Heart, Wisdom and Intelligence

(CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN)

We already know that there are two different aspects of the human soul; the one inspiring the evil, and
wicked deeds, and the other guarding against every inculcation of evil. Wisdom and non-wisdom are closely
related to these two aspects of the soul. The Qur’an informs us that the consequence of following whims and
desires is non-wisdom. Adhering to the better side of the soul, on the other hand, brings wisdom.
A person who becomes the slave of his wishes and desires and thus does not keep himself occupied with
the remembrance of Allah, very soon loses his faculty of wisdom. The Qur’an refers to these people as
“people devoid of wisdom.” (Al-Hashr,59:14). At first sight this may seen incomprehensible. The majority of
people take it for granted that everyone has wisdom, constant and at the same level, never undergoing changes
with time or circumstances. There is, however, some confusion due to the interchangeable use of the concepts
of intelligence and wisdom. Contrary to the common conviction, intelligence and wisdom are quite different
concepts. Everyone can be intelligent, but wisdom is only possessed by those who have faith.
Knowing that following the wicked side of the soul leaves a man deprived of wisdom, what should be
the ways to acquire it? The answer is apparent: man attains wisdom when he obeys his conscience, which
inspires in him ways of hindering the evil of his soul.
Wisdom, as is referred in the Qur’an, is a spiritual tenet experienced in the soul. In more than one verse
there is an explicit reference to “the hearts that learn wisdom”. Accordingly, we can plainly resolve that real
wisdom is far different from intelligence, a mere function of the brain. Wisdom is in the heart, in the soul of
man. The Qur’an points to the fact that wisdom is in the heart, and people devoid of wisdom are lacking in
understanding solely because their hearts are sealed:
َ ‫ۖ فَإِنَّهَا اَل تَ ْع َمى اأْل َ ْب‬ ‫ان يَ ْس َمعُونَ بِهَا‬
‫صا ُر‬ ٌ ‫ض فَتَ ُكونَ لَهُ ْم قُلُوبٌ يَ ْعقِلُونَ بِهَا أَوْ آ َذ‬
ِ ْ‫أَفَلَ ْم يَ ِسيرُوا فِي اأْل َر‬
ِ ‫َولَ ٰـ ِك ْن تَ ْع َمى ْالقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّ ُد‬
‫ور‬
Afalam yaseerou fil-ardi fatakouna lahum quloubuny-ya’qilouna bihaaa aw’aazaa-nuny-yasma’ouna
bihaa? Fa’innahaa laa ta’mal-absaaru wa laakin ta’mal-quloubul-latee fissudour.
Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts (and minds) may thus learn wisdom
and their ears may thus learn to hear? Truly, it is not their eyes that are blind, but their
hearts which are in their breasts. (Al-Hajj, 22:46)
ِ ‫ۖ لَهُ ْم قُلُوبٌ اَل يَ ْفقَهُونَ بِهَا َولَهُ ْم أَ ْعي ٌُن اَل يُب‬ ‫س‬ ْ
‫ُون بِهَا َولَهُ ْم‬
‫ْصر َـ‬ ِ ‫َولَقَ ْد َذ َرأنَا لِ َجهَنَّ َم َكثِيرًا ِمنَ ْال ِجنِّ َواإْل ِ ْن‬
َ‫ۚ أُولَ ٰـئِكَ هُ ُم ْالغَافِلُون‬  ُّ‫ضل‬
َ َ‫ۚ أُولَ ٰـئِكَ َكاأْل َ ْن َع ِام بَلْ هُ ْم أ‬ ‫ان اَل يَ ْس َمعُونَ بِهَا‬
ٌ ‫آ َذ‬
Wa laqad zara’naa li-Jahannama kaseeram-minal-jinni wal’ins; lahum qulou-bul-laa yafqa-houna bihaa,
wa lahum a’yunul-laa yub-sirou’na yasma’ouna bihaa, wa lahum aazaanul-laa yasma’ouna bihaa. Ulaaa’ika
kal-an’aami bal hum azall; ulaaa’ika humul-gaa-filoun.
Many are the Jinns and men we have made for hell. They have hearts with which they do not
understand, eyes with which they do not see and ears with which they do not hear. They are
like cattle - no, indeed, more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning). ( Al-Araf, 7:179)
ِ ِ‫َرضُوا بِأ َ ْن يَ ُكونُوا َم َع ْالخ ََوال‬
َ‫ف َوطُبِ َع َعلَ ٰى قُلُوبِ ِه ْم فَهُ ْم اَل يَ ْفقَهُون‬
Razou bi-any-yakounou ma’al-khawaa-lifi wa tubi’a alaa qulou-bihim fahum laa yafqa-houn.
They prefer to be with (the women), who remain behind (at home): their hearts are sealed and
so they do not understand.(Al-Tawba, 9:87)
‫ك فِي ْالقُرْ آ ِن َوحْ َدهُ َولَّوْ ا َعلَ ٰى‬
َ َّ‫ۚ َوإِ َذا َذ َكرْ تَ َرب‬ ‫َو َج َع ْلنَا َعلَ ٰى قُلُوبِ ِه ْم أَ ِكنَّةً أَ ْن يَ ْفقَهُوهُ َوفِي آ َذانِ ِه ْم َو ْقرًا‬
ِ َ‫أَ ْدب‬
‫ار ِه ْم نُفُورًا‬
Wa ja’alnaa alaa quloubihim akinnatan any-yafqahouhu wa feee aazaanihim waqraa; wa izaa zakarta
Rabbaka fil-Qur’aani Wahdahou wallaw alaaa adbaarihim nufouraa.
CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Heart, Wisdom and Intelligence 1
Prepared by HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
 And We cast a veil upon their hearts (and minds) lest they should understand the Qur’an, and
made them hard of hearing: when you commemorate your Lord and Him alone in the
Qur’an, they turn their backs, fleeing (from the Truth). ( Al-Isra, 17:46)

In the Qur’an it is stated that only the people who “have hearts” will take heed and have faith.
‫إِ َّن فِي َٰ‌ذلِكَ لَ ِذ ْك َر ٰى لِ َم ْن َكانَ لَهُ قَ ْلبٌ أَوْ أَ ْلقَى ال َّس ْم َع َوهُ َو َش ِهي ٌد‬
Inna fee zaalika la-Zikraa liman-kaana lahou qalbun aw alqas-sam’a wa huwa shaheed.
Truly, in this is a Message for anyone who has a heart and understanding, or who listens and
earnestly witnesses (the truth). (Qaf, 50:37)

Therefore, the wisdom referred to in the Qur’an is directly related to the heart and the soul.
One point deserves mention here: wisdom is not constant; it varies. Intelligence, a function of the brain, does
not, however, change except in case of an injury or mental disease. Everyone has a constant “IQ”. Wisdom, on
the other hand, can increase or decrease, a feature closely related to the strengthening of the soul and fear of
Allah (taqwa). In this way, the individual acquires a criterion by which to judge between right and wrong.
This feature, which is an entirely metaphysical one, is communicated to man in the following verse:
‫ۗ َوهَّللا ُ ُذو ْالفَضْ ِل‬ ‫يَا أَيُّهَا الَّ ِذينَ آ َمنُوا إِ ْن تَتَّقُوا هَّللا َ يَجْ َعلْ لَ ُك ْم فُرْ قَانًا َويُ َكفِّرْ َع ْن ُك ْم َسيِّئَاتِ ُك ْم َويَ ْغفِرْ لَ ُك ْم‬
‫ْال َع ِظ ِيم‬
Yaaa’ayyu-hallazeena aamanouu in-tattaquLLaaha yaj-al-lakum Fur-qaananw-wa yu-kaffir ankum sayyi-
aatikum wa yagfir lakum. WaLLaahu Zul-Fazlil-azeem.
O you who believe! If you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion (to judge between right and
wrong), remove from you (all) evil (that may afflict) you, and forgive you: for Allah is the
Lord of grace unbounded. (Al-Anfal, 8:29)

One who does not fear Allah is entirely deprived of this criterion to judge between right and wrong. A
person may be very intelligent; he may be an outstanding physicist, sociologist or a “distinguished” person in
society. He may have remarkable achievements to his credit. However, if he has no conscience, he surely
lacks the true spirit and thus, the true wisdom. Being a renowned scientist, he may discover the mysteries of
the human body. Still he does not possess the spirit and the understanding to conceive of the Creator of that
body. Rather than expressing his astonishment at the marvels of creation and praising the Creator, he turns to
himself and praises himself for his discovery. This scientist is surely the one who has “taken as his god his
vain desire and Allah has knowingly left him astray.”
However, as stated in Surat’al-Rad, the believers are “Those who believe, and whose hearts find
satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah ....for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah hearts find
satisfaction.” (Al-Rad, 13:28)

