to act to remove the seal. It starts with sincere repentance and seeking forgiveness and establishing a firm decision not to commit the sins again.

Repeating Estighfaar, with deep feeling of sorrow for committing the sinful acts, is very important in this regard.

Returning back the rights to the victims is also very important.

Performing all Prayers on time as well as reciting Quran, Du'a, Ziyarat Ashura, Night Prayer is very helpful.

Wassalam.

51327

Qur'an . God (Allah) . Heart . Nafs

In the Quran, Allah often says he knows what is in your hearts and what is in your breasts. What does Allah mean when he says he knows what is in your breasts, is that the heart again, the nafs or something else?

The difference between the heart قلب and the breast or chests صدور in Quran has been discussed by many scholars of Tafseer. We see some non Shia scholars claim that there is no difference between heart and breast. We can not accept this opinion because of the clear mention of hearts and breasts in the same Quranic verses which must mean a difference in the meanings.

Among many opinions, we can say that the breast or chest is wider than the heart and it is effected by the state of mind and feeling of comfort or discomfort. That is why we read the supplication of prophet Moses (AS): O my Lord, extend my breast (Taha: 25).

The heart is our inner which is the origin of our intentions, while the breast is effected also by outside reasons and factors which make us feel comfortable or otherwise. That is why we read in Sura Al-Inshiraah how Allah (SWT) tells His Prophet Muhammad (SAWA) mentioning His bounties on him: Did not We extend your breast? ألم نشرح لك صدرك which means that Allah (SWT) Has granted him this bounty of making his breast big and extended.

In Quran we read about Quran that it is : Cure for what is in the breasts وشفاء لما في الصدور (Younus : 57). What is in breasts can be a mixture of our feelings and our thinking and reactions to other factors surrounding us.

No doubt, heart is the Centre of the breast (Hearts inside the breasts) (ولكن تعمى القلوب التي في الصدور) )(Verily, it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts which are inside the breasts that grow blind) Al-Hajj : 46.

Wassalam