HomeDiseases Of The Heart And Their Cures › Righteous Actions Are Cure For Heart

Chapter 1.3. Righteous Actions Are A Cure For The Heart

Zakah (purification) in the language means: growth and increase in correction, it is said, 'something has zakah', when it has grown in correction. The heart is in need of being nurtured so that it may mature and increase until it becomes complete and correct just as the body is in need of nourishment that is good for it, but along with this there is a need to prevent anything from harming it. So the body will not grow until it gains that which will benefit it and is prevented from that which will harm it, likewise the heart will not become pure such that it may grow and become complete with respect to its correction, until it attains that which benefits it and represses that which harms it - just as the flower will not grow without these two factors.

Sadaqah (charity), due to its extinguishing the sins as water extinguishes fire, causes the heart to be purified. Its zakah means something additional to it being merely free of sins.

Allah the Exalted said,

Take Sadaqah from them in order to purify them and sanctify them with it. [Surah Tawbah (9) : 103]