The state of the hearts of unbelievers, on the other hand, is described in the following verse:
‫ۖ َولَهُ ْم َع َذابٌ َع ِظي ٌم‬ ٌ‫اوة‬
َ ‫ار ِه ْم ِغ َش‬
ِ ‫ص‬َ ‫ۖ َو َعلَ ٰى أَ ْب‬ ‫خَ تَ َم هَّللا ُ َعلَ ٰى قُلُوبِ ِه ْم َو َعلَ ٰى َس ْم ِع ِه ْم‬
KhatamaLLaahu’alaa quloubihim wa’alaa sam‘ihim, wa’alaaa absaarihim gishaawah; wa
lahum’azaabun’azeem.
Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the
penalty they (incur). (Al-Baqara, 2:7)

CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Heart, Wisdom and Intelligence 2

Prepared by HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
 ‫ هُ ْم‬ ۗ ‫ۖ قَالُوا لَوْ نَ ْعلَ ُم قِتَااًل اَل تَّبَ ْعنَا ُك ْم‬ ‫يل هَّللا ِ أَ ِو ا ْدفَعُوا‬
ِ ِ‫يل لَهُ ْم تَ َعالَوْ ا قَاتِلُوا فِي َسب‬ َ ِ‫ۚ َوق‬ ‫َولِيَ ْعلَ َم الَّ ِذينَ نَافَقُوا‬
َ‫ۗ َوهَّللا ُ أَ ْعلَ ُم بِ َما يَ ْكتُ ُمون‬ ‫ْس فِي قُلُوبِ ِه ْم‬
َ ‫ يَقُولُونَ بِأ َ ْف َوا ِه ِه ْم َما لَي‬ ۚ ‫لِ ْل ُك ْف ِر يَوْ َمئِ ٍذ أَ ْق َربُ ِم ْنهُ ْم لِإْل ِ ي َما ِن‬
Wa liya’lamal-lazeena naa-faqou wa qeela lahum ta’aalaw qaatilou fee Sabeeli-LLaahi a’wid-fa’ou.
Qaalou law na’lamu qitaalal-lattaba’naakum. Hum lil-kufri yawma’izin aqrabu minhum lil’eemaan.
Yaqoulouna bi’afwaahi-him-maa laysa fee quloubihim. WaLLaahu A’lamu bimaa yaktumoun.
And as for the Hypocrites, when they were told: “Come, fight in the way of Allah, or (at least)
drive (The foe from your city),” they said: “Had we known how to fight, we should certainly
have followed you.” They were that day nearer to unbelief than to faith, saying with their lie
what was not in their hearts, but Allah has full knowledge of all they conceal.
(Al-Imran, 3:167)

An intelligent person can be lacking in understanding and the faculty of distinguishing between right and
wrong. He may devise an ingenious invention, he may be a good businessman, or may excel in politics. In
doing these, however, he totally lacks the awareness of right and wrong. Though he is communicated with
repeatedly, he remains blind and deaf to the message of the Qur’an. This is a glaring manifestation of his lack
of understanding.

“..Their hearts are sealed and so they do not understand” is an important statement in the Qur’an,
indicating the significance of the heart for understanding.
In the Qur’an considerable space has been allocated to analyzing the relation between the heart and
human behaviour. This relation comes under several headings.

ALLAH COMES IN BETWEEN THE MAN AND HIS HEART

‫ۖ َوا ْعلَ ُموا أَ َّن هَّللا َ يَحُو ُل بَ ْينَ ْال َمرْ ِء َوقَ ْلبِ ِه‬ ‫يَا أَيُّهَا الَّ ِذينَ آ َمنُوا ا ْست َِجيبُوا هَّلِل ِ َولِل َّرسُو ِل إِ َذا َدعَا ُك ْم لِ َما يُحْ يِي ُك ْم‬
َ‫َوأَنَّهُ إِلَ ْي ِه تُحْ َشرُون‬
Yaaa’ayyu-hallazeena aamanus-tajeebou liLLaahi wa lir-Rasouli izaa da-aakum lima yuh-yeekum;
wa’lamouu annaLLaaha yahoulu baynal-mar’i waqal-bihee wa anna-houu ilayhi tuh-sharoun.
O you who believe! Give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calls you to that
which will give you life; and know that Allah comes in between a man and his heart, and that
it is He to Whom you shall (all) be gathered. (Al-Anfal, 8:24)

AFFECTION BETWEEN HEARTS

ِ ‫ۚ إِنَّهُ ع‬ ‫ض َج ِميعًا َما أَلَّ ْفتَ بَ ْينَ قُلُوبِ ِه ْم َولَ ٰـ ِك َّن هَّللا َ أَلَّفَ بَ ْينَهُ ْم‬
‫َزي ٌز‬ ِ ْ‫ۚ لَوْ أَ ْنفَ ْقتَ َما فِي اأْل َر‬ ‫َوأَلَّفَ بَ ْينَ قُلُوبِ ِه ْم‬
‫َح ِكي ٌم‬
Wa’allafa bayna quloubihim. Law anfaqta maa fil’ardi jamee’am-maa’allafta bayna qulou-bihim wa laa-
kinnaLLaaha ’allafa baynahum; innahou Azeezun Hakeem.
And (moreover) He has put affection between their hearts: not if you had spent all that is on
the earth, could you have produced that affection, but Allah has done it: for He is Exalted in
might, and Wise. (Al-Anfal, 8:63)
‫ۚ َو ْاذ ُكرُوا نِ ْع َمتَ هَّللا ِ َعلَ ْي ُك ْم إِ ْذ ُك ْنتُ ْم أَ ْعدَا ًء فَأَلَّفَ بَ ْينَ قُلُوبِ ُك ْم‬ ‫ص ُموا بِ َح ْب ِل هَّللا ِ َج ِميعًا َواَل تَفَ َّرقُوا‬ ِ َ‫َوا ْعت‬
‫ َك َٰ‌ذلِكَ يُبَي ُِّن هَّللا ُ لَ ُك ْم آيَاتِ ِه لَ َعلَّ ُك ْم‬ ۗ ‫ار فَأ َ ْنقَ َذ ُك ْم ِم ْنهَا‬
ِ َّ‫فَأَصْ بَحْ تُ ْم بِنِ ْع َمتِ ِه إِ ْخ َوانًا َو ُك ْنتُ ْم َعلَ ٰى َشفَا ُح ْف َر ٍة ِمنَ الن‬
َ‫تَ ْهتَ ُدون‬
Wa’tasimou bi-HabliLLaahi jamee’anw-wa laa tafar-raqou. Waz-kurou ni’mataLLaahi alaykum iz kuntum
a’daaa’an-fa-allafa bayna quloubikum fa’asbahtum-bi-ni’matiheee ikhwaanaa; wa kuntum alaa shafaa
hufratim-minnaari fa-anqazakum-minhaa. Kazaalika yubayyinuLLaahu lakum Aayaatihee la’al-lakum
tahtadoun.
CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Heart, Wisdom and Intelligence 3
Prepared by HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
 And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and do not be
divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah’s favour to you; for you were
enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His grace, you became brethren; and
you were on the brink of the pit of fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His signs
clear to you, so that you may be guided. (Al-Imran, 3:103)

PERMEATING THE HEARTS

َ ‫ۖ قَالُوا َس ِم ْعنَا َو َع‬ ‫ور ُخ ُذوا َما آتَ ْينَا ُك ْم بِقُ َّو ٍة َوا ْس َمعُوا‬
‫ص ْينَا‬ ُّ ‫َوإِ ْذ أَخَ ْذنَا ِميثَاقَ ُك ْم َو َرفَ ْعنَا فَوْ قَ ُك ُم‬
َ ‫الط‬
َ‫ۚ قُلْ بِ ْئ َس َما يَأْ ُم ُر ُك ْم بِ ِه إِي َمانُ ُك ْم إِ ْن ُك ْنتُ ْم ُم ْؤ ِمنِين‬ ‫َوأُ ْش ِربُوا ِفي قُلُوبِ ِه ُم ْال ِعجْ َل بِ ُك ْف ِر ِه ْم‬
Wa’iz akhaznaa Meesaaqakum wa rafa’naa fawqakumut-Tuur; Khuzou maaa aataynaakum-bi-quwwa-
tinw-wasma’ou. Qaalou sami’naa wa’asaynaa; wa’ush-ribou fee quloubihimul’ijla bi-kufrihim. Qul bi’samaa
ya’murukum-biheee eemaanukum in-kuntum mu’mineen.
And remember We took your covenant and We raised above you (the towering height) of
Mount (Sinai): (Saying): “Hold firmly to what We have given you, and hearken (to the Law).”
They said:” We hear, and we disobey.” And they had to drink into their hearts (of the taint) of
the calf because of their faithlessness. Say: “Vile indeed are the behests of your faith, if you
have any faith!” (Al-Baqara, 2:93)

