How to soften a hardened heart
“The example of those who remember Allah and those who do not remember Allah is like the living and the dead.”
The spiritual heart governs a believer’s faith and conduct, so believers should recognize hardness of heart and soften it through remembrance, repentance, Quran, mercy, good company, and disciplined worship.
The khutbah in 7 steps
- Introduces the spiritual heart and explains that Allah judges inner character and deeds rather than outward appearance.
- Defines a healthy heart as soft, tranquil, and responsive to Allah’s remembrance.
- Uses the story of Musa and the Children of Israel to show that hardness can persist despite miracles and knowledge.
- Lists symptoms of hardness, including careless worship, indifference to halal and haram, ignoring reminders, and habitual sin without remorse.
- Explains causes such as neglecting dhikr, disobedience, excessive desire, idle speech, laughter, entertainment, and wasted time.
- Presents remedies including Quran reflection, istighfar, remembering death, righteous company, mercy, charity, silence, night prayer, and dua.
- Closes with a concrete routine of daily istighfar, Quran, morning and evening adhkar, charity, and qiyam.
In the khateeb's words
“people are created in different shapes, colors, size and none of us has any control over that”
“so it's a dangerous disease of the heart and Allah also described this disease as a punishment from Him in the Quran”
“The example of those who remember Allah and those who do not remember Allah is like the living and the dead.”
“Feed the poor and wipe the head of an orphan. This will bring softness in your heart.”
For the dinner table
The khutbah taught that the heart is the center of a person’s faith and character, and that Allah cares about our inner state rather than our appearance. A hardened heart may show up as careless worship, indifference to right and wrong, ignoring reminders, or repeated sin without remorse. The speaker said hearts can soften through remembrance of Allah, Quran with reflection, repentance, good company, mercy toward others, less idle talk, and night prayer. He encouraged a simple routine of frequent istighfar, daily Quran, morning and evening adhkar, charity, and asking Allah to keep the heart firm.
- What helps your heart feel peaceful and connected to Allah?
- Which daily practice would be easiest for you to begin?
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