Contemporary psychology has greatly advanced in explaining aspects of human behaviour and emotional distress. However, its frameworks are largely grounded in materialist assumptions. The concepts of the soul and the spiritual heart—essential to the Islamic worldview—are either sidelined or dismissed altogether. Without these, any attempt to understand or heal the human being remains incomplete.

Islam addresses this shortcoming by placing the heart and soul at the centre of its psychological model. It offers not only a profound explanation of human nature but also a clear path for inner purification and stability. Central to this transformative process is da’wah—the act of calling others to Allah. This article will explore the role of da’wah in awakening the heart, refining the soul, and fostering true psychological and spiritual wellbeing.

1. The Heart in Islam: Beyond Biology
In Islam, the heart (qalb) is more than an organ. It is where intentions are formed, decisions are made, and spiritual insight resides. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “There is a piece of flesh in the body; if it is sound, the whole body is sound. If it is corrupted, the whole body is corrupted. Indeed, it is the heart” (Bukhārī and Muslim).

This understanding positions the heart as the most critical part of the human being—not only biologically, but morally and spiritually. Unlike secular theories that focus on the brain, Islam treats the heart as the command centre of the soul. Da’wah reintroduces this truth to those who have been misled into believing that mental and emotional health can be achieved without addressing the state of the heart.

2. Understanding the Levels of the Soul
The Qur’an outlines three principal states of the soul (nafs):

The Commanding Soul (al-nafs al-ammārah): dominated by desires and impulsivity, it calls towards wrongdoing (Qur’an 12:53).

The Reproaching Soul (al-nafs al-lawwāmah): self-aware, it criticises its own failings and seeks redemption (Qur’an 75:2).

The Tranquil Soul (al-nafs al-muṭma’innah): content with divine will, it finds peace in obedience (Qur’an 89:27–30).

Da’wah provides a structured path to help individuals move from the first state to the third. It informs, motivates, and supports the internal shift required to reach a condition of spiritual tranquillity. This is not achieved through coercion, but by nurturing a sense of personal accountability before Allah.

3. Conditions of the Heart: Signs of Life or Death
Islamic teachings divide hearts into three states:

The Sound Heart (qalb salīm): free from arrogance, doubt, and misguidance, devoted to Allah alone.

The Diseased Heart: influenced by hypocrisy or sin, struggling with sincerity and stability.

The Dead Heart: closed to truth, consumed by worldly distractions, and spiritually lifeless.

These categories are dynamic; a heart can shift between them. Da’wah is the mechanism for revival. It carries the message that no heart is beyond healing, provided it turns sincerely to Allah. This is why da’wah must be timely, sensitive, and compassionate—focused on softening the heart and reawakening its innate recognition of truth.

4. Tazkiyah: Purifying the Soul Through Da’wah
The term tazkiyah refers to purification of the soul. It is not merely a recommendation in Islam—it is a necessity. The Qur’an declares: “He has succeeded who purifies it, and he has failed who corrupts it” (Qur’an 91:9–10).

Da’wah, when performed properly, becomes a tool of tazkiyah. It aims not only to spread knowledge but to cultivate moral discipline and spiritual clarity. The true success of da’wah lies in transforming character, not merely in increasing followers.

Purification involves both removal and cultivation:
Removing spiritual diseases such as pride, envy, heedlessness, and insincerity.
Cultivating virtues like patience, humility, gratitude, and truthfulness.
This is a lifelong process, but da’wah provides the necessary motivation, examples, and reminders to sustain it.

5. Tools of Purification and Their Role in Da’wah
Da’wah is effective when it promotes practical means of purification. These include:
Remembrance (dhikr): It calms the mind and softens the heart. “Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest” (Qur’an 13:28).

Supplication (du‘ā’): An act of turning to Allah in vulnerability, it brings healing and hope.

Prayer (ṣalāh): It grounds the believer, reinforces routine, and connects the soul to its source.

Reflection on the Qur’an: It aligns thought and emotion with divine truth.

A da’ī who consistently encourages these practices supports more than religious learning—they guide spiritual transformation. They help the individual construct a life of purpose, resilience, and peace.

6. Returning to the Fitrah Through Da’wah
Every human being is born with a natural inclination (fitrah) towards recognising and submitting to Allah. Over time, this inclination may become clouded by societal influence, unchecked desires, or misleading ideologies. The Prophet ﷺ said, “Every child is born upon the fitrah, then his parents make him a Jew, a Christian, or a Magian” (Bukhārī).

Da’wah reactivates the fitrah. It speaks to the soul’s memory of its covenant with Allah: “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes, we testify” (Qur’an 7:172). This innate knowledge may be buried, but da’wah serves to uncover it. The message does not introduce something new; it reconnects the individual to what is already within them.

7. Responding to Trials Through a Purified Lens
Suffering, loss, and hardship are part of life’s test. The Qur’an reminds us: “[He] who created death and life to test you...” (Qur’an 67:2). For the one who lacks divine guidance, trials may lead to despair. But for the believer, they become opportunities for growth.

Da’wah enables people to see challenges differently. It redefines afflictions as means of purification and elevation. The da’ī becomes a source of perspective and reassurance, showing that trials refine the heart and prepare the soul for nearness to Allah.

8. Recognising the Signs of a Purified Heart
A heart undergoing purification reflects specific traits:

It seeks forgiveness regularly and rejoices in sincere repentance.
It is humbled by truth and detached from ego.
It finds contentment in worship and reflects on the Hereafter.
It avoids unnecessary speech and harmful company.
It evaluates time carefully and spends it in ways that bring benefit.

Such a heart is not emotionless—it is anchored. Through effective da’wah, individuals are guided to assess the condition of their hearts and strive for soundness in thought and action.

9. Da’wah as a Process of Ongoing Care
A one-off conversation is rarely sufficient for deep change. The Prophet ﷺ nurtured his companions over years, recognising that true transformation requires continuous support. Da’wah should be seen as long-term spiritual mentoring.

This involves consistency, patience, and personal engagement. It requires not just knowledge but character, sincerity, and concern. Those engaged in da’wah must model the qualities they invite others to adopt. As the Qur’an says: “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction...” (Qur’an 16:125).

10. The Impact of Da’wah on Societal Wellbeing
Purification is not only personal—it is societal. When individuals refine their hearts, families are strengthened, communities become safer, and societies are uplifted.
Corruption, dishonesty, exploitation—these begin in diseased hearts. Da’wah addresses root causes rather than symptoms. By emphasising internal reform, da’wah contributes to ethical, stable, and just social structures. The heart of one man, if reformed, can influence generations.


The heart and soul form the essence of human identity. Islam places their purification at the centre of personal and collective success. Modern psychological tools may offer some insight, but without acknowledging the spiritual core of the human being, they fall short.

Da’wah is the divinely prescribed method for awakening, healing, and refining the heart and soul. It reconnects people with their Creator, restores forgotten truths, and sets individuals on a path of sincere self-development. When da’wah is rooted in mercy, knowledge, and purpose, it becomes the most powerful means of personal and societal renewal. It is not simply a call to Islam—it is a call to life itself.