■ Dimensions of the Qalb (قلب)
In the science of ma‘rifah (gnosis), the qalb (قلب) is understood not merely as the physical heart, but as the locus of divine knowledge, the mirror of the unseen, and the throne of Allah’s tajallī (manifestation).
The Heart is the meeting point between the realm of khalq (creation) and amr (Divine Command), between form and meaning.
▪︎ Almighty Allah says in the Qur’an:
“قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَكَّاهَا وَقَدْ خَابَ مَنْ دَسَّاهَا”
“Truly has succeeded the one who purifies it, and truly has failed the one who corrupts it.” (Surah Ash-Shams 91:9–10)
This verse indicates that the qalb is the field of purification (tazkiyah) and corruption (tadsiya). The purified Heart becomes a vessel for Divine Light, while the corrupted Heart becomes veiled.
▪︎ Imam al-Ghazali ق said:
“The Heart is like a polished mirror; when it is cleansed from the rust of worldly desires, it reflects the light of the Divine Kingdom.”
Thus, tazkiyah al-qalb is the path to witnessing (shuhūd) and nearness.
■ Dimensions of the Qalb (قلب)
Each ray that emanates from the heart represents a divine aspect or a station of realization
• وجود (Wujūd – Being)
The realization of existence as Divine Presence.
▪︎ Shaykh ‘Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani ق Said,
“When the veils of self are lifted, the servant sees that there is none in existence but Allah.”
• إسلام (Islām – Surrender)
The submission of the heart to Divine Will.
▪︎ As the Qur’an Says:
“لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَٰلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ”
“He has no partner, and with this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims.” (Surah Al-An‘am 6:163)
• إيمان (Īmān – Faith)
The illumination of the Heart with certitude.
▪︎ Imam al-Junayd al-Baghdadi ق Said:
“Īmān is that the light of truth settles in the heart, and the heart finds tranquility in what is unseen.”
• توحيد (Tawḥīd – Unity)
The realization that all multiplicity is a manifestation of the One.
▪︎ Shaykh Ibn ‘Ata’illah al-Iskandari ق Said:
“There is no true existence with Allah, for He is the One Who manifests through the many.”
• معرفة (Ma‘rifah – Gnosis)
Direct knowing of Allah through unveiling (kashf).
▪︎ Sayyiduna Ali (karamAllahu wajhah) Said:
“I knew my Lord by the breaking of my plans.”
• علم (ʿIlm – Knowledge)
Knowledge that descends into the heart, not merely reason.
▪︎ Imam Al-Ghazali ق stated:
“Knowledge that does not descend into the heart is a proof against you, not for you.”
• نور (Nūr – Light)
The illumination of the heart with Divine presence.
▪︎ The Glorious Qur’an Says:
“يَهْدِيهِمْ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ”
“He guides them to a straight path.”
(Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:16)
• شهود (Shuhūd – Witnessing):
The station of seeing Allah’s signs in all things.
▪︎ Shaykh Al-Hallāj ق Said:
“I saw my Lord with the eye of my Heart.
I said: Who are You? He said: You.”
■ The Heart as the Throne of the Divine
When the Heart is purified, it becomes the locus of Divine Manifestation. As the Prophet ﷺ said in a hadith qudsi:
“Neither My heavens nor My earth can contain Me, but the heart of My believing servant contains Me.”
In this station, the qalb becomes the throne (ʿarsh) of Allah’s secrets where ʿilm becomes ma‘rifah, and īmān becomes shuhūd.
▪︎ Imam al-Junayd ق described the qalb al-ʿārif (the Heart of the knower) as:
“A lamp from the Light of the unseen, illuminating whatever it faces.”
Thus, the qalb is not only the center of human consciousness but the divine mirror reflecting the realities of existence (haqā’iq al-wujūd).
Through the Heart, the servant journeys from knowledge (ʿilm) to gnosis (ma‘rifah), from light (nūr) to witnessing (shuhūd), from islām to īmān, and finally to tawḥīd and wujūd where only Allah remains.
Aal-e-Qutub Aal-e-Syed Abdullah Shah Ghazi 