PIETY OF THE HEARTS

ِ ‫َٰ‌ذلِكَ َو َم ْن يُ َعظِّ ْم َش َعائِ َر هَّللا ِ فَإِنَّهَا ِم ْن تَ ْق َوى ْالقُلُو‬
‫ب‬
Zaalik; wa many-yu’azzim Sha’aaa-iraLLaahi fa’in-nahaa min-taqwal-quloub.
Such (is his state): and whoever holds in honour the symbols of Allah, (in the sacrifice of
animals), such (honour) should come truly from piety of heart. (Al-Hajj, 22:32)

HEARTS TO BE RECONCILED

ِ ‫ب َو ْالغ‬
۞ ‫َار ِمينَ َوفِي‬ ِ ‫ات لِ ْلفُقَ َرا ِء َو ْال َم َسا ِكي ِن َو ْال َعا ِملِينَ َعلَ ْيهَا َو ْال ُمؤَ لَّفَ ِة قُلُوبُهُ ْم َوفِي ال ِّرقَا‬ َّ ‫إِنَّ َما ال‬
ُ َ‫ص َدق‬
‫ۗ َوهَّللا ُ َعلِي ٌم َح ِكي ٌم‬ ِ ‫يضةً ِمنَ هَّللا‬
َ ‫ۖ فَ ِر‬ ‫يل‬ ِ ِ‫َسبِي ِل هَّللا ِ َواب ِْن ال َّسب‬
Innamas-Sadaqaatu lil-fu-qaraaa-i wal-masaa-keeni wal-aamileena alay-haa wal-mu’allafati qulou-
buhum wa fir-riqaabi wal-gaarimeena wa fee Sabee-liLLaahi wabnis-sabeel; faree-zatam-minaLLaah,
waLLaahu Aleemun Hakeem.
Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those
whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; for
the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of
knowledge and wisdom. (Al-Tawba, 9:60)

SATISFACTION OF THE HEARTS

ْ ‫ۗ أَاَل بِ ِذ ْك ِر هَّللا ِ ت‬ ِ ‫َط َمئِ ُّن قُلُوبُهُ ْم بِ ِذ ْك ِر هَّللا‬
ُ‫َط َمئِ ُّن ْالقُلُوب‬ ْ ‫الَّ ِذينَ آ َمنُوا َوت‬
Allazeena aamanou wa tatma-innu qulou-buhum-bi-zikriLLaah. Alaa bi-zik-riLLaahi tatma-innul-quloub.
Allah leaves in error whom He will, and guides those who repent and who believe, and whose
hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance
of Allah all hearts find satisfaction. (Al-Rad, 13:28)
ْ ‫قَالُوا نُ ِري ُد أَ ْن نَأْ ُك َل ِم ْنهَا َوت‬
َ ‫َط َمئِ َّن قُلُوبُنَا َونَ ْعلَ َم أَ ْن قَ ْد‬
َ‫ص َد ْقتَنَا َونَ ُكونَ َعلَ ْيهَا ِمنَ ال َّشا ِه ِدين‬
Qaalou nureedu’anna-kula minhaa wa tatma’inna quloubunaa wa na’lama an-qad sadaq-tanaa wa
nakouna alayhaa minash-shaa-hideen.
The disciples of Jesus said: “We only wish to eat thereof and satisfy our hearts, and to know
that you have indeed told us the truth; and that we ourselves may be witnesses to the
miracle.” (Al-Maeda, 5:113)

CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Heart, Wisdom and Intelligence 4

Prepared by HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
 ُّ ‫َولِيَ ْعلَ َم الَّ ِذينَ أُوتُوا ْال ِع ْل َم أَنَّهُ ْال َح‬
‫ۗ َوإِ َّن هَّللا َ لَهَا ِد الَّ ِذينَ آ َمنُوا إِلَ ٰى‬ ‫ق ِم ْن َربِّكَ فَي ُْؤ ِمنُوا بِ ِه فَتُ ْخبِتَ لَهُ قُلُوبُهُ ْم‬
‫اط ُم ْستَقِ ٍيم‬
ٍ ‫ص َر‬ ِ
Wa liya’lamallazeena outul-ilma annahul-Haqqu mir-Rabbika fayu’minou bihee fa-tukhbitu lahou
quloubuhum; wa innaLLaaha la-Haadillazeena aamnaouu ilaa Siraatim-Mustaqeem.
Those on whom knowledge has been bestowed may learn that the (Qur’an) is the Truth from
your Lord, and may thus believe therein, and their hearts may be made humbly (open) to it:
for, truly, Allah is the Guide of those who believe, to the Straight Way. ( Al-Hajj, 22:54)
‫يز ْال َح ِك ِيم‬ ْ ‫َو َما َج َعلَهُ هَّللا ُ إِاَّل بُ ْش َر ٰى لَ ُك ْم َولِت‬
ِ ‫ۗ َو َما النَّصْ ُر إِاَّل ِم ْن ِع ْن ِد هَّللا ِ ْال َع ِز‬ ‫َط َمئِ َّن قُلُوبُ ُك ْم بِ ِه‬
Wa maaa ja-alahuLLaahu illaa hushraa lakum wa litatma’inna quloubukum-bih; wa mannasru’illaa min
indiLLaahil-Azeezil-Hakeem.
Allah made it but a message of hope for you and an assurance to your hearts: (in any case)
there is no help except from Allah, the Exalted, the Wise One. ( Al-Imran, 3:126)

HEARTS BECOMING FIRM

ُّ ‫ك فِي هَ ٰـ ِذ ِه ْال َح‬
‫ق َو َموْ ِعظَةٌ َو ِذ ْك َر ٰى‬ ُ ‫َو ُكاًّل نَقُصُّ َعلَ ْيكَ ِم ْن أَ ْنبَا ِء الرُّ س ُِل َما نُثَب‬
َ ‫ۚ َو َجا َء‬  َ‫ِّت بِ ِه فُؤَادَك‬
َ‫لِ ْل ُم ْؤ ِمنِين‬
Wa kullan-naqussu alayka min’ambaaa’ir-rusuli maa nusabbitu bihee fu-aadak; wa jaa’aka fee haa-zihil-
Haqqu wa maw-izatunw-wa zikraa lil-Mu’moneen.
All that we relate to you of the stories of the messengers - with it We make firm you heart: in
them there comes to you the Truth, as well as an exhortation and a message of remembrance
to those who believe. (Hud, 11:120)

A VOID IN THE HEART

َ ‫ۚ إِنَّ َما يُؤَ ِّخ ُرهُ ْم لِيَوْ ٍم تَ ْشخَ صُ فِي ِه اأْل َ ْب‬  َ‫َواَل تَحْ َسبَ َّن هَّللا َ غَافِاًل َع َّما يَ ْع َم ُل الظَّالِ ُمون‬
‫صا ُر‬
‫ۖ َوأَ ْفئِ َدتُهُ ْم هَ َوا ٌء‬ ‫ُم ْه ِط ِعينَ ُم ْقنِ ِعي ُر ُءو ِس ِه ْم اَل يَرْ تَ ُّد إِلَ ْي ِه ْم طَرْ فُهُ ْم‬
Wa laa tahsaban-naLLaaha gaafilan ammaa ya’maluz-zaali-moun. Innamaa yu-akh-khiruhum li-Yawmin-
tash-khasu feehil-absaar, -
Muhti-eena muqni-ee ru’ousihim laa yartaddu ilay-him tar-fuhum, wa af-idatuhum hawaaa.
Never think that Allah is unaware of the wrongdoers’ actions. He only gives them respite till
the day on which the eyes will fixedly stare in horror as they come running forward with
necks outstretched, their heads uplifted, their gaze not returning towards them, and their
hearts a gaping void! (Abraham, 14:42-43)

