heedless or distracted. This points to the impediment that blocks the heart from being affected: the heart’s neglect and its absence from grasping, examining, and pondering what is being said to it.

Thus, when the agent of influence—the Quran—is present, along with the receptive locus—the living heart; when the necessary condition—attentive listening—is fulfilled; and when the obstacle—the heart’s preoccupation and wandering away from the meaning of the address to something else—is removed, the result ensues: benefit and remembrance.

If it is asked, “Since the effect is only complete when all four matters converge, why does the verse use the particle or in His words, ‘or lends an attentive ear’ (50:37)? The context would seem to demand the conjunctive and rather than or, which normally indicates a choice between two things,” the answer is that the wording employs or in view of the varied states of those being addressed.

Among people are some whose hearts are alive, aware, and sound in their natural disposition. When such a person reflects with his heart and lets his thoughts roam, his heart and intellect lead him to the certainty that the Quran is true. His heart attests to what the Quran proclaims, so the Quran’s arrival to that heart is light upon the innate light already there. This is the state of those about whom He said, “Those who have been given knowledge see that what has been sent down to you from your Lord is the truth” (Sabaʾ 34:6), and regarding whom He also said, “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp; the lamp is in a glass, the glass as though it were a brilliant star lit from a blessed olive tree—neither of the east nor of the west—whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire, light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills” (al-Nur 24:35). This is the light of the innate nature added to the light of revelation; such is the condition of the living, discerning heart.

Ibn al-Qayyim said: “We have already detailed the secrets and lessons contained in this verse in our book Ijtimāʿ al-Juyūsh al-Islāmiyya ʿalā Ghawz al-Muʿaṭṭila.”