There are many verses in the Quran that talk about the spiritual heart and its importance. Allah says in Surat Az Zumar,
فَوَيْلٌ لِلْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ مِنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ
“Then woe to those whose hearts have grown hard and unresponsive to the remembrance of Allah.” (Az-Zumar 39:22)
ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَلِكَ فَهِيَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ أَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً
“Then your hearts became hardened after that; they were like stones, or even harder.” (Al-Baqarah 2:74)
The greatest month of the year is Ramadan. How can we receive it and get the most of out it? When you have a guest, you prepare to receive that guest – by cleaning, decorating, and thinking about what you will wear etc. Ramadan is round the corner. The best thing is not just to prepare the body, but the heart. An important aspect when it comes to receiving Ramadan is the state of our heart. In the famous narration, the Prophet ﷺ said:
أَلَا وَإِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً، إِذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، وَإِذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ، أَلَا وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ
“Truly, in the body there is a morsel of flesh which, if it is sound, the whole body is sound; and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
No matter what you wear in Ramadan, if your heart is locked or diseased or corrupted, you will not benefit from Ramadan. Allah is warning us in the Quran of having a hard heart.
How do we assess the state of our heart?
There are many symptoms. The first is feeling indifferent when you do something bad. This is the mentality of not being bothered. It is an indication of a hard heart. Another is that you feel nothing when you hear the Quran being recited. It is the sign of a numb heart and an indication that the heart needs fixing. A third sign is when you feel so attached to the dunya, that it has become your highest priority. Again, it points to a bad heart.
The remedy for a hard heart
A companion came to the Prophet ﷺ, complaining about his hard heart (qaswat al qalb). Fortunately for him he sought a remedy before it was too late.
عن أبي الدرداء رضي الله تعالى عنه قال: أتى النبيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم رجلٌ يشكو قسوةَ قلبه، فقال صلى الله عليه وسلم: “أتحب أن يلين قلبُك وتُدرك حاجتَك ؟ ارحم اليتيم، وامسح رأسه، وأطعمه من طعامك، يلن قلبك وتدركْ حاجتك”. رواه أحمد والطبراني.
Abu al-Darda (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that:
A man came to the Prophet ﷺ complaining of the hardness of his heart. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Do you love that your heart should become soft and that your need be fulfilled?
Then show mercy to the orphan, wipe his head, and feed him from your own food.
Your heart will become soft, and your need will be fulfilled.” (Ahmad and Tabarani)
The Prophet ﷺ directed him to acts that would soften his heart. Although we need other things to accompany this it is one of the ways to fix the heart.
In another hadith, the Prophet ﷺ mentioned that when hearts become rusty like iron, we must polish them.
عن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله تعالى عنهما قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:”إن القلوب تصدأ كما يصدأ الحديد، قيل: فما جلاؤها يا رسول الله؟ قال: كثرة تلاوة كتاب الله تعالى، وكثرة الذكر لله عز وجل”. البيهقي. ضعيف.
ʿAbdullah ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Indeed, hearts rust just as iron rusts.”
It was said, “What is their polish, O Messenger of Allah?”
He replied: “Frequent recitation of the Book of Allah and abundant remembrance of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic.” (Bayhaqi)
Although there is some weakness in this narration, it is aligned with the teachings of the Quran.
On another occasion, the Prophet ﷺ directed his companions on how to soften their hearts. Earlier in Madinah, they had been told to avoid visiting graveyards, so they would not engage in Jahiliyya practices. Now, they had matured, they were encouraged to go to the cemetery as it reminds us of death and softens the heart.
عن أنس بن مالك رضي الله تعالى عنه قال صلى الله عليه وسلم : «كنتُ نهيتُكم عن زيارَةِ القبورِ ألا فزورُوها ، فإِنَّها تُرِقُّ القلْبَ ، و تُدْمِعُ العينَ ، وتُذَكِّرُ الآخرةَ».رواه أحمد.
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“I had previously forbidden you from visiting graves. Now, visit them, for they soften the heart, bring tears to the eyes, and remind one of the Hereafter.” (Ahmad)
Every so often, the Prophet ﷺ visited the graveyard as it is a reminder of the akhirah. The akhirah is a fact that none of us can escape. It is a fact that we will all face death. The reality of the dunya is before our eyes – you can spend your life chasing dunya but it will only kick you. Whereas if you seek the akhirah, the dunya will follow you. When the dunya follows you, you can kick it.
What makes the heart hard?
