– The sickness of lustful desires, which is the heart’s inclination toward sins, undermines its practical strength; a sound heart wills and inclines only toward what is good or toward that which Allah has permitted. Whenever you observe a heart leaning toward disobedience and quick to surrender itself to it, know that it is diseased, ready to succumb the moment the causes of temptation appear—just as Allah says, “so that he whose heart is diseased may not be hopeful” ⦗al-Ahzab 33:32⦘.
• As for the hard heart, it does not soften for the recognition of truth, and if it does recognize it, it does not soften to submit to it. Admonitions that would soften iron reach this heart, yet it remains unaffected—either because of an innate harshness, or because of deviant convictions it has adopted and to which it has become firmly attached, making it difficult for the heart to yield to the truth when it conflicts with them; sometimes both causes combine.
– As for the rust (ran), the seals, and the coverings that settle upon hearts, they are the consequences of a person’s own deeds and crimes. When one turns away from the truth, opposes it, and—when the truth comes—rejects it; when Allah opens before him the gates of right guidance and he shuts them upon himself, Allah punishes him for that conduct by blocking the avenues of guidance that had been open and easy for him but which he arrogantly refused. Thus a seal is set upon his heart, it is stamped shut, his crimes surround him, sins encrust his heart and cover it, placing a barrier between him and the truth and locking the heart itself.
These are the concepts Allah has repeatedly mentioned in His Book.
Once you understand the principles laid out in this discussion, their meanings become clear and you appreciate Allah’s wisdom and justice in punishing such hearts: Allah consigns them to what they themselves have chosen and approved for their own souls.
- Benefit: In His statement, “that you may believe in Allah and His Messenger, support him, revere him, and glorify Him morning and evening” ⦗al-Fath 48:9⦘, Allah has gathered together the three categories of rights: