The Human Heart

2/9/20252 min read

The heart is the primary organ for life. When it stops, life ceases altogether. Its purpose is to pump and distribute oxygenated blood throughout the body. However, this same heart also serves as the faculty for human feelings and emotions. It is what makes us "feel" alive. It can feel and experience non-physical qualities, a phenomenon that only the heart can.

This same heart can experience qualities such as hurt and pain as well as empathy and love. It is so malleable that it vacillates between extremes of emotions whilst expansive enough to experience a multitude of feelings. The experiences of the heart is truly abundant yet very intimate and personal to each individual.

According to neuropsychologist Paul Pearsall in his book “The Heart’s Code”, the heart communicates through energy and can capture cellular memory. He examined patients of heart transplant who inadvertently inherited personal traits, preferences and even memories of their donors. He had proven that memory of experiences is captured by the heart and not the brain.

The heart deals with subtle matters that are intangible of non-sense perception. Things like intent, passion and purpose originate from the heart. Thus, one's outwardly speech, character and actions is a manifestation of the inner state of one’s heart. It is the heart that hold the secrets linking the spirit and soul to the body.

An analogy for the heart is that it is like a container. It receives what is poured into it. For example, when exposed to gentleness, it becomes soft and gentle. Similarly, for a child, when he or she is nurtured with love and empathy, the child grows to be a loving and caring person. The heart listens, captures and remembers. With that remembrance, every pulse the heart makes, it reverberates throughout the body.

Thus, it is vital that we take care of our hearts. To nurture and cultivate it with all things good. It is where values reside and emanate. Verily, in the body is a piece of flesh which if sound, the entire body is sound, and if corrupt the entire body is corrupt. Truly, it is the heart. (Sahih Bukhari 52). 

May Allah heal, soften and purify our hearts.