Let the Heart Settle First


In Islamic scripture and authentic teachings, the heart is not merely the center of emotion. It is the center of understanding and wisdom.


When the Qur’an speaks of blindness of the heart, it is not referring to sight, but to understanding. A heart that cannot perceive truth cannot guide the mind, no matter how sharp the intellect may be.


There are also teachings—ones modern medical science is only now beginning to echo—that point to how deeply the state of the heart affects the entire body. But we don’t need science to tell us this. We’ve lived it.


Every one of us has experienced turmoil so intense it felt like our heart physically ached. And looking back on those moments, I can see how unsettled my heart was—and how unstable my mental state became. The body followed.


An unsettled heart leads to an unstable mind. And from that place, healthy decisions are nearly impossible.


When the heart is triggered, it is not the time to respond. It is a time to pause. To step back from whatever has stirred us. To acknowledge the emotion without acting from it. Not everything requires an immediate response.


Learning to retreat from the trigger is not weakness—it is discipline. It is how we prevent ourselves from adding to the chaos that the world already places on us in that moment.


The truth is, the only thing we truly have control over is ourselves: our thoughts, our actions, our speech. And self-control is not suppression—it is a sign of healing, growth, and wisdom.


Trying to control everything else is an illusion. But self-control is a requirement for steadiness.


Letting the heart settle first is how we protect our peace, our integrity, and our ability to choose wisely.


Continue the Reflection


This entry is part of Peace in the Chaos — a body of work exploring steadiness, restraint, and faith in an unsteady world.


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