The Softener of Hearts - Marvelous Tales of the Prophets, Companions and Saints, by Ibn Qudâma al Maqdissî, Translation of the book: "Kitab Arriqatu wa l Bukâ" by Tahar Gaïd

“I liked to collect the news that could cure the hardness of my heart and by them, and drain my tears. I sought these tears for my eyes and this sweetness for my heart, with relentlessness and I did not find support to achieve my ends, better than the news of the Prophets and the Saints, these virtuous men whose memory makes descend the Divine Mercy, whose hearing of the stories quickens the hearts and whose narration of the facts which concern them brings happiness. Also, I gathered the facts that God allowed me, limiting myself, for this purpose, in the sense related to the goal that I proposed to reach, while asking God's help in order to succeed in my business. »

Ibn Qudâma al Maqdissi

If Ibn Qudâma in the 12th century feels the need to soften his heart, it is because for us in the 21st century this need is more than vital, because our hearts are sick and risk dying at any moment. Besides, how many bodies "although alive" are only walking graves for hearts "dead" for a long time, but man is his heart, and it is towards hearts that God looks and not towards the bodies.