CASTING TERROR INTO THE HEARTS OF THE UNBELIEVERS

َ ‫ۚ َوبِ ْئ‬ ‫ۖ َو َمأْ َواهُ ُم النَّا ُر‬ ‫ب بِ َما أَ ْش َر ُكوا بِاهَّلل ِ َما لَ ْم يُنَ ِّزلْ بِ ِه س ُْلطَانًا‬
‫س‬ ِ ‫َسنُ ْلقِي فِي قُلُو‬
َ ‫ب الَّ ِذينَ َكفَرُوا الرُّ ْع‬
َ‫َم ْث َوى الظَّالِ ِمين‬
Sanulqee fee qulou-billazeena kafarur-ru’ba bimaaa ashrakou biLLaahi maa lam yunazzil bihee sultaanaa;
wa ma’waahumun-Naar; wa bi’sa maswaz-zaalimeen.
Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, because they associated
companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority: their abode will be the fire: And
evil is the home of the wrong-doers! (Al-Imran, 3:151)

HEARTS FILLED WITH DISGUST AND HORROR

ْ ‫َوإِ َذا ُذ ِك َر هَّللا ُ َوحْ َدهُ ا ْش َمأ َ َّز‬
‫ۖ َوإِ َذا ُذ ِك َر الَّ ِذينَ ِم ْن ُدونِ ِه إِ َذا هُ ْم‬ ‫ت قُلُوبُ الَّ ِذينَ اَل ي ُْؤ ِمنُونَ بِاآْل ِخ َر ِة‬
َ‫يَ ْستَب ِْشرُون‬
Wa’izaa zukiraLLaahu wahdahushma-azzat qulou-bullazeena laa yu’minouna bil-Aakhirah; wa’izaa
zukirallazeena min-douniheee izaa hum yastabshiroun.

CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Heart, Wisdom and Intelligence 5

Prepared by HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
 When Allah, the One and Only, is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the
hereafter are filled with disgust and horror; but when (gods) other than Allah are mentioned,
behold, they are filled with joy! (Az-Zumar, 39:45)

THE HEART’S INCLINATION

َ ْ‫َولِتَصْ غ َٰى إِلَ ْي ِه أَ ْفئِ َدةُ الَّ ِذينَ اَل ي ُْؤ ِمنُونَ بِاآْل ِخ َر ِة َولِيَر‬
َ‫ضوْ هُ َولِيَ ْقت َِرفُوا َما هُ ْم ُم ْقت َِرفُون‬
Wa li-tasgaaa ilayhi af’idatul-lazeena laa yu’minouna bil’Aakhirati wa li-yar-zawhu wa li-yaqtarifou maa
hum-muqtarifoun.
To such (deceit) let the hearts of those incline, who have no faith in the hereafter: let them
delight in it, and let them earn from it what they may. ( Al-Anaam, 6:113)

THE CAUSE OF SIGHS AND HEARTFELT REGRET

ْ‫ض أَوْ َكانُوا ُغ ًّزى لَو‬ ِ ْ‫ض َربُوا فِي اأْل َر‬ َ ‫يَا أَيُّهَا الَّ ِذينَ آ َمنُوا اَل تَ ُكونُوا َكالَّ ِذينَ َكفَرُوا َوقَالُوا إِل ِ ْخ َوانِ ِه ْم إِ َذا‬
َ‫ۗ َوهَّللا ُ بِ َما تَ ْع َملُون‬ ‫يت‬
ُ ‫ۗ َوهَّللا ُ يُحْ يِي َويُ ِم‬ ‫ك َحس َْرةً فِي قُلُوبِ ِه ْم‬ َ ِ‫َكانُوا ِع ْن َدنَا َما َماتُوا َو َما قُتِلُوا لِيَجْ َع َل هَّللا ُ َٰ‌ذل‬
‫صي ٌر‬
ِ َ‫ب‬
Yaaa’ayyuhallazeena aamanou laa takounou kallazeena kafarou wa qaalou li-ikhwaa-nihim izaa zarabou
fil’ardi aw kaanou guzzal-law kaanou indanaa maa maatou wa maa qutilou; li-yaj’alaLLaahu zaalika
hasratan-fee-quloubihim. Wallaahu yuhyee wa yumeet, waLLaahu bimaa ta’malouna Baseer.
O you who believe! Do not be like the Unbelievers, who say of their brethren, when they meet
death abroad or engaged in fighting: “If they had stayed with us, they would not have died, or
been slain.” Allah will cause them to sigh and have regrets in their hearts. It is Allah who
gives Life and Death, and Allah sees well all that you do. (Al-Imran, 3:156)

SAYING THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN THE HEART

‫ هُ ْم‬ ۗ ‫ۖ قَالُوا لَوْ نَ ْعلَ ُم قِتَااًل اَل تَّبَ ْعنَا ُك ْم‬ ‫يل هَّللا ِ أَ ِو ا ْدفَعُوا‬
ِ ِ‫يل لَهُ ْم تَ َعالَوْ ا قَاتِلُوا فِي َسب‬ َ ِ‫ۚ َوق‬ ‫َولِيَ ْعلَ َم الَّ ِذينَ نَافَقُوا‬
َ‫ۗ َوهَّللا ُ أَ ْعلَ ُم بِ َما يَ ْكتُ ُمون‬ ‫ْس فِي قُلُوبِ ِه ْم‬
َ ‫ يَقُولُونَ بِأ َ ْف َوا ِه ِه ْم َما لَي‬ ۚ ‫لِ ْل ُك ْف ِر يَوْ َمئِ ٍذ أَ ْق َربُ ِم ْنهُ ْم لِإْل ِ ي َما ِن‬
Wa liya’lamal-lazeena naa-faqou wa qeela lahum ta’aalaw qaatilou fee Sabeeli-LLaahi a’wid-fa’ou.
Qaalou law na’lamu qitaalal-lattaba’naakum. Hum lil-kufri yawma’izin aqrabu minhum lil’eemaan.
Yaqoulouna bi’afwaahi-him-maa laysa fee quloubihim. WaLLaahu A’lamu bimaa yaktumoun.
When the hypocrites were told: “Come, fight in the way of Allah, or (at least) drive (the foe
from your city),” they said: “Had we known how to fight, we should certainly have followed
you.” They were that day nearer to unbelief than to faith, saying with their lips what was not
in their hearts, but Allah has full knowledge of all that they conceal. ( Al-Imran, 3:167)

KEEPING SECRETS IN THE HEART

َ ِ‫أُولَ ٰـئ‬
ْ ‫ك الَّ ِذينَ يَ ْعلَ ُم هَّللا ُ َما فِي قُلُوبِ ِه ْم فَأ َ ْع ِرضْ َع ْنهُ ْم َو ِع‬
‫ظهُ ْم َوقُلْ لَهُ ْم فِي أَ ْنفُ ِس ِه ْم قَوْ اًل بَلِي ًغا‬
Ulaaa’ikallazeena ya’lamuLLaahu maa fee quloubihim fa’a-riz’anhum wa’iz-hum wa qullahum feee
anfusihim qawlam-baleegaa.
Those men, Allah knows what is in their hearts; so keep clear of them, but admonish them,
and speak to them a word to reach their very souls. (An-Nisa, 4:63)

HEARTS BEING CUT INTO PIECES

‫ۗ َوهَّللا ُ َعلِي ٌم َح ِكي ٌم‬ ‫اَل يَزَا ُل بُ ْنيَانُهُ ُم الَّ ِذي بَنَوْ ا ِريبَةً فِي قُلُوبِ ِه ْم إِاَّل أَ ْن تَقَطَّ َع قُلُوبُهُ ْم‬
Laa yazaalu bunyaanu-humullazee ba-naw reebatan-fee qulou-bihim illaaa antaqatta’a quloubu-hum.
WaLLaahu Aleemun Hakeem.
The edifice of those who so build (i.e. not founded on fear of God) is never free from suspicion
and fills their hearts with doubt, until their hearts are cut to pieces. And Allah is All-Knowing
and Wise. (At-Tawba, 9:110)

CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Heart, Wisdom and Intelligence 6

Prepared by HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
HEARTS DEVIATING
ُ‫ك أَ ْنتَ ْال َوهَّاب‬
َ َّ‫ۚ إِن‬ ً‫َربَّنَا اَل تُ ِز ْغ قُلُوبَنَا بَ ْع َد إِ ْذ هَ َد ْيتَنَا َوهَبْ لَنَا ِم ْن لَ ُد ْنكَ َرحْ َمة‬
Rabbanaa laa tuzig qulou-banaa ba’da iz hadaytanaa wahab lanaa milladunka rah-mah; innaka Antal-
Wah-haab.
“Our Lord!”(they say), “Let not our hearts deviate now after you have guided us, but grant us
mercy from your own presence; for you are the giver of bounties without measure.“ ( Al-Imran,
3:8)
‫ار الَّ ِذينَ اتَّبَعُوهُ فِي َسا َع ِة ْال ُع ْس َر ِة ِم ْن بَ ْع ِد َما َكا َد يَ ِزي ُغ‬
ِ ‫ص‬َ ‫اج ِرينَ َواأْل َ ْن‬ ِ َ‫َاب هَّللا ُ َعلَى النَّبِ ِّي َو ْال ُمه‬
َ ‫لَقَ ْد ت‬
‫وف َر ِحي ٌم‬ َ ‫ق ِم ْنهُ ْم ثُ َّم ت‬
ٌ ‫ۚ إِنَّهُ بِ ِه ْم َر ُء‬ ‫َاب َعلَ ْي ِه ْم‬ ٍ ‫قُلُوبُ فَ ِري‬
Laqattaa-baLLaahu alan-Nabiyyi wal-Muhaa-jireena wal-Ansaaril-lazee-nattaba-ouhu fee saa’atli-usrati
mim-ba’di maa kaada yazeegu quloubu faree-qim-minhum thumma taaba alayhim; innahou bihim Ra’oufur-
Raheem.
Allah turned with favour to the Prophet, the Muhajirs, and the Ansar, who followed him in a
time of distress, after the hearts of them had nearly swerved (from duty); but He turned to
them (also): for He is Most Kind and Most Merciful to them.( Al-Tawba, 9:117)

HEARTS BEING ALIKE

ْ َ‫ تَ َشابَه‬ ۘ ‫ َك َٰ‌ذلِكَ قَا َل الَّ ِذينَ ِم ْن قَ ْبلِ ِه ْم ِم ْث َل قَوْ لِ ِه ْم‬ ۗ ٌ‫ال الَّ ِذينَ اَل يَ ْعلَ ُمونَ لَوْ اَل يُ َكلِّ ُمنَا هَّللا ُ أَوْ تَأْتِينَا آيَة‬
‫ت‬ َ َ‫َوق‬
َ‫ت لِقَوْ ٍم يُوقِنُون‬ ِ ‫ۗ قَ ْد بَيَّنَّا اآْل يَا‬ ‫قُلُوبُهُ ْم‬
Wa qaalal-lazeena laa ya’lamouna law laa yukallimunaLLaahu aw ta’teenaa Aayah? Kazaalika qaalal-
lazeena min-qablihim-misla qawlihim. Tashaabahat quloubuhum. Qad bayyannal-aayaati li-qawminy-
youqinoun.
Those without knowledge ask: “Why does Allah not speak to us? or give us a sign?” So said
the people before them in words of similar import. Their hearts are all alike. We have indeed
made clear the signs to any people who hold firmly to faith (in their hearts).( Al-Baqara, 2:118)

HEARTS THAT REFUSE

‫ يُرْ ضُونَ ُك ْم بِأ َ ْف َوا ِه ِه ْم َوتَأْبَ ٰى قُلُوبُهُ ْم َوأَ ْكثَ ُرهُ ْم‬ ۚ ً‫ظهَرُوا َعلَ ْي ُك ْم اَل يَرْ قُبُوا فِي ُك ْم إِاًّل َواَل ِذ َّمة‬
ْ َ‫َك ْيفَ َوإِ ْن ي‬
َ‫فَا ِسقُون‬
Kayfa wa’iny-yaz-harou alay-kum laa yar-qubou fee-kum illanw-wa laa zimmah? Yurzou-nakum-bi-afwaa-
hi-him wa ta’baa qulou-buhum; wa aksaruhum faasiqoun.
How can you trust them (i.e. the idolaters), seeing that if they get an advantage over you, they
do not respect in you the ties either of kinship or of covenant? With (fair words from) their
mouths they entice you, while their hearts refuse. And most of them are rebellious and
wicked. (Al-Tawba, 9:8)

FAITH NOT ENTERING INTO THE HEART

ُ ‫ۖ قُلْ لَ ْم تُ ْؤ ِمنُوا َولَ ٰـ ِك ْن قُولُوا أَ ْسلَ ْمنَا َولَ َّما يَ ْد ُخ ِل اإْل ِ ي َم‬ ‫ت اأْل َ ْع َرابُ آ َمنَّا‬
۞ ‫ۖ َوإِ ْن تُ ِطيعُوا‬ ‫ان فِي قُلُوبِ ُك ْم‬ ِ َ‫قَال‬
‫ۚ إِ َّن هَّللا َ َغفُو ٌر َر ِحي ٌم‬ ‫هَّللا َ َو َرسُولَهُ اَل يَلِ ْت ُك ْم ِم ْن أَ ْع َمالِ ُك ْم َش ْيئًا‬
Qaalatil-A-raabu aamannaa. Qul lam tu’minou wa laakin-qoulouu aslamnaa wa lamaa yadkhulil-eemaanu
fee quloubikum. Wa’in-tutee’uLLaaha wa rasoulahou laa yalit-kum-min a’maalikum shay’aa: innaLLaaha
Gafourur-Raheem.
The desert Arabs say, “We believe.” Say, “You have no faith; but you (only) say, ‘We have
submitted our wills to Allah,’ for Faith has not yet entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah
and His Messenger, He will not deny you the reward of your labours: for Allah is Oft-
Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Al-Hujraat, 49:14)

CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Heart, Wisdom and Intelligence 7

Prepared by HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
DISEASE IN THE HEART
َ‫ۖ َولَهُ ْم َع َذابٌ أَلِي ٌم بِ َما َكانُوا يَ ْك ِذبُون‬ ‫فِي قُلُوبِ ِه ْم َم َرضٌ فَزَا َدهُ ُم هَّللا ُ َم َرضًا‬
Fee quloubihim maradun fazaada-humuLLaahu marazaa: Wa lahum azaabun aleemum bimaa kaanou
yakziboun.
In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has aggravated their disease: And grievous is the
penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves). ( Al-Baqara, 2:10)
‫ۚ فَ َع َسى هَّللا ُ أَ ْن يَأْتِ َي‬ ٌ‫صيبَنَا دَائِ َرة‬
ِ ُ‫ار ُعونَ فِي ِه ْم يَقُولُونَ ن َْخ َش ٰى أَ ْن ت‬ ِ ‫فَت ََرى الَّ ِذينَ ِفي قُلُوبِ ِه ْم َم َرضٌ يُ َس‬
َ‫ح أَوْ أَ ْم ٍر ِم ْن ِع ْن ِد ِه فَيُصْ بِحُوا َعلَ ٰى َما أَ َسرُّ وا فِي أَ ْنفُ ِس ِه ْم نَا ِد ِمين‬
ِ ‫بِ ْالفَ ْت‬
Fataral-lazeena fee quloubihim-marazuny-yusaari’ouna feehim yaqoulouna nakh-shaaa an-tusee-banaa
daaa’irah. Fa’asaLLaahu any-ya’tiya bil-fathi aw’amrim-min’indihee fa-yusbihou alaa maaa asarrou feee
anfusihim naadimeen.
Those in whose hearts are a disease - you see how eagerly they run about amongst them,
saying: “We fear lest a change of fortune bring us disaster.” Ah! perhaps Allah will give (you)
victory, or a decision according to His will. Then will they repent of the thoughts which they
secretly harboured in their hearts. (Al-Maeda, 5:52)
ٍ ‫ۗ َوإِ َّن الظَّالِ ِمينَ لَفِي ِشقَا‬ ‫اسيَ ِة قُلُوبُهُ ْم‬
‫ق بَ ِعي ٍد‬ ِ َ‫ان فِ ْتنَةً لِلَّ ِذينَ فِي قُلُوبِ ِه ْم َم َرضٌ َو ْالق‬
ُ َ‫لِيَجْ َع َل َما ي ُْلقِي ال َّش ْيط‬
Li-yaj’ala maa yulqish-Shaytaanu fitnatal-lillazeena fee quloubihim-marazunw-wal-qaasiyati quloubuhum;
wa innaz-zaalimeena lafee shiqaa-qim-ba’eed;
Allah makes the suggestions thrown in by Satan a trial for those in whose hearts is a disease
and who are hardened of heart: truly, the wrong-doers are in open schism, far (from the
Truth):(Al-Hajj, 22:53)

