rather, it lacks either both qualities or one of them. Al-Junayd, may Allah be pleased with him, described the affirmation of Allah’s oneness as the heart’s speech, thus attributing speech to the heart. There is no dispute that speech, discourse, and similar expressions may be attributed to the soul and the heart when explicitly qualified in this way.

Thus, in an authentic hadith, Abū Hurayrah reports that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Allah has pardoned my community for what they say to themselves, so long as they neither utter it nor act upon it.”

Allah Most High also says: “Indeed, the soul is ever inclined to evil.” [Surah Yūsuf 53]

Abū al-Dardāʾ said: “Let each of you beware lest the hearts of the believers curse him without his knowing.” Al-Hasan al-Basrī said: “The people of knowledge have always held out the promise of reflection through remembrance, and remembrance through reflection. They would converse with hearts until those hearts spoke—and behold, they had hearing and sight! They spoke with knowledge and imparted wisdom.”

Thus, describing the heart and soul as speaking, commanding, conversing, uttering, and the like is accepted by all Muslims when these expressions are explicitly qualified in this way. The dispute, however, concerns two matters: