How can a contemporary Muslim attain a sound heart like the hearts of the Companions who transitioned from polytheism to the pinnacle of purity and faith, especially in light of the hadith: "Indeed, if a sin is hidden, it harms none but its perpetrator, but if it becomes apparent and is not denounced, it harms the general public," which is erroneously attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, but is originally a saying of Bilal ibn Sa'd?

The mentioned narration: "When a sin is concealed, it harms no one but its perpetrator, but if it becomes public and is not condemned, it harms the general populace," is reported from Bilal ibn Sa'd. It is also reported with an elevated chain (marfu') from Abu Hurayrah with the wording: "When a transgression is concealed, it harms no one but its perpetrator, but if it becomes public and is not changed, it harms the general populace." However, this narration is not authentic because its chain of transmission contains a narrator who is abandoned (matruk). Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah cited it for supportive evidence, as it has many corroborating texts that strengthen its meaning. Among these are the hadiths: "There is no man among a people who commits acts of disobedience to Allah among them... except that Allah punishes them," and "Indeed, Allah does not punish the general populace for the actions of a few until the few commit an action that the general populace is able to change but does not change it," and "When sins become prevalent in my Ummah, Allah will afflict them all with a punishment," and "When evil appears on earth, Allah sends down His wrath upon its inhabitants."