HEARTS BECOMING HARDENED

ۚ ‫ۚ َوإِ َّن ِمنَ ْال ِح َجا َر ِة لَ َما يَتَفَ َّج ُر ِم ْنهُ اأْل َ ْنهَا ُر‬ ً‫ك فَ ِه َي َك ْال ِح َجا َر ِة أَوْ أَ َش ُّد قَس َْوة‬َ ِ‫ت قُلُوبُ ُك ْم ِم ْن بَ ْع ِد َٰ‌ذل‬ ْ ‫ثُ َّم قَ َس‬
َ‫ۗ َو َما هَّللا ُ بِغَافِ ٍل َع َّما تَ ْع َملُون‬ ِ ‫ۚ َوإِ َّن ِم ْنهَا لَ َما يَ ْهبِطُ ِم ْن َخ ْشيَ ِة هَّللا‬ ‫ق فَيَ ْخ ُر ُج ِم ْنهُ ْال َما ُء‬ ُ َّ‫َوإِ َّن ِم ْنهَا لَ َما يَ َّشق‬
Thumma qasat quloubukum-mim-ba’di zaalika fahiya kalhijaarati aw ashaddu qaswah. Wa inna minal-
hijaarati lamaa yatafajjaru minhul-anhaar; wa’inna minhaa lamaa yash-shaqqaqu-fa-yakhruju minhul-
maaa’. Wa’inna minhaa lamaa yahbitu min khash-yati-LLaah. Wa maLLaahu bi-gaafileen ammaa ta’maloun.
Thenceforth were your hearts hardened: they became like a rock and even worse in hardness.
For among rocks there are some from which rivers gush forth; others there are which when
split asunder send forth water; and others which sink for fear of Allah. And Allah is not
unmindful of what you do. (Al-Baqara, 2:74)
َ‫ان َما َكانُوا يَ ْع َملُون‬
ُ َ‫ت قُلُوبُهُ ْم َوزَ يَّنَ لَهُ ُم ال َّش ْيط‬ َ َ‫فَلَوْ اَل إِ ْذ َجا َءهُ ْم بَأْ ُسنَا ت‬
ْ ‫ض َّر ُعوا َولَ ٰـ ِك ْن قَ َس‬
Fa-law laaa’iz jaaa’ahum ba’sunaa tazarra’ou walaa-kin qasat quloubuhum wa zay-yana lahumush-
Shaytaanu maa kaanmou ya’maloun.
When our scourge reached them, why then did they not learn humility? On the contrary,
their hearts became hardened, and Satan made their (sinful) acts seem alluring to them.
(Al-Anaam, 6:43)

َ ِ‫ۚ أُولَ ٰـئ‬ ِ ‫ۚ فَ َو ْي ٌل لِ ْلقَا ِسيَ ِة قُلُوبُهُ ْم ِم ْن ِذ ْك ِر هَّللا‬ ‫ور ِم ْن َربِّ ِه‬

‫ك فِي‬ َ ُ ‫أَفَ َم ْن َش َر َح هَّللا‬
ٍ ُ‫ص ْد َرهُ لِإْل ِ ْساَل ِم فَهُ َو َعلَ ٰى ن‬
ٍ ِ‫ضاَل ٍل ُمب‬
‫ين‬ َ
Afaman-sharahaLLaahu sadrahou lil-islaami fahuwa alaa Nourim-mir-Rabbih? Fa-waylul-lil-qaasiyati
quloubuhum-min zikriLLaah. Ulaaa’ika fee zalaalim-mubeen.
Is one whose heart Allah has opened to Islam, so that he has received Enlightenment from
Allah, (no better than one who is hard-hearted)? Woe to those whose hearts are hardened
against celebrating the praises of Allah! They are manifestly wandering (in error)! ( Az-Zumar,
39:22)

CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Heart, Wisdom and Intelligence 8

Prepared by HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
A SEAL ON THE HEARTS
ٌ ‫ق َوقَوْ لِ ِه ْم قُلُوبُنَا ُغ ْل‬
ُ ‫ بَلْ طَبَ َع هَّللا‬ ۚ ‫ف‬ ٍّ ‫ت هَّللا ِ َوقَ ْتلِ ِه ُم اأْل َ ْنبِيَا َء بِ َغي ِْر َح‬
ِ ‫ض ِه ْم ِميثَاقَهُ ْم َو ُك ْف ِر ِه ْم بِآيَا‬ ِ ‫فَبِ َما نَ ْق‬
‫َعلَ ْيهَا بِ ُك ْف ِر ِه ْم فَاَل ي ُْؤ ِمنُونَ إِاَّل قَلِياًل‬
Fa-bimaa naq-zihim-Mee-saaqahum wa kufrihim-bi’AayaatiLLaahi wa qatli-himul’ambi-yaaa’a bi-gayri
haqqinw-wa qawlihim quloubunaa gulf; - bal taba’aLLaahu alayhaa bi-kufrihim falaa yu’minouna illaa
qaleelaa; -
They incurred divine displeasure in that they broke their covenant; they rejected the signs of
Allah; they slew the Messengers in defiance of right; and they said, “Our hearts are the
wrappings (which preserve Allah’s Word; we need no more)”; No, indeed, Allah set the seal
on their hearts for their blasphemy. They have no faith; except a few of them. ( An-Nisa, 4:155)
‫ب أَ ْقفَالُهَا‬
ٍ ‫أَفَاَل يَتَ َدبَّرُونَ ْالقُرْ آنَ أَ ْم َعلَ ٰى قُلُو‬
Afalaa yatadabba-rounal-Qur’aana am alaa quloubin aqfaaluhaa?
Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur’an, or are there locks upon their
hearts? (Muhammad, 47:24)
ْ ‫ۚ َون‬ ‫ص ْبنَاهُ ْم بِ ُذنُوبِ ِه ْم‬
‫َطبَ ُع َعلَ ٰى قُلُوبِ ِه ْم فَهُ ْم اَل‬ َ َ‫ض ِم ْن بَ ْع ِد أَ ْهلِهَا أَ ْن لَوْ نَ َشا ُء أ‬
َ ْ‫أَ َولَ ْم يَ ْه ِد لِلَّ ِذينَ يَ ِرثُونَ اأْل َر‬
َ‫يَ ْس َمعُون‬
Awa-lam yahdi lillazeena yar-sounal’arda mim-ba’di’ahlihaaa’al-law na-shaaa’u asab-naahum-
bizunoubihim, wa natba’u’alaa qulou-bihim fahum laa yasma-oun?
To those who inherit the earth in succession to its (previous) possessors, is it not a guiding,
(lesson) that, if We so willed, We could punish them (too) for their sins, and seal up their
hearts, so that they could not hear? (Al-Araf, 7:100)
‫ۖ َولَهُ ْم َع َذابٌ َع ِظي ٌم‬ ٌ‫اوة‬
َ ‫ار ِه ْم ِغ َش‬
ِ ‫ص‬َ ‫ۖ َو َعلَ ٰى أَ ْب‬ ‫خَ تَ َم هَّللا ُ َعلَ ٰى قُلُوبِ ِه ْم َو َعلَ ٰى َس ْم ِع ِه ْم‬
KhatamaLLaahu’alaa quloubihim wa’alaa sam‘ihim, wa’alaaa absaarihim gishaawah; wa
lahum’azaabun’azeem.
Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the
penalty they (incur). (Al-Baqara, 2:7)
ْ َ‫ َك َٰ‌ذلِكَ ي‬ ۚ ‫ َكب َُر َم ْقتًا ِع ْن َد هَّللا ِ َو ِع ْن َد الَّ ِذينَ آ َمنُوا‬ ۖ ‫ت هَّللا ِ بِ َغي ِْر س ُْلطَا ٍن أَتَاهُ ْم‬
ُ ‫طبَ ُع هَّللا‬ ِ ‫الَّ ِذينَ ي َُجا ِدلُونَ فِي آيَا‬
ِ ‫َعلَ ٰى ُك ِّل قَ ْل‬
ٍ ‫ب ُمتَ َكب ٍِّر َجب‬
‫َّار‬
Allazeena yujaadilouna feee AayaatiLLaahi bigayri sultaanin ataahum. Kabura maqtan indaLLaahi wa
indallazeena aamanou. Kazaalika yatba’uLLaahu alaa kulli qabli muta -kabbirin-jabbaar.
“(Such) as dispute the Signs of Allah, without any authority vouchsafed them, grievous and
odious is their conduct in the sight of Allah and of the believers. Thus Allah seals up every
heart - of every arrogant and obstinate transgressor.” (Al-Ghafir, 40:35)
۞ ‫ار ُعونَ ِفي ْال ُك ْف ِر ِمنَ الَّ ِذينَ قَالُوا آ َمنَّا بِأ َ ْف َوا ِه ِه ْم َولَ ْم تُ ْؤ ِم ْن‬ ِ ‫يَا أَيُّهَا ال َّرسُو ُل اَل يَحْ ُز ْنكَ الَّ ِذينَ يُ َس‬
‫ يُ َح ِّرفُونَ ْال َكلِ َم ِم ْن بَ ْع ِد‬ ۖ َ‫َرينَ لَ ْم يَأْتُوك‬ ِ ‫ب َس َّما ُعونَ لِقَوْ ٍم آخ‬ ِ ‫ۛ َس َّما ُعونَ لِ ْل َك ِذ‬ ‫ۛ َو ِمنَ الَّ ِذينَ هَا ُدوا‬ ‫قُلُوبُهُ ْم‬
ِ ‫ك لَهُ ِمنَ هَّللا‬ َ ِ‫ۚ َو َم ْن ي ُِر ِد هَّللا ُ فِ ْتنَتَهُ فَلَ ْن تَ ْمل‬ ‫ يَقُولُونَ إِ ْن أُوتِيتُ ْم هَ ٰـ َذا فَ ُخ ُذوهُ َوإِ ْن لَ ْم تُ ْؤتَوْ هُ فَاحْ َذرُوا‬ ۖ ‫اض ِع ِه‬ِ ‫َم َو‬
‫ۖ َولَهُ ْم فِي اآْل ِخ َر ِة َع َذابٌ َع ِظي ٌم‬ ‫ي‬ ُ َ ‫هَّللا‬
ٌ ‫ۚ لَهُ ْم فِي ال ُّد ْنيَا ِخ ْز‬ ‫ك ال ِذينَ لَ ْم ي ُِر ِد ُ أ ْن يُطَهِّ َر قُلوبَهُ ْم‬َّ ُ
َ ِ‫ۚ أولَ ٰـئ‬ ‫َش ْيئًا‬
Yaaa’ayyu-har-Rasoulu laa yah-zunkallazeena yusaari’ouna fil-kufri minallazeena qaalouu aamannaa
bi’afwaahihim wa lam tu’min-qulou-buhum. Wa minallazeena haadou sammaa’ouna lil-kazibi sammaa’ouna
li-qawmin aa-khareena lam ya’touk. Yu-harrifounal-kalima mim-ba’di mawaazi’ih. Yaqoulouna in’outeetum
haazaa fakhu-zouhu wa’illam tu’tawhu fah-za-rou. Wa many-yuridiLLaahu fit-natahou falan-tamlika lahun
minaLLaahi shay’aa. Ulaaa’ikallazeena lam yuridiLLaahu any-yutahhira quloubahum. Lahum fid-dunyaa
khizyunw-wa lahum fil’Aakhirati azaa-bun azeem;
O Messenger! let not those grieve you, who race each other into unbelief: (whether it be)
among those who say “We believe” with their lips but whose hearts have no faith; or it be
among the Jews, men who will listen to any lie, will listen even to others who have never so
much as come to you. They change the words from their (right) times and places: they say, “If
you are given this, take it, but if not, beware!” If anyone’s trial is intended by Allah, you

CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Heart, Wisdom and Intelligence 9

Prepared by HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
 cannot help him against Allah. For such - it is not Allah’s will to purify their hearts. For them
there is disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a severe punishment. ( Al-Maeda, 5:41)
َ ِ‫ َك َٰ‌ذل‬ ۚ ‫ت فَ َما َكانُوا لِي ُْؤ ِمنُوا بِ َما َك َّذبُوا بِ ِه ِم ْن قَ ْب ُل‬
‫ك‬ ِ ‫ثُ َّم بَ َع ْثنَا ِم ْن بَ ْع ِد ِه ُر ُساًل إِلَ ٰى قَوْ ِم ِه ْم فَ َجا ُءوهُ ْم بِ ْالبَيِّنَا‬
َ‫ب ْال ُم ْعتَ ِدين‬
ِ ‫َطبَ ُع َعلَ ٰى قُلُو‬ ْ ‫ن‬
Thumma ba-asnaa mimba’dihee Rusulan ilaa qawmihim fajaaa-ouhum-bil-bay-yinaati famaa kaanou li-yu-
minou bimmaa kazzabou bihee minqabl. Kazaalika natba-u alaa quloubil-mu’tadeen.
Then after him We sent (many) messengers to their peoples: they brought them clear signs,
but they would not believe what they had already rejected beforehand. Thus do We seal up
the hearts of the transgressors. (Jonah, 10:74)
ِ ‫ۚ َولَقَ ْد َجا َء ْتهُ ْم ُر ُسلُهُ ْم بِ ْالبَيِّنَا‬ ‫تِ ْلكَ ْالقُ َر ٰى نَقُصُّ َعلَ ْيكَ ِم ْن أَ ْنبَائِهَا‬
 ۚ‫ت فَ َما َكانُوا لِي ُْؤ ِمنُوا بِ َما َك َّذبُوا ِم ْن قَ ْب ُل‬
َ‫ب ْال َكافِ ِرين‬ ْ َ‫َك َٰ‌ذلِكَ ي‬
ِ ‫طبَ ُع هَّللا ُ َعلَ ٰى قُلُو‬
Tilka-quraa naqussu’alay-ka min’ambaaa-ihaa. Wa laqad jaaa’at-hum rusulu-hum bil-Bayyi-naat: famaa
kaanou liyu’minou bimaa kazzabou min-qabl. Kazaa-lika yatba’uLLaahu’alaa qu-loubil-kaafireen.
Such were the towns whose story We (thus) relate to you: There came indeed to them their
messengers with clear (signs): yet they persisted in their unbelief. Thus Allah seals up the
hearts of those who reject faith. (Al-Araf, 7:101)
ِ ِ‫ۚ َرضُوا بِأ َ ْن يَ ُكونُوا َم َع ْالخَ َوال‬ ‫إِنَّ َما ال َّسبِي ُل َعلَى الَّ ِذينَ يَ ْستَأْ ِذنُونَكَ َوهُ ْم أَ ْغنِيَا ُء‬
۞ ‫ف َوطَبَ َع هَّللا ُ َعلَ ٰى‬
َ‫قُلُوبِ ِه ْم فَهُ ْم اَل يَ ْعلَ ُمون‬
Inna-massabeelu alal-lazeena yasta’zinou-naka wa hum agni-yaaa. Razou bi-any-yakou-nou ma’al-kha-
waalifi wa taba’aLLaahu alaa quloubihim fahum laa ya’lamoun.
The ground (of complaint) is against such as claim exemption, although they are rich. They
prefer to stay with the (women) who remain behind: Allah has sealed their hearts; so they do
not know (what they miss). (Al-Tawba, 9:93)
َ‫ ا ْنظُرْ َك ْيف‬ ۗ ‫ار ُك ْم َو َختَ َم َعلَ ٰى قُلُوبِ ُك ْم َم ْن إِلَ ٰـهٌ َغ ْي ُر هَّللا ِ يَأْتِي ُك ْم بِ ِه‬ َ ‫قُلْ أَ َرأَ ْيتُ ْم إِ ْن أَخَ َذ هَّللا ُ َس ْم َع ُك ْم َوأَب‬
َ ‫ْص‬
َ‫ت ثُ َّم هُ ْم يَصْ ِدفُون‬ ِ ‫رِّف اآْل يَا‬ُ ‫ص‬ َ ُ‫ن‬
Qul ara’aytakum’in’akha-zaLLaahu sam’akum wa absaa-rakum wa khatama’alaa quloubikum-man’ilaa-
hun gay-ruLLaahi ya’teekum-bih? Unzur kayfa nusarriful’Aayaati thumma hum yas-difoun.
Say: “Think, if Allah took away your hearing and your sight, and sealed up your hearts, could
any but Allah restore them to you?” See how We explain the signs by various (symbols); yet
they turn aside. (Al-Anaam, 6:46)

