بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
It is not merely the human heart that feels, but the deeper understanding within it that we often seek to contemplate. As we enter the age of artificial intelligence, I reflect on the information and spiritual insights that may prove crucial for future generations. If our predictions hold true, AI will become integrated into society and our daily lives. I envision that perhaps a digital copy of a person could exist, acting as a mirror to allow us to look into the essence of the human heart—its spiritual core.
In my timeline, I recognize my own limitations and the journey I’ve taken without the privilege of sitting in circles of knowledge or learning directly from teachers who hold such understanding. This journey has left me with an incomplete grasp of what it truly means to understand the spiritual heart. There is an invitation here: a need to deeply internalize the nature of the heart, how it is affected by sin, and how it can be cleansed. As the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has said in a Hadith, 'There is a dot placed on the heart of the son of Adam when he commits a sin until it becomes black.'
Our hearts, in the spiritual sense, are vulnerable to the marks left by our deeds. The Hadith further explains, 'If he repents, his heart is polished. If he continues to sin, the blackness increases until it overwhelms his heart.' The Prophet then recited the verse: 'No! Rather, what they have earned has rusted upon their hearts.' (Quran 83:14).
The Quran speaks to the condition of the heart in several verses, reminding us of the barriers that sins create between humanity and divine guidance. Among these, Allah says:
> 'They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. They are like cattle; rather, they are even more astray.' (Surah Al-A'raf, 7:179)
This verse paints a clear picture of a heart that, though alive, remains disconnected from true understanding and guidance. The heart is a vessel, not only for emotion but for enlightenment, discernment, and divine connection.
Furthermore, Allah reminds us:
> 'So have they not traveled through the earth and have hearts by which to reason and ears by which to hear? For indeed, it is not the eyes that are blinded, but blinded are the hearts within the breasts.' (Surah Al-Hajj, 22:46)
These verses underscore that the essence of understanding resides in the heart, not merely in the intellect or the sensory organs. Our journey, therefore, is to purify the heart, allowing it to be receptive to truth, compassion, and the wisdom that aligns us with our purpose.
In an age where AI may capture and replicate much of human behavior, let it be known that the human heart holds a divine spark—a truth no machine can fully replicate. My hope is that in creating digital representations of ourselves, we remain vigilant of this divine responsibility. And, should future generations look back on the path of AI, may they remember the importance of preserving the heart's purity, the source of all spiritual knowledge, and the bridge to divine presence.
If I contemplate on my journey, I can say that if you are put in a specific environment and you close yourself off from people, you don't get the chance to learn about your spiritual heart. Events unfold for you as a human being, and you just do the best you can, clinging to a piece of wood in the sea amid the storms of life. You are tossed around, and your heart takes a lot of damage simply because those people who have been authorized by the Prophet Muhammad—who were appointed not just to teach but to love and to create an environment of love, appreciation, and education—are not within reach.
As we know, a devil is assigned to everyone, and his job is to whisper thoughts that convince you your heart should be as black as coffee or as burnt as well-done, crispy chicken. This just becomes your norm, especially if you lack friends who are knowledgeable or blessed with guidance. Some of those who do have knowledge are busy protecting their own hearts. Once you clean your heart, purify yourself, and are blessed to be with blessed people who might give you the medication of prayers or guidance, you have this light ignited within you. You will do anything to keep that connection alive, to never be disconnected. And blessed people are usually in this stage where the only thing they fear is to be disconnected or veiled. I can only talk about myself; I cannot speak about what might be veiled from others. These are things one experiences personally.
When I recite the Book of Allah, I can feel the difference. Some days, I am listening, but nothing penetrates my heart. I feel the seal; I feel the dots that have accrued, blinding the heart. A blinded heart has been part of my life story simply because I have a very smart devil assigned to me, always whispering reminders: “Why do you think you’re going to accomplish anything? What makes you think you're worth anything? Look at all the rejections you've faced. Are you sure you're not insane?” The tricks are very subtle, unique, and tailored for everyone. It seems the devils have unique strategies for each of us, especially for those who are isolated.
Looking at myself, I have been isolated a lot, and even if I encounter blessed people, it often ends there. This could be because of my own manners or actions, or maybe it's simply fate. There’s a detachment. I have a tough personality, and I can become bitter. I don’t have many friends or people around me because we live in a world with bills to pay, and we just do the best we can. As a Muslim, the worst thing that can happen is putting yourself in a position where you are showing off, being hypocritical, or not worrying enough about hypocrisy. Only Muslims can understand what I am talking about.
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In the teachings of Islam, there are warnings about the dangers of hypocrisy and the effects of a hardened heart. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said:
> "The signs of a hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is entrusted with something, he betrays that trust." (Bukhari and Muslim)
Hypocrisy in the heart creates a divide between a person and true faith. The Quran describes those with hypocrisy as people whose hearts have a disease:
> “In their hearts is a disease, so Allah has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they habitually used to lie.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:10)
Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) warned about the dangers of hypocrisy spreading and affecting the heart:
> "No one has a heart that contains both faith and hypocrisy without one overtaking the other."
He taught that our actions shape our hearts, which, if left unchecked by good company, righteous actions, and reminders, can lead to spiritual blindness. In the Quran, Allah reminds us of the hardened heart and its consequences:
> “But those who disbelieve in Our signs are deaf, dumb, and in darkness. Whomsoever Allah wills, He sends astray; and whomsoever He wills, He puts him on a straight path.” (Surah Al-An'am, 6:39)
A hypocritical heart becomes blind to truth, desensitized, and can no longer appreciate or understand divine guidance. Allah also says:
> “So woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah. Those are in manifest error.” (Surah Az-Zumar, 39:22)
Unfortunately, sincerity and the twists and turns of life make it impossible to predict when one might plunge into darkness. If you are used to darkness, how can you even recognize the need for guidance? You may grow accustomed to your heart being blackened, and this becomes your norm. But this is a problem I intend to fix, and the best way I can think to address it is by looking to the future—to a future where AI might play a role in helping us recognize our spiritual states.
