a piece of flesh. When it is sound, the whole body is sound, and when it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt. Verily, it is the heart."^[1]

It has become evident that the most important organ in our body is our heart. When it is rectified, the entire person becomes righteous, and when the heart becomes corrupted, the whole person becomes corrupt. The thing that purifies the mirror of the heart the most is lawful sustenance.

Primary thing that enlightens the Heart

Sayyidunā Umar b. Ṣāliḥ رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said: “Once, I went to the court of Imam Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه, and I asked him, ‘O imam! May Allah have mercy on you! How does one attain a soft heart?’

Upon hearing this question, Imam Aḥmad b. Ḥanbal رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه bowed his head for a while and then lifted it, saying, ‘My son, lawful wealth (softens the heart).’”

Sayyidunā ꜤUmar b. Ṣāliḥ رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه continued: “Upon hearing his response, I returned.

On the way, I met Sayyidunā Bishr al-Ḥāfī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه and asked him the same question, ‘O noble one! How does one attain a soft heart?’ He responded by saying, ‘Through the remembrance of Allah.’

I said, ‘I visited Imam Ahmad b. Hanbal.’

Hearing this much, Sayyidunā Bishr al-Ḥāfī رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه joyfully exclaimed, ‘That’s amazing! What did he advise?’

I replied, ‘Imam Ahmad b. Hanbal رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه said, “A soft heart is attained through consuming lawful sustenance."’ He said, ‘The imam