Who We Are

Refined Heart

Refined Heart, established in 2014, is dedicated to personal spiritual and educational development based on teachings present in the Qur’an and tradition of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Programming geared toward students, professionals, and families has effectuated positive changes in the lives of many. Since its inception, Refined Heart has been conducting regular gatherings of remembrance, educational workshops, spiritual retreats, and other community-based events in the metro-Detroit area.

Refined Heart is a registered nonprofit organization in the state of Michigan, and is 501(c)(3) federal tax exempt, Tax ID # 82-3103166.

Our Team

Our team is led by Shaykh Ashhar. Shaykh Ashhar grew up in Troy, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, where, in 1994, he completed the memorization of the Qur’an at eight years of age. He graduated high school in 2004 with an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, and subsequently enrolled in the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor to complete a Bachelor’s of Science with a dual concentration in (1) Arabic & Islamic Studies and (2) Brain, Behavior, and Cognitive Sciences. He graduated from medical school at Michigan State University in 2012 and completed his medical residency in neurology, with a sub-specialization in migraine and facial pain, at the renowned Cleveland Clinic. He is currently a practicing neurologist in Detroit, Michigan, and, as a Clinical Associate Professor of Neurology, is heavily involved in medical student education and resident training. He has won numerous teaching awards in his career.

During his college years, Shaykh Ashhar began studying Classical Arabic, Fiqh and other Islamic sciences under local scholars, and sought spiritual guidance from Shaykh Husain Sattar. In 2008, he began formally studying the traditional sciences in the Sacred Learning Program, and in 2014, was granted formal authorization (ijāzah) in the spiritual sciences (tasawwuf). He currently resides in Farmington Hills, Michigan with his wife and four children. He spends his free time guiding others on the path of purifying the heart and attaining nearness to Allah ﷻ.

Daily Routine

Individuals seeking to develop themselves spiritually (tasawwuf) are encouraged to review our online materials and attend programs in person whenever possible. Additionally, seekers are encouraged to follow a daily routine of dhikr, including recitation of the Holy Quran, seeking forgiveness (istighfar), sending salutations on the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (salawat), and remembering Allah ﷻ silently in one’s heart (muraqabah). The tabs below detail the daily routine:

QURANISTIGHFARSALAWATMURAQABAHWUQUFRABITARESOURCES

The Quran is the living miracle of Islam and is a primary means of spiritual development. The Holy Quran should be recited in Arabic for at least 20 minutes daily. During these 20 minutes, seekers recite according to their own ability, whether a few lines or an entire part (juz).

Seekers should review their actions and interactions while regularly seeking forgiveness for any shortcomings or mistakes. Ideally, istighfar should be recited 100 times in the morning and 100 times in the evening using the following litany:

I seek forgiveness from Allah ﷻ, my Lord, from every sin and turn in repentance to Him.

Seekers should send salutations on the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ daily. This is performed after making istighfar and should ideally be recited 100 times in the morning and 100 times in the evening using the following litany:

O Allah ﷻ, send Your mercy on our guide Muhammad ﷺ and on the family of our guide Muhammad ﷺ and send Your blessings and Your peace.

Muraqabah is a type of silent dhikr in which seekers focus on the heart, imagining that it is silently calling on the name of Allah ﷻ. Ideally, students should spend 10 to 20 minutes daily engaged in this silent dhikr.

Literally meaning “to stand still,” wuquf refers to keeping the heart in a state of regular remembrance of Allah ﷻ. Seekers should actively try to remember Allah ﷻ in their heart throughout the day, whether at work or at home. Additionally, emphasis should be placed on following the sunnah in all endeavors, as the Prophet’s ﷺ sunnah exemplifies a life of constant remembrance of Allah ﷻ.

As seekers develop through the above routine, they should maintain a connection by attending gatherings whenever possible and providing an update on their progress regularly.