What makes the heart hard and locked is sins. Allah states in the Quran:@
“No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts because of what they used to earn.” (Al-Mutaffifin 83:14)
تُعْرَضُ الْفِتَنُ عَلَى الْقُلُوبِ كَالْحَصِيرِ عُودًا عُودًا، فَأَيُّ قَلْبٍ أُشْرِبَهَا نُكِتَتْ فِيهِ نُكْتَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ، وَأَيُّ قَلْبٍ أَنْكَرَهَا نُكِتَتْ فِيهِ نُكْتَةٌ بَيْضَاءُ، حَتَّىٰ تَصِيرَ الْقُلُوبُ عَلَىٰ قَلْبَيْنِ:
قَلْبٍ أَبْيَضَ مِثْلِ الصَّفَا، فَلَا تَضُرُّهُ فِتْنَةٌ مَا دَامَتِ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ،
وَالْآخَرُ أَسْوَدُ مُرْبَادًّا، كَالْكُوزِ مُجَخِّيًا، لَا يَعْرِفُ مَعْرُوفًا وَلَا يُنْكِرُ مُنْكَرًا، إِلَّا مَا أُشْرِبَ مِنْ هَوَاهُ
“Trials will be presented to the hearts like a reed mat, one stick at a time. Any heart that absorbs them will have a black mark placed on it, and any heart that rejects them will have a white mark placed on it, until hearts become of two types: one heart white like smooth stone; no trial will harm it as long as the heavens and the earth endure; and the other black and dust-coloured, like an overturned vessel — it neither recognises what is good nor rejects what is evil, except what accords with its desires.” (Muslim)
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله تعالى عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “إن العبد إذا أخطأ خطيئة نكتت في قلبه نكتة سوداء، فإذا هو نزع واستغفر وتاب صقل قلبه، وإن عاد زيد فيها حتى تعلو قلبه. وهو الران الذي ذكره الله تعالى: {كلا بل ران على قلوبهم ما كانوا يكسبون} (المطففين:14). رواه أبو داود والترمذي.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When a servant commits a sin, a black dot is inscribed upon his heart. If he refrains, seeks forgiveness, and repents, his heart is polished clean. But if he returns to sin, the mark increases until it covers his heart. That is the ‘raan’ which Allah, the Exalted, mentioned:
‘No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts because of what they used to earn.’” (83:14). (Abu Dawoud and Tirmidhi)
A hard heart shows itself in subtle but serious ways. A person may become lazy in acts of worship and good deeds, and persistent anxiety, stress, and a sense of heaviness or restlessness that does not easily lift. Another major cause is heedlessness—living with spiritual inattentiveness, where a person sees and hears reminders but does not truly absorb them. Allah warns about this state: “They have hearts with which they do not understand, eyes with which they do not see, and ears with which they do not hear. They are like cattle; rather, they are even more astray. It is they who are the heedless.” (Surah al-A‘raf 7:179).
Therefore, if we want to soften our hearts, we have to change our actions. In another hadith the Prophet ﷺ stated that we should seek forgiveness as soon as we do something wrong. When you seek forgiveness, the stains are removed and the heart becomes polished.
Allah has stated that reciting the Quran cures the heart.
أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَئِنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ
“Surely, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find tranquility.” (13:28)
If your chest feels heavy, it is an indication that there is something wrong. For physical illness we seek medical advice, but for spiritual illness we do tawbah and istighfar and recite the Quran. Sincere repentance cleanses the heart.
The Qur’an also points us to remedies that soften the heart and revive faith. Central to this is reflecting on Allah’s words, not merely reciting them, but pondering their meanings with presence. Allah says:
“Allah has sent down the best statement: a Book consistent and repeated, at which the skins of those who fear their Lord shiver; then their skins and their hearts soften to the remembrance of Allah.” (39:23)
Along with this comes learning about Allah and recognising His Names and Attributes, because knowing who Allah is deepens love, awe, hope, and reliance. A softened heart is also nurtured through increased repentance, remembrance (dhikr), and seeking forgiveness, as these acts cleanse the heart and restore spiritual clarity.
Regularly questioning oneself, reproaching the soul, and correcting course prevents spiritual drift. Attending circles of knowledge strengthens faith through understanding and companionship with people of purpose. Finally, caring for the vulnerable, looking after orphans and supporting the needy, softens the heart through mercy, humility, and gratitude, turning religion from theory into lived compassion.
Those who are going through difficulties, whether financial or otherwise, know what if feels like to be close to a breakdown. However, if a spiritual breakdown is coming, not even the AA can save you! You should fall on your knees and beg Allah for support. His hotline is always open. Just ask and He is there listening. Watchful, with us. If we disconnect ourselves from Him, then it is our choice.
يَوۡمَ لَا يَنفَعُ مَالٞ وَلَا بَنُونَ إِلَّا مَنۡ أَتَى ٱللَّهَ بِقَلۡبٖ سَلِيمٖ
“The Day when neither wealth nor children will benefit,
except one who comes to Allah with a sound heart.” (26:88–89)
We need to receive Ramadan with a polished, soft heart. In the akhirah no one can succeed, unless they have a soft heart.
When driving on the motorway, the clarity of your windscreen determines your safety. When journeying to the akhirah, the clarity of the heart determines your guidance. Let’s prepare for Ramadan and the akhirah.
Based on the khutbah of Shaykh Haytham Tamim on 30th Jan 2026