Human Cosmology of the Self 2 of 2 (meaning of the word 'Qalb) - As Derived from the Qur'an (Haeri) Flashcards
Deals with the Qalb
Qalb - From verb “Qalaba Yaqlibu” it means ?
“To turn”, inqilaab = revolution. Like the physical heart ‘turns’ blood, here we’re talking about the spiritual one. They are connected - if you’re happy, physical heart functions well!
[Shakir] Have they not travelled in the land so that they should have hearts with which to understand, or ears with which to hear? For surely it is not the eyes that are blind, but blind are the hearts which are in the breasts.
[Pickthal ] Have they not travelled in the land, and have they hearts wherewith to feel and ears wherewith to hear? For indeed it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts, which are within the bosoms, that grow blind.
[Yusufali ] 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.
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ يَعْقِلُونَ بِهَا أَوْ آذَانٌ يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۖ فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَـٰكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ
(22:46 - Al Hajj)
Looks at first part of sentence: Here words AQL and QALB are connected! Implies that if you have a healthy AQL (intellect) you are likely to have living vibrant heart! Intellect is like a door to healthy QALB! Clean and sharp intellect means you will have access more and more to a good heart!
[Shakir] And certainly We have created for hell many of the jinn and the men; they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear; they are as cattle, nay, they are in worse errors; these are the heedless ones.
[Pickthal ] Already have We urged unto hell many of the jinn and humankind, having hearts wherewith they understand not, and having eyes wherewith they see not, and having ears wherewith they hear not. These are as the cattle - nay, but they are worse! These are the neglectful.
[Yusufali] Many are the Jinns and men we have made for Hell: They have hearts wherewith they understand not, eyes wherewith they see not, and ears wherewith they hear not. They are like cattle,- nay more misguided: for they are heedless (of warning).
وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ ۖ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ آذَانٌ لَّا يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ
Focuses on “they have hearts with which they do not understand, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear”.
Says فقه means “inner knowledge” … we now use it to mean jurisprudence. In old days the فقه was the one called to tell you what gender was in the stomach of a she-camel…i.e. INSIGHT! God describes these sick hearts as that through which you do not understand.
Various descriptions of the ‘sick heart’
[Shakir ] So that He may make what the Shaitan casts a trial for those in whose hearts is disease and those whose hearts are hard; and most surely the unjust are in a great opposition,
[Pickthal ] That He may make that which the devil proposeth a temptation for those in whose hearts is a disease, and those whose hearts are hardened - Lo! the evil-doers are in open schism -
[Yusufali ] That He may make the suggestions thrown in by Satan, but a trial for those in whose hearts is a disease and who are hardened of heart: verily the wrong-doers are in a schism far (from the Truth)
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[Shakir ] Nay, their hearts are in overwhelming ignorance with respect to it and they have besides this other deeds which they do.
[Pickthal ] Nay, but their hearts are in ignorance of this (Qur’an), and they have other works, besides, which they are doing;
[Yusufali ] But their hearts are in confused ignorance of this; and there are, besides that, deeds of theirs, which they will (continue) to do.
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[Shakir] And of them is he who hearkens to you, and We have cast veils over their hearts lest they understand it and a heaviness into their ears; and even if they see every sign they will not believe in it; so much so that when they come to you they only dispute with you; those who disbelieve say: This is naught but the stories of the ancients.
[Pickthal ] Of them are some who listen unto thee, but We have placed upon their hearts veils, lest they should understand, and in their ears a deafness. If they saw every token they would not believe therein; to the point that, when they come unto thee to argue with thee, the disbelievers say: This is naught else than fables of the men of old.
[Yusufali ] Of them there are some who (pretend to) listen to thee; but We have thrown veils on their hearts, So they understand it not, and deafness in their ears; if they saw every one of the signs, not they will believe in them; in so much that when they come to thee, they (but) dispute with thee; the Unbelievers say: “These are nothing but tales of the ancients.”
يَجْعَلَ مَا يُلْقِي الشَّيْطَانُ فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ وَالْقَاسِيَةِ قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ لَفِي شِقَاقٍ بَعِيدٍ
(Hajj 22:53)
So in these descriptions, the heart is HARD and SICK. A lot of the worldly activities harden the heart all about “me,me,me!”…Driven by outer efficiency.
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بَلْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فِي غَمْرَةٍ مِّنْ هَـٰذَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْمَالٌ مِّن دُونِ ذَٰلِكَ هُمْ لَهَا عَامِلُونَ
(Al-Mu’minun 26:63)
IGNORANT HEART
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وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا ۚ وَإِن يَرَوْا كُلَّ آيَةٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَