In a world consumed by “I this” and “I that” — iPhones, iPads, and endless self-focus — the heart of the believer can become disconnected from its Creator. At the Sound Heart Convention in Toronto, scholars shared profound insights on what it means to have a sound heart, how to charge a spiritually dead one, and why the connection to Allah through prayer is the most essential lifeline a Muslim can maintain.
What Does a Sound Heart Look Like?
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described a morsel in the body that, if sound, makes the whole body sound, and if corrupt, corrupts the whole body — and that morsel is the heart. A beautiful narration illustrates this perfectly: a man who lost his infant child responded to the tragedy by praising Allah and saying “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un” (To Allah we belong and to Him we return). Allah then commanded the angels to build him a house in Jannah called “the House of Praise.”
“This man demonstrated what it means to have a sound heart — even in the most difficult time of his life, when he just lost his child, he was still able to remember Allah and thank Him. Those actions at the strike of the most difficult calamity show the true soundness of the heart.”
How to Charge a Dead Heart
- Establish the five daily prayers — Salah literally means “connection to God,” and this consistent, cyclical worship from dawn to night is the most powerful way to keep the heart alive
- Begin each prayer with conviction — Saying “Allahu Akbar” is declaring that nothing is greater, more beneficial, or more capable of helping you than Allah
- Detach from materialism — When the heart is given to celebrities, fashion, cars, and entertainment, it becomes disconnected from its true purpose
- Choose friends based on God-consciousness — Allah warns in the Quran (3:118) to be careful about intimate friendships with those who are not interested in taqwa
“You know you need God when you’re flying at 36,000 feet watching your favorite movie and turbulence hits — the entire plane starts yelling ‘Oh my God!’ Everyone needs God; they just don’t know it until some sort of turbulence hits in their life.”
Making Islam a Full-Time Commitment
For those who have accepted Islam, the key to a sound heart is making this deen a full-time commitment, not a part-time hobby. And for those still seeking, the truth is that every soul recognizes its need for the Creator in moments of vulnerability. The invitation is to turn to Allah before the turbulence of life forces that recognition, and to build a heart so sound that it carries you all the way to Jannah.
