Worship of the heart

The worship of the heart is actions related to people’s hearts, such as belief, depending on Allaah, fearing Him, turning to Him, sincerity, and other such matters which stem from the heart. Although the effect of such worship manifest on the limbs, it relates to the heart because that is the place of its origin. No alternative is valid. How can an alternative for intention be imagined, or sincerity, or reliance upon Allaah? Hence, no alternative is imaginable for such actions. Although physical acts of worship allow alternatives, the worship of the heart does not unless the physical act follows it such as the intention to perform pilgrimage, where a person intends to perform pilgrimage on behalf of someone else. This is because in principle, a physical act of worship allows for alternatives. Monetary affairs also allow for alternatives and therefore, intention for someone else is allowed. Thus, what is allowed for something that follows on from an action is not allowed for something which is independent.