The Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – used to frequently say: “O Turner of the hearts, make my heart steadfast upon Your religion.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah, we have believed in you and in what you brought; do you fear for us?” He said, “Yes; the hearts are between two of the fingers of Allah, and He turns them as He wills.”

Narrated by Aḥmad (no. 12107), and al-Tirmidhī (no. 2140, and this is his wording), from the narration of Anas — may Allah be pleased with him.
Authenticated in Sahīh al-Jāmi‘(no. 7987) and Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ (no. 102).

Brief Explanation of the Hadith

This noble ḥadīth highlights the great significance of the hearts, showing that they are entirely in the Hand of Allah, who turns them as He wills—from faith to disbelief, from obedience to sin, from wakefulness to heedlessness, and vice versa. Therefore, a servant’s safety lies solely in Allah’s care, guidance, and steadfastness. And since the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — frequently supplicated for his heart to be steadfast on Allah’s religion, Anas — may Allah be pleased with him — expressed wonder, saying: “We have believed in you and what you brought; why would you fear for us?” So the prophetic response came in order to instill in the hearts constant fear and sincere dependence upon Allah — so that no believer becomes deceived by his faith, nor feels secure from the turning of his heart after guidance.
As a fulfilment of this very meaning: the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — though infallible, frequently made this supplication out of humility before Allah and to teach his nation that they are in constant need of their Lord’s help and steadfastness. Hence, it is incumbent upon the believer to always turn to Allah and persistently ask Him for firmness, for hearts are between two fingers of the Most Merciful, and He turns them as He wills. And in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, from the narration of Anas — may Allah be pleased with him —: “Hasten to do good deeds before there come tribulations like pieces of a dark night, when a man will be a believer in the morning and a kafir by evening, or he will be a believer in the evening and a kafir by morning, selling his religious commitment for worldly gain.”
In this ḥadīth is also affirmed one of the names of Allah — the Added Names — which is: Muqallib al-Qulūb (the One who turns the hearts).
It also affirms the attribute of fingers for Allah — Glorified and Exalted — as it truly is, in a manner befitting His Majesty and Greatness; we affirm it as the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — affirmed it, without distortion or denial, and without asking how or likening it to creation.
The ḥadīth serves as a call for the Muslim to persist in supplication and to earnestly implore Allah for steadfastness in His religion until meeting Him; this is among the greatest means of success and salvation.