Surah Muhammad

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

[Surah Muhammad (47): verse 24]

“Then do they not reflect upon the Quran, or are there locks upon their hearts?” (24)

Ibn ‘Abbās said: “He means that there are locks upon the hearts of these people.”

Muqātil said: “This means the sealing of the heart.” The heart is like a firmly shut door secured with a lock. Unless the lock is opened, the door cannot be opened, nor can what lies beyond it be reached. Likewise, unless the seal and lock are removed from the heart, neither faith nor the Quran will enter it.

Reflect on how “hearts” is indefinite, whereas “locks” is made definite through its attachment to the pronoun referring to the hearts. The indefinite form of “hearts” indicates the hearts of those who possess this characteristic. Had He said, “Or are their locks upon the hearts?” the hearts of others would not have been included in the statement.

The definite form in His words “their locks” conveys a certain emphasis. Had He merely said “locks,” one might have thought of the familiar objects bearing that name. But by attaching the word to the pronoun referring to the hearts, He makes it clear that what is meant functions in relation to the heart as a fastening does to a door. It is as though He meant the locks peculiar to these hearts, which belong to nothing else. And Allah knows best.