“It means barring them.” The meaning is: harden them and seal them, so that they neither soften nor open to faith.

This accords with what is in the Torah: Allah, glorified be He, said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I shall harden his heart, so that he will not believe until I manifest My signs and wonders in Egypt.”

This binding and hardening of hearts reflects the perfect justice of the Lord, glorified be He, towards His enemies. He made it a punishment for their disbelief and their turning away, just as He punishes them with calamities. Hence it is praiseworthy: it is good on His part, but utterly evil on theirs, for it is justice and wisdom on His part, but wrongdoing and folly on theirs. Divine decree and predestination are the act of One who is just, wise, self-sufficient and all-knowing, who places good and evil where each is most fitting. What is decreed and predestined, however, is, on the servant’s part, wrongdoing, injustice and folly—the act of one who is ignorant, unjust and foolish.