ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Taqwa (Piety) Advice of Inward Piety ================ One of the other cases in relation to which man should observe Taqwa in order to keep away from deviation and pollution is the heart which is sometimes defined as passion, desire, self, soul and even wits. Some of the scholars reject the heart as being sometimes synonymous to the soul, spirit or intellect. Allamah Majlisi believes that it is very difficult to get to know the heart and its essence.

Even our Imams (AS) have spoken of it implicitly. Sometimes the heart has been described as “the book of thoughts”[^1], “the book of vision”,[^2] the “the treasurer of the tongue”[^3], or as the “fountain of wisdom and its ear or source”.[^4] It is also said: “The position of the heart to the body is as the position of an Imam to people”,[^5] or “the heart is a king that has an army.

If the king is pious, the army will be pious and if the king is corrupt, the army will be corrupt too.”[^6] There are other definitions for “the heart” by the Imams (AS), but what we have said so far will suffice. Scholars of ethics and researchers have likened the heart to a pond into which water flows from every direction. At other times, they have likened the heart to a target towards which arrows are thrown.

They have also likened it to a mirror which is installed in a place and people pass by it, or a building which different people enter through different gates. I personally liken the heart to a market with different shops and shopkeepers who treat people differently according to what their minds and hearts say to them. Hence, it is necessary for us to get to know this heart into which everything enters through five senses as well as imagination, passion and anger.

What occurs to the heart is sometimes divine and at other times Satanic. Obviously, what is beneficial for us in this world and the hereafter is divine, and what is harmful is Satanic against which man should have Taqwa.

There are many Quranic verses about Satanic temptations; “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of men, the King of men, the God of men, from the whisperings of the slinking Satan, who whispers into the hearts of men, from among the jinn and the men.” [^7] Some of the interpreters of the Holy Quran have said that the reason why God begins this life-giving Book with the letter ‘B’ and ends it with the letter ‘S’ which forms the word ‘Bas’ meaning “sufficient” is: O people!

This Holy book is sufficient for you.