ভূমিকা
Associating with three (groups) of people kills the heart: low people, rich people and (frivolous) talk with women.” The points which we can benefit from in this tradition which is an excerpt from the testament of the Noble Prophet (S) addressed to the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Ali b. Abi Talib (as) include the following: We can draw a conclusion in regards to the life and death of the heart. In this tradition, the word heart has been used as an allusion to the spirit and soul of the person.
Surely my many errors have covered over my true essence and my spiritual distance from You has clothed me in the separation from You and my major crimes and sins have killed my heart…”[^1] This supplication clearly proves the point mentioned in the tradition that the heart too possesses the states of life and death and in principle, this whispered prayer of those who turn to Allah in repentance is proof of the reasons of the death and life of the heart.
In this prayer, the Imam is in essence saying, “O' Allah! Enliven my heart through turning back to You in repentance!” Thus, this means that it is through turning back in repentance to Allah (SwT) that give us life while sinning against Allah (SwT) is what causes our true death! There are some people who have thousands of things happen to them in their life that should act as lessons for them.
In addition, there are others who hear thousands of verses of the Qur'an and traditions which contain points of admonition, however these things do not have even the slightest effect on them and they do not waver in the least since their hearts have died. As we know, there are two ways that we normally judge life: one is through the feelings and emotions and the other is the physical movement.