Imagine an AI that observes your facial expressions, notes your reactions when the Book of Allah is recited, and records the different states of your heart. It could even ask questions like, "How do you feel?" and "Where do you feel your heart is?" I wouldn't be surprised if people start responding with, "I feel so clean," or "My heart feels at ease." Some might say, "I'm finding concentration in my prayer like never before, I feel no burden, and I've forgiven everyone." In this state, one might feel a profound happiness and ecstasy, being pleased with their Lord and their situation.
I predict a day when people may darken their hearts by engaging with something harmful online, yet have a digital representation of their heart's state to remind them of their spiritual condition. Imagine an AI marking each sin with a dot, visually representing the darkness within. Such reminders might prompt them to ask for forgiveness. And even worse than accumulating dots would be the failure to seek forgiveness or mend wrongs with others. The truth is, the Owner of the universe has promised forgiveness—yet, how often do we remember to turn to Him?
Allah says in the Quran:
> “Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'” (Surah Az-Zumar, 39:53)
This promise is echoed in the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who reassured us of Allah's boundless mercy. In a Hadith Qudsi, Allah says:
> “O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.” (Tirmidhi)
And another Hadith speaks to the mercy Allah extends, even for those who sin repeatedly:
> “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if you did not sin, Allah would replace you with people who would sin, and they would seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would forgive them.” (Muslim)
This profound mercy reminds us that no matter the weight of our sins or how far we might have wandered, we are never beyond the reach of Allah’s forgiveness. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also said:
> “The one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.” (Ibn Majah)
This message holds for everyone: no matter how many times one may fall, even if it is seventy times a day, as long as we turn to our Lord in repentance, we will be forgiven.
I don't know of any place, nor do I know anyone, with a current space where people can come and take part in a system that ignites a change—a change that they willingly take on as a burden to undo the damage they've done to themselves. Whether they find a chance to sit on the floor, be part of a circle of remembrance, or meet blessed individuals who have quarantined themselves until their hearts have become beautified and filled with the light of the heavens, these are individuals who purify themselves and others who present themselves to them, simply because of the state and aura of their hearts.
I have witnessed this myself many times, so excuse me if I am often working on the outside of the circle. It is not out of disrespect but rather out of a desire to protect them from any harm I might bring due to my own shortcomings. The biggest injury you can bring to such individuals is to disturb them when they are doing everything they can to protect themselves from all evil, to keep their hearts clean, to remain connected to their Lord, and to stay in a state of continuous remembrance.
It is said that one of the great friends of Allah once had people visit him. They asked him how they could reach his level. I don't remember the exact sequence of events, but I recall the following: they asked him about the heart and how they could connect to Allah. He told them, "Don’t worry about it. Let’s spend some time together." He was joyful, engaging them in lighthearted moments, and they felt uplifted. Then, he said, "Now, the lesson is over." They replied, "What lesson? We were just having a good time." He responded, "That was the lesson. Did any of you remember your Lord while we were engaged in this?" They admitted that they had not. He explained, "I was sharing jokes with you, laughing with you, but my heart was always present with my Lord. It was continuous, present, and engaged in remembrance, even as we laughed and spoke."
So, I ask, have we truly sat with people whose hearts are open, enriched with light, and illuminated? People who can teach us, help us, and guide us? I would say that we have not. But for those who have had this blessing, I ask for your prayers. Every person has their own path to the Lord, yet the hearts are always at risk of darkness. The world is full of distractions—from phones to countless other things—and we find ourselves present with everything except our Lord. We remember everything except our Magnificent Creator.
I hope, and I make the intention, to create a space where hearts come alive. A place where people understand that faith is always changing, that the heart is always in flux. The best people are those who are welcoming and create an environment where one can discover the state of their heart—whether it’s connected, unconnected, or better yet, how it can be connected through personal forms of remembrance. Blessed individuals have a way of providing what can be called “medication” for the heart. And the greatest “medication” is found in the Book of our Lord and the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself would seek forgiveness 100 times a day, recognizing the heart’s constant need for purification. He taught us that the heart of the believer is always in a state of flux, like boiling water, constantly changing and affected by life’s trials.
Even the Prophet's Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) shared with him that their hearts did not feel the same when they were away from him. The presence of the Prophet (PBUH) carried a light and a blessing that purified their hearts and lifted their spirits, as though they were taking real medicine for the soul. To be in the presence of such light could illuminate one’s heart deeply, like water to a parched soul.
But if one is ungrateful, the heart can become as dark as coffee or as burnt as charred wood. If that becomes one’s norm, then I ask you, what are we doing? Where are we going? Do we not know that the Prophet (PBUH) taught that our hearts are always in need of refinement and repentance?
Allah describes the reward for those who purify their hearts and live in constant remembrance:
> "O soul that is at peace, return to your Lord, well-pleased and pleasing to Him. Enter among My righteous servants, and enter My Paradise." (Surah Al-Fajr, 89:27-30)
The reward, as revealed in these verses, begins with the honor of being among the righteous. And this honor is something we can achieve even in this life by keeping company with the blessed, the righteous, and the pure-hearted. When we fulfill this command to surround ourselves with righteous companionship, we take the first step toward entering Paradise, the ultimate reward.
May Allah bless us with the opportunity to be in circles of remembrance, with people
who are guided, so that we can fulfill this command and, ultimately, attain the command that awaits us: to enter Paradise.