Means for Attaining Purity of the Heart

The sound heart is the one free from Shirk, malice, hatred, Hasad, stinginess, arrogance, love of this world, and love of leadership.   It is this heart that is free from any evil that would take the person away from Allah, free from any suspicion about His Divine Scripture, and free from any desire that would hinder him from obeying His Commandments.

The purity of the heart and the reconciliation of discord are requirements for piety.  This is why; Allah has combined these in Surah AI-AnfaI, saying:

"So have Taqwa (fear) of Allah and adjust all matters of difference among you." (Surah Al-Anfal, 8: 1)

Ibn Abbas said, "This is a command from Allah to the believers to have Taqwa for Allah and to reconciliate amongst themselves."

When the Prophet was asked who was the best of people, he replied:

"The one with a clean heart and truthful tongue." They asked, "We understand a truthful tongue, but what does a clean heart mean?"  He answered, "It is the heart of one that is pious, pure, and is free of sin, transgressions, hatred and Hasad." (Reported by Ibn Mdjah)

Anas bin Malik said: He and other Companions were sitting with the Messenger (Peace be upon him), who said:

"A man from the people of Paradise will enter now." And a man from Al-Ansar   entered, with his beard dripping water from Wudu’, and holding his sandals in his left hand. The following day the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said the same thing and the same man entered. On the third day, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) again repeated his statement and the same man entered with water dripping and holding his sandals. When the Prophet (Peace be upon him) left, 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin AI-'As (may Allah be pleased with him) followed the man and said, "I quarreled with my father and I swore I would not go to him for three days and nights. Would you shelter me for these days?" The man replied, "Yes." Anas said, "'Abdullah   said  that  he  stayed  with this man for three nights  and  he didn't  see him praying at night, but every time  he  moved  and  changed position  in bed  he would remember  Allah,  saying,   'Allahu Akbar'  until Salat-ul­Fajr." Abdullah said, "I didn't hear anything from him but good.  When the three nights had passed  and I was almost  to the point of regarding his deeds with contempt, I said:   'O slave  of  Allah,  I  really  didn't   abandon  my father  nor  was  I  angry   with him. But, I heard Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) speaking   of you on three separate occasions.  The Prophet (Peace be upon him) had said that a man from the people of Paradise would enter, and you were the one to enter on all the three times. So, I wanted to stay with you to see what you do so that I could follow you. But I have not seen you doing much. So what is that you do for Allah’s Messenger is to say what he had said?'" The man replied, "It is nothing more   than what you saw." When  it was time to  leave,  he called me back and said: "Yes,  it  is  nothing more  than  what you saw, except that I have no place  in myself  for  ill-intentions  or hasad   towards  any  Muslim  and  what  Allah has given them." 'Abdullah said, "This   is what has made you deserving of the praise and this is what we cannot do." (Reported by Ahmad)