Have you ever felt that despite performing the five daily prayers, fasting routinely, and giving charity diligently, your heart still feels empty? Or perhaps, unconsciously, a feeling of being “more pious” than others arises after returning from a religious gathering?
If that feeling has ever visited, you are not alone.
Often we are too focused on the physical movements in religion—whether our bowing is straight, or whether our recitation is fluent. That is all good and should be maintained. However, there is one secret side that is often overlooked, even though this side is what determines whether or not our deeds are accepted before Allah SWT. That side is the heart.
This is where the science of Tasawwuf takes a role. Not as a science of occultism or merely a ritual of sitting quietly in the corner of the mosque, but as the science of heart healing. Let us explore the scholarly rulings on why maintaining a sound spiritual heart (qalb salim) is mandatory, even Fard ‘Ayn.
Two Wings of Shari’ah: External and Internal
In Islam, the rules (taklif) that Allah imposes on us are not just one type. Scholars divide them into two major areas that cannot be separated.
As mentioned in the reference book:
إن التكاليف الشرعية التي أمر بها الإنسان في خاصة نفسه ترجع إلى قسمين : أحكام تتعلق بالأعمال الظاهرة , وأحكام تتعلق بالأعمال الباطنة
This means our obligations are divided into two:
- The Outward Aspect (al-Zahir): This concerns the limbs of the body. Its commands are like prayer, zakat, and hajj. Its prohibitions are like stealing, adultery, and drinking alcohol.
- The Inward Aspect (al-Batin)): This concerns feelings and intentions. Its commands include faith, sincerity, honesty, and reliance on God (tawakkul). Its prohibitions include disbelief, hypocrisy, arrogance (kibr), ostentation (riya’), and envy (hasad).
The problem is, many of us are skilled in external fiqh, but illiterate in internal fiqh. We are afraid to eat pork because it is haram, but are relaxed when consuming “the flesh of our own brother” through backbiting or harboring grudges for years.
Why is the Heart More Decisive?
Allah SWT does not judge us based on how expensive the robes we wear are or how good our da’wah posts are on social media. Allah sees the “engine” behind all of that.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
ألا وإن في الجسد مضغة إذا صلحت صلح الجسد كله , وإذا فسدت فسد الجسد كله , ألا وهي القلب
“Know that there is a lump of flesh in the body; if it becomes good, the whole body becomes good. And if it is corrupt, the whole body becomes corrupt. Know that the lump of flesh is the heart.” (Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim)
If the heart is afflicted by spiritual diseases such as envy, even abundant physical charity can lose its value. Outward worship is like the body, while the sincerity of the heart is its soul. A body without a soul is just a carcass.
Legal Status: Why is Tasawwuf a Personal Obligation (Fard ‘Ayn)?
Perhaps you are wondering, “Isn’t Tasawwuf only for ustaz (religious teachers) or elderly people who are already retired?”
The answer is: No.
Great scholars have placed the science of purifying the heart as a primary need for every Muslim. Imam Jalaluddin as-Suyuthi quoted the very firm opinion of Imam Al-Ghazali:
وأما علم القلب ومعرفة أمراضه من الحسد والعجب والرياء ونحوها , فقال الغزالي : إنها فرض عين
“As for the science of the heart and knowledge about its diseases such as envy, arrogance, hypocrisy and the like, Al-Ghazali said: Indeed, learning it is Fard ‘Ayn.”
Fard ‘Ayn means obligatory for every individual, with the same status as the obligation to pray five times a day. Why is it at that level? Because no human is free from diseases of the heart, except the Prophets. We all have the potential to be arrogant, want to be praised, or feel envious. If we are obliged to learn how to pray so that our prayers are valid, then we are also obliged to learn how to be sincere so that our deeds are accepted.
The Danger of Unfelt Sin
There is a very striking warning from a great Sufi figure, Abu Hasan Asy-Syadzili. He said:
من لم يتغلغل في علمنا هذا مات مصرا على الكبائر وهو لا يشعر
“Whoever does not delve into this science of ours (the science of purifying the soul) will die in a state of continuously committing major sins without even realizing it.”
This statement might sound frightening. How can someone pray and fast but die carrying a major sin?
Ibn ‘Allan Al-Siddiqi explained the logic very intelligently: “Who, my brother, is the one who fasts but does not feel pride (admiration) in his fasting? Who is the one who prays but does not feel pride in his prayer?”
Without the science of Tasawwuf, we do not have a detection tool to realize that when we are focused in prayer, our hearts may be whispering, “Wow, I’m great, others are still sleeping, I’m already performing Tahajjud.” That whisper is Ujub (self-admiration), and Ujub is the mother of arrogance. Unconsciously, we accumulate major sins right within our worship.
