Do you know a dua which I can recite to soften my heart? I can’t bring myself to shed a tear or feel anything in Salah.
Questioner: a sister from the UK
All praises belong to Allāh, the Creator Most Sublime Who is Uncreated, Who created the heart and verily in the remembrance of Allāh do hearts find rest. Peace and blessings be upon all Messengers of Allāh, specifically the final Prophet, Our Master, Muhammad Mustafa ﷺ, upon his purified family, his esteemed companions, and whomsoever follows in his blessed footsteps until the last day.
As-Salāmu ‘Alaykum wa-Raḥmatu’Llāh
The Prophet of Allāh ﷺ said:-
أَلاَ وَإِنَّ فِي الْجَسَدِ مُضْغَةً إِذَا صَلَحَتْ صَلَحَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ وَإِذَا فَسَدَتْ فَسَدَ الْجَسَدُ كُلُّهُ أَلاَ وَهِيَ الْقَلْبُ
“Beware! There is a piece of flesh in the body if it becomes good (reformed) the whole body becomes good but if it gets spoilt the whole body gets spoilt and that is the heart.”
[Sahih Bukhāri]
Thus it is vital to have a sound heart at all times, only the one with a sound heart will be successful. Tears are a major sign of a soft heart but the signs are not confined to it as not every tear is shed as a result of the fear of Allāh. It is very plausible an individual can exist who has never shed a tear yet fears Allāh with conviction and has a sound heart.
Primarily, it is necessary to learn what hardens the heart thereafter seek to prevent further hardness and attempt to cure it. There are many methods to soften the heart amongst them are:- frequently remembering death, visiting graveyards and reflecting, visiting the sick and terminally ill, understanding and reading the Qūr’ān, repenting often and seeking forgiveness, giving up sins and also supplicating and making dhikr.
A beautiful dua that one should read often is:-
يَا مُقَلِّبَ القُلُوبِ ثَبِّت قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ
O Turner of the heart, keep my heart firm upon your religion.
In order for the salaah to be more effective one should also attempt to learn the preconditions and conditions of prayer, along with the reward for offering it and the punishment for missing thereof. Futhermore, one should learn the meaning of the translation of the Arabic, this in line with the sunnah method of prayer will increase the benefits one derives from the prayer.
And Allaah knows best.
Answered by Ustadh Asid Shafait
