God actually gives us a softened heart when we turn to him in search of healing from our hardened hearts. Having a softened heart is like having a whole new heart that is more refreshed, more willing to love God and others, and more open to trusting Him. Thinking about God as someone you have a relationship with, rather than a concept you have to understand, is a great first step toward opening the door for a stronger, richer faith in Him. Allah says:

يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ 

“O mankind! There has come to you good advice from your Lord (i.e. the Quran) and a healing for that which is in your hearts.” (Surah Yunus 10:57)

Everyone’s journey is different, but if you are open to considering what a relationship with God might look like for you, I believe God is working in your life right now, to soften your heart towards Him. The importance of the heart in Islam cannot be understated as Allah refers back to the heart again and again throughout the Quran to show us how powerful the heart is in the lives of humanity. The believer and the non-believer alike are controlled by their hearts. Allah says:

فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّا أُخْفِيَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاءً بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

“And not knows a soul what is hidden for them of (the) comfort (for) the eyes (as) a reward for what they used (to) do.” (Surah As-Sajdah, 32:17)

Islam takes a holistic approach to health. The human heart is not created hard. The hardness of the heart is a disease and needs to be cured. To achieve true success in both worlds, the human being must have a heart that is soft and responsive. It is the duty of every believer to be wary of the state of his heart and take steps to avoid hardness. Islam has shown many preventive measures as well as remedies for the hard heart. Allah says:

وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا 

“And We send down of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe…” (Surah Al-Israa, 17:82)

The Quran can be used as a guide to those suffering from emotional distress and aims to lead people to a meaningful quality of life. Recitation and reflection on the words of Allah bring solace and healing. The Quran is healing for the body and the soul. The heart has a crucial role in the body, more than just the physical function of pumping blood. It has a spiritual function that affects the soul.

Here are some important things to think about on a soft heart:

1. A Soft-hearted person repenting often and seeking forgiveness
2. A Soft-hearted person understanding and reading the Quran
3. A soft-hearted person giving up sins and making dhikr
4. A soft-hearted person inspires the function to reason
5. A soft-hearted person frequently remembering death
6. A Soft-hearted person revive and bring life back 
7. A Soft-hearted never shed a tear yet fears Allah
8. A soft-hearted person also attempt to prayer
9. A soft-hearted person help people from all
10. A Soft-hearted removes anxiety
11. A Soft-hearted have no confined signs 
12. A soft-hearted person seeks forgiveness
13. A Soft-hearted seek help through tolerant
14. A Soft-hearted as a result have fear of Allah
15. A Soft-hearted person plausible as individual 
16. A Soft-hearted person live in joys and blessings
17. A soft-hearted person know the way of accountable
18. A soft-hearted person has a piece of flesh in his body
19. A soft-hearted person has positive feelings and, aspirations
20. A Soft-hearted person Keep his tongue remembrance of Allah

Softening the heart is to be in the remembrance of Allah. Doing any type of worship, reflection and contemplating about the Creator and the signs of Allah in the creation will put your life into context and help you to soften the heart and become humbled. The Heart in the Quran is the most important part of the human body as it controls the actions of every person. Allah says:

لَّا يُؤَاخِذُكُمُ اللَّهُ بِاللَّغْوِ فِي أَيْمَانِكُمْ وَلَٰكِن يُؤَاخِذُكُم بِمَا كَسَبَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ

“Not will take you to task Allah for (what is) unintentional in your oaths, [and] but He takes you to task for what (have) earned your hearts. And Allah (is) Oft-Forgiving, Most Forbearing.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2: 225)

God is so rich in forgiveness and love that He will start softening your heart as soon as you ask Him in faith. Whether you are a new believer who is struggling to stay strong, or someone who has been turned away from the faith for a long time, God is ready to draw near to you and soften your heart with his mercy and love. The station that we humans have in creation is elevated according to the level of connection we have with the creator. The Creator of the heavens and the earth is all-powerful and all-merciful. Allah says:

قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا يَصْنَعُونَ

“Say to the believing men they should lower their gaze and they should guard their chastity. That (is) purer for them. Indeed, Allah (is) All-Aware of what they do.” (Surat An-Nur, 24: 30)

The heart is the central control of the human body, and it is where motivation and energy come from. The mind, on the other hand, is where we rationalise, analyse and create logical reasons and even understandings of the world around us. The more you remember Allah, the quicker you’ll find your way to soften your heart.  Reflection reminds us of the greatness and elevated station of Allah in contrast to the human who is weak and needy.

The greatest of harmful things to the heart is:

• To live in sin – constantly committing sins, and making excuses for them. We tend to fool ourselves by telling ourselves that Allah is the Most Merciful, then committing Sins knowingly.
• What can you do to stop this? Resist, Repent, put barriers between you and the Sin. Then strive hard against yourself falling into this again.
• What is the condition of your heart? Allah the Most Merciful and Compassionate taught us by sending to us the Messenger of mercy (PBUH), that Islam is about perfecting your character until you become full of mercy and compassion.
• Journey of life – This journey of life is a journey of growth and development towards the greater image of a human being. The Prophet Muhammad ((PBUH) is the best of role models.
• How do you soften your heart? The softening of the heart is dependent on your relationship with Allah. You have to spend time connecting to Allah through reflecting on the blessings in your life, and on the power of Allah over all aspects of your life.

It is a serious thing when we allow our hearts to grow cold and harden toward God. Not only does it add to our spiritual and emotional pain, but it alienates us from the deep joy and peace we would otherwise have if we were more open toward God and more honest about our need for him. When you recognise this, you realise that we are in complete need of His mercy and His endless bounties.

Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran: 

• “Seek help through Sabr and Salah.” (Quran 2:45)
• “And rely upon the Ever-Living who does not die.” (Quran, 25:58)
• “He will provide him from where he does not expect.” (Quran, 65:3)
• “And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah.” (Quran, 3:159)
• “That man can have nothing but what he strives for.” (an-Najm, 53:39)
• “When you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah.” (Quran 3: 159)
• “Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity.” (Quran 2:286)

The desire to soften our heart comes from our innermost being, that place deep within us that longs to be in a relationship with God. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts that causes us to listen for God’s guidance, to love and obey God, and to turn away from whatever harms the joy and peace of a relationship with Him. Allah says:

وَإِذَا حُيِّيتُم بِتَحِيَّةٍ فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ رُدُّوهَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَسِيبًا

“And when you are greeted with a greeting, then greet with better than it or return it. Indeed, Allah is of everything an Accountant.” (Surah An-Nisa` 4:86)

No matter where you are on the scale of goodness. Your heart is your key to fixing your life and connection to the Creator. Allah will have mercy for you always, as long as you purify your heart with repentance and work on improving your state. Allah says:

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ 

“Those who believe, and whose hearts find peace in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find peace.” (Surah Ar-Rad 13:28)

Being truthful with ourselves about the ways hardening our heart toward God has hurt us and our relationships allow us to find a way forward. We know where we went wrong, and we can ask for forgiveness from God for the choices we’ve made that have hardened our hearts. You can ask for God’s forgiveness in prayer. Don’t ever be hopeless, Allah will always accept you and raise your rank if you ask and turn back to him.