Diseases of the Heart

Allah gave the heart a special status in the Noble Quran and Sunnah. He said in Surah Al-Mulk, Ayah 23: “Say, ‘It is He who has produced you and made for you hearing and vision and hearts; little are you grateful.’” (قُلْ هُوَ الَّذِي أَنشَأَكُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ ۖ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ)

The heart shares the responsibility of searching for the truth and then guiding the self to the straight path. Allah explained to Muslims that there are only two paths in this life: the straight path and the path of misguidance. One of the tools that can help us determine what is correct is the heart. That is why the Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, said that when the heart is healthy, the whole body is healthy, and when it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt.

The heart can be a gateway for Satan to sneak through and attack believers, leading us away from the worship of Allah. As they say, fighting an obvious enemy is better than fighting imaginations, feelings, or thoughts. But Allah completed His favour of Islam upon us and clarified all the matters related to the heart, including its diseases and cures. Muslims should not wait until they are attacked by the tricks of Satan. Rather, they must be fully prepared with the weapon of knowledge that guides them to Allah if they want to remain safe. In this article, we will discuss some diseases of the heart and their cures.

Diseases of the Heart: Ostentation (اَلرِّيَاءُ)

Ostentation (الرياء) is doing a good deed while seeking people’s pleasure and acceptance. It means changing one’s intention from seeking Allah’s pleasure to seeking people’s approval. When a person does good deeds, he secretly desires people’s praise, not just Allah’s pleasure. He wants his name to be mentioned with honour and respect among people, and this becomes his main intention behind doing the good deed.

Ostentation is against sincerity and devotion to Allah. Ostentation is a form of hidden polytheism. The Prophet Muhammad said about ostentation: “Hidden polytheism is when a man stands to pray and makes his prayer look good because he sees a man looking at him.” Believers must be careful of this hidden disease, as it is difficult to notice and recognise. Human nature seeks people’s love, respect, and honour; this is part of our nature. But Allah must be worshipped only and solely, and He has no partners.

The danger of ostentation is that deeds corrupted by ostentation are lost, and the person will not be rewarded for them. Allah accepts only that which is pure and done for His sake.

The Cure for Ostentation

Scholars have spoken a lot about this subject because of its significance and danger. Ostentation destroys sincerity, pure love for Allah, and good intentions, and it can make a person like a toy in the hands of the devil.

Firstly, one of the things that help believers avoid this disease is knowledge. It revolves around being aware of showing off and its consequences, which include shame in this life and the Hereafter. The Prophet Muhammad said: “He who wants to publicise his deeds, Allah will publicise his faults, and he who makes a hypocritical display of his deeds, Allah will make a display of him.”

Secondly, believers should understand that seeking people’s pleasure is an unreachable goal. No one can please everyone around him. Therefore, it is beneficial for a Muslim to honour his actions by seeking Allah’s pleasure. Remember that we do not worship Allah because He needs us; rather, we are honoured to be Allah’s slaves and to be under His protection and sovereignty. The hearts are in the Hands of Allah. We, as human beings, do not have control over them, but Allah does.

It was narrated that the Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, said that whoever seeks Allah’s pleasure by making people angry, Allah will suffice him against the people. And whoever seeks the people’s pleasure by angering Allah, Allah will entrust him to the people.    

Thirdly, one should know that we are all slaves before Allah. No one has the power to control anything, even if he or she is very powerful, as everything belongs to Allah. Allah created everything in the first place, and everything will ultimately return to Him. Therefore, people’s love or praise has no real benefit. They cannot prevent harm or grant benefit. We are all in need of Allah; we need Him and seek His provision.

Fourthly, what helps you avoid showing off is trying your best to keep your good deeds secret. The believer must be keen to perform good deeds privately. For example, giving Sadaqah to the poor can be done secretly. Praying Nawafil (Sunnah prayers) can be done at home, etc.

Finally, Allah has granted us a valuable tool that can help us: Dua and supplication. Dua can open all closed doors when Allah wills. Repeat your Dua day and night, and before doing any good deed, say: “O Allah, grant us sincerity in our deeds for Your sake.” May Allah guide us to the straight path and protect us from the tricks of Satan.