What is Qalb e Saleem, a sound heart?

A pure heart free from disbelief, hypocrisy, pride and jealousy, and filled with faith and sincerity. The Qur'an says that on the Day when neither wealth nor sons will benefit anyone, only the one who comes to Allah with such a heart will benefit.

The Qur'an mentions the term Qalb e Saleem: “When he came to His Lord with a sound heart” [Qur'an, as-Saffat 37:84]. And in another verse: “The Day when there will be no benefit from wealth or sons, but only one who comes to Allah with a pure heart.” [Qur'an, ash-Shu'ara 26:88-89]

According to scholars such as Ibn Abbas may Allah be pleased with him, Ibn Sireen rahimahullah and al-Alusi rahimahullah, Qalb e Saleem is a pure heart free from disbelief, hypocrisy, pride or jealousy, filled with faith and sincerity. Al-Razi rahimahullah, in his book Mafatih al-ghayb, describes Qalb e Saleem as the heart free from disbelief and rebellion.

The heart is also denoted as the source of diseased morality, disbelief, disdain and blindness, as in the verse, “In their hearts is sickness” [Qur'an, al-Baqarah 2:10], and, “It is rather the hearts in the chests that are blind” [Qur'an, al-Hajj 22:46].

The ailments of the heart not only consume a person from within, they also retard his abilities. Because of the ailment of the Qalb a Muslim may not be able to perform to the best of his capabilities, which in turn affects his family and the wider society.