The foregoing verses reveal an important reality: Faith is something related to the sensitivity of the heart.
A person with a heart not hardened, or “sealed” has already a tendency to know Allah and obey Him. When
the message of the Qur’an is communicated to him, the comprehension of his heart makes him see the truth
and he believes immediately. However, unbelievers are of a different nature. Their hearts are dead and
“sealed”. Nor can they acquire wisdom since their hearts do not have any kind of sensitivity. In such a state
there is also no possibility of belief. In different verses of the Qur’an, those who are inclined towards faith are
told to believe as soon as they hear the message. Unbelievers, on the other hand, never show a propensity for
faith:
َ‫ق ْالقَوْ ُل َعلَ ٰى أَ ْكثَ ِر ِه ْم فَهُ ْم اَل ي ُْؤ ِمنُون‬ َّ ‫لَقَ ْد َح‬
َ‫إِنَّا َج َع ْلنَا فِي أَ ْعنَاقِ ِه ْم أَ ْغاَل اًل فَ ِه َي إِلَى اأْل َ ْذقَا ِن فَهُ ْم ُم ْق َمحُون‬
َ‫صرُون‬ ِ ‫خَلفِ ِه ْم َس ًّدا فَأ َ ْغ َش ْينَاهُ ْم فَهُ ْم اَل يُ ْب‬
ْ ‫َو َج َع ْلنَا ِم ْن بَ ْي ِن أَ ْي ِدي ِه ْم َس ًّدا َو ِم ْن‬
َ‫َو َس َوا ٌء َعلَ ْي ِه ْم أَأَ ْن َذرْ تَهُ ْم أَ ْم لَ ْم تُ ْن ِذرْ هُ ْم اَل ي ُْؤ ِمنُون‬
‫ۖ فَبَ ِّشرْ هُ بِ َم ْغفِ َر ٍة َوأَجْ ٍر َك ِر ٍيم‬ ‫ب‬
ِ ‫إِنَّ َما تُ ْن ِذ ُر َم ِن اتَّبَ َع ال ِّذ ْك َر َو َخ ِش َي الرَّحْ َمـٰنَ بِ ْال َغ ْي‬
Laqad haqqal-Qawlu alaaa aksarihim fahum laa yu’minoun.

CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Heart, Wisdom and Intelligence 10

Prepared by HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
 Innaa ja’alnaa feee a’naaqihi, aglaalan fahiya ilal-azqaani fahum-muqmahoun.
Wa ja’alnaa mim-bayni aydeehim saddanwwa min khalfihim saddan-fa-agshay-naahum fahum laa
yubsiroun.
Wa sawaaa’un alayhim a’anzartahum an lam tunzirhum laa yu’minoun.
Innamaa tunziru manittaba’az-Zikra wa khashiyar-Rahmaana bil-gayb; fabash-shihu bi-Magfiratinwwa
Ajrin-Kareem.
The Word is proved true against the greater part of them: for they do not believe. We have
put yokes round their necks right up to their chins, so that their heads are forced up (and they
cannot see). And We have put a bar in front of them and a bar behind them, and We have
covered them up, so that they cannot see. It is the same to them whether you admonish them
or you do not admonish them: they will not believe. You can only admonish such a one as
follows the Message and fears the (Lord) Most Gracious, unseen: give such a one, therefore,
good tidings, of Forgiveness and a Reward most generous. (Yaseen, 36:7-11)
َ‫إِ َّن الَّ ِذينَ َكفَرُوا َس َوا ٌء َعلَ ْي ِه ْم أَأَ ْن َذرْ تَهُ ْم أَ ْم لَ ْم تُ ْن ِذرْ هُ ْم اَل ي ُْؤ ِمنُون‬
‫ۖ َولَهُ ْم َع َذابٌ َع ِظي ٌم‬ ٌ‫اوة‬
َ ‫ار ِه ْم ِغ َش‬ ِ ‫ص‬ َ ‫ۖ َو َعلَ ٰى أَ ْب‬ ‫خَ تَ َم هَّللا ُ َعلَ ٰى قُلُوبِ ِه ْم َو َعلَ ٰى َس ْم ِع ِه ْم‬
Innallazeena kafaruu sawaaa‘un alay-him a’anzartahum’am lam tunzirhum laa yu’-minoun.
KhatamaLLaahu’alaa quloubihim wa’alaa sam‘ihim, wa’alaaa absaarihim gishaawah; wa
lahum’azaabun’azeem.
As to those who reject faith, it is the same to them whether you warn them or do not warn
them; they will not believe. Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on
their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur). ( Al-Baqara, 2:6-7)
َ‫إِنَّكَ اَل تُ ْس ِم ُع ْال َموْ ت َٰى َواَل تُ ْس ِم ُع الصُّ َّم ال ُّدعَا َء إِ َذا َولَّوْ ا ُم ْدبِ ِرين‬
َ ‫َو َما أَ ْنتَ بِهَا ِدي ْال ُع ْم ِي ع َْن‬
َ‫ۖ إِ ْن تُ ْس ِم ُع إِاَّل َم ْن ي ُْؤ ِم ُن بِآيَاتِنَا فَهُ ْم ُم ْسلِ ُمون‬ ‫ضاَل لَتِ ِه ْم‬
Innaka laa tusmi’ul-mawtaa wa laa tusmi’us-summad-du’aaa-a izaa wallaw mudbireen.
Wa maaa anta bihaadil-umyi an-zalaalatihim; in-tusmi’u illaa many-yu’minu bi-Aayaatinaa fahum
Muslimoun.
Truly you cannot make the dead listen, nor can you make the deaf hear the call, (especially)
when they turn back in retreat. Nor can you be a guide to the blind, (to prevent them) from
straying: only those will you get to listen who believe in Our Signs, and bow in surrender to
Us. (Al-Naml, 27:80-81)

Besides unbelievers whose hearts are hardened and who have lost their wisdom, there are some people,
whose hearts are sensitive, yet they are ignorant of religion. When religion is communicated to them, these
people instantly recognize the truth and believe in Allah and His religion. These two groups of people are
distinguished from each other by their respective arrogance and modesty. Jews and their arrogance are
mentioned in the Qur’an as an example. On the other hand there are Christians who are modest. On this the
Qur’an says:
۞ ‫ۖ َولَتَ ِجد ََّن أَ ْق َربَهُ ْم َم َو َّدةً لِلَّ ِذينَ آ َمنُوا‬ ‫َاوةً لِلَّ ِذينَ آ َمنُوا ْاليَهُو َد َوالَّ ِذينَ أَ ْش َر ُكوا‬
َ ‫اس َعد‬ ِ َّ‫لَت َِجد ََّن أَ َش َّد الن‬
َ‫ۚ َٰ‌ذلِكَ بِأ َ َّن ِم ْنهُ ْم قِسِّي ِسينَ َو ُر ْهبَانًا َوأَنَّهُ ْم اَل يَ ْستَ ْكبِرُون‬ ‫ار ٰى‬ َ ‫َص‬ َ ‫الَّ ِذينَ قَالُوا إِنَّا ن‬
ِّ ‫َوإِ َذا َس ِمعُوا َما أُ ْن ِز َل إِلَى ال َّرسُو ِل ت ََر ٰى أَ ْعيُنَهُ ْم تَفِيضُ ِمنَ ال َّد ْم ِع ِم َّما ع ََرفُوا ِمنَ ْال َح‬
‫ يَقُولُونَ َربَّنَا‬ ۖ ‫ق‬
َ‫آ َمنَّا فَا ْكتُ ْبنَا َم َع ال َّشا ِه ِدين‬
Lataji-danna’ashaddan-naasi adaa-watal-lil-lazeena’aamanul-Yahouda wallazeena ash-rakou; wa
latajidanna’ aqrabahum-ma-wad-datal-lillazeena’aamanul-lazeena qaalouu innaa Nasaaraa; zaalika
bi’anna minhum Qissee-seena wa Ruhbaananw-wa annahum laa yas-takbiroun.
Wa’izaa sami’ou maaa’unzila ilar-Rasouli taraaa a’yunahum tafeezu mi-naddam’i mimmaa’arafou minal-
haqq. Yaqou-louna Rabbanaaa’aamannaa fak-tubnaa ma’ash-shaahideen.
Strongest among men in enmity to the believers you will find the Jews and Pagans; and
nearest among them in love to the believers you will find those who say, “We are Christians”:
CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Heart, Wisdom and Intelligence 11
Prepared by HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA
 that is because amongst them are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the
world, and they are not arrogant. And when they listen to the revelation received by the
Messenger, you will see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognise the truth: they
pray: “Our Lord! we believe; write us down among the witnesses”.( Al-Maeda, 5:82-83)

When the message of the Qur’an is communicated to people with a natural inclination towards religion,
they merely say, “Our Lord! we have heard the call of one calling (Us) to Faith: ‘Believe in the Lord,’ and
we have believed...” (Al-Imran, 3:193) Unbelievers, on the other hand, oppose believers and even feel enmity
towards them.

CONCEPT FROM QUR’AAN | Heart, Wisdom and Intelligence 12

Prepared by HAJI MOHAMAD HANIM MOHAMAD ISA