Table: Differences Between Outward Diseases vs. Inner Diseases
To better understand the urgency, let’s look at the following comparison:
| Aspect | Physical Illness (Outward) | Spiritual Illness (Inner/Heart) |
| Example | Stealing, Drinking Alcohol, Gambling | Riya‘ (Showing off), Ujub (Pride), Hasad (Envy) |
| Nature | Visible to the eye, easily detected | Hidden, subtle, often self-deceptive |
| Impact | Damages social/legal order | Erases rewards, damages the relationship with Allah |
| Cure | Repentance, restitution, punishment | Tazkiyatun Nafs (Purification of the Soul), Mujahadah |
| Ruling of Learning | Fard ‘Ayn (the basics) | Fard ‘Ayn (recognizing and treating it) |
What is Tasawwuf Actually? (Clarifying Misconceptions)
Many misconceptions cling to the word “Tasawuf”. Some consider it heretical, others think it’s just whirling dances. In fact, the essence of Tasawuf is very logical and grounded.
Ibnu Zakwan defines Tasawwuf as:
علم به تصفية البواطن … من كدرات النفس في المواطن
“Knowledge to purify the soul from the turbidity of lust in various places.”
So, Tasawwuf is a character education curriculum or a mental revolution in Islam. Its goal is to transform bad character into noble character.
- From stingy to generous.
- From being quick-tempered to being patient.
- From worldly love to zuhud (detachment from the world).
Tasawwuf is not merely reciting wirid thousands of times. That is only its method. The goal is Noble Character. If someone studies Tasawwuf but their character gets worse, becoming arrogant and looking down on others, it means something is wrong with their way of learning.
The Road to Recovery: Don’t Walk It Alone
Treating the heart is far more difficult than treating a physical wound. Our desires are very insidious; they can manipulate us into feeling okay when we are not. Therefore, scholars advise one thing: Seek a Teacher (Murshid) and a Good Community.
The text mentions:
لهذا نرى العلماء العاملين … ينصحون الناس بالدخول مع الصوفية والتزام صحبتهم
“That is why we see the scholars… advising people to join the ranks of the Sufis and maintain friendships with them.”
We need a mirror. Righteous friends and wise teachers function as an honest mirror. They will reprimand us when we start to stray and guide us when we are confused.
Fudail bin Iyad’s Golden Advice
Perhaps you feel strange or out of place when you start to seriously arrange your heart in this materialistic age. While others are busy showing off their wealth, you are busy concealing your charity. Don’t worry, Fudhail bin Iyadh has a reassuring message for you:
عليك بطريق الحق , ولا تستوحش لقلة السالكين
“It is obligatory for you to follow the path of truth, and do not feel lonely because of the few who follow it.”
Don’t let “the crowd” be your standard of truth. On the path to Allah, quality is more important than quantity.
FAQ: Questions About Tasawwuf and Spiritual Heart Diseases
Do I have to join a specific tariqa (Sufi order) to learn tasawuf?
Not always. The core of Tasawwuf is tazkiyah an-nafs (purifying the soul). You can start by studying books on ethics such as Bidayah al-Hidayah or Riyadz as-Salihin under the guidance of a trusted teacher in your area.
How can you detect Spiritual Heart Disease in yourself?
Do muhasabah (introspect) every night. Ask yourself: “What was my intention when I posted about that charity earlier? To be called generous or purely for the sake of Allah?” The heartache when not praised is one of the symptoms of a sick heart.
Is Tasawwuf in conflict with Shari’ah?
True Tasawwuf actually perfects the Shari’ah. The Shari’ah regulates the movements of prayer, while Tasawwuf regulates the sincerity of prayer. Both must go hand in hand. If there is a Sufi teaching that tells you to abandon prayer, it is definitely wrong and must be avoided.
Closing
My siblings, let us not allow our hearts to become a dirty and unkempt empty house. The heart is the only vessel we will bring before Allah on the Day of Judgement, as He says about Qalbun Salim (a sound/safe heart).
Let’s start today with small steps: correct intentions, forgive the mistakes of others before sleeping, and take the time to learn to recognize your own flaws. Because in the end, true success is not about what we have in our hands, but what we keep in our hearts.
“You treat your mortal body so that it endures… But you let your immortal heart suffer.”
May Allah guide us towards a pure and peaceful heart.
Reference
Al-‘Azīzī al-Ḥalabī al-Syādhilī, ‘Abd al-Qādir bin ‘Abd Allāh bin Qāsim bin Muḥammad bin ‘Īsā. Ḥaqā’iq ‘an al-Taṣawwuf. Aleppo, Syria: Dār al-‘Irfān, sixteenth edition, 1428 H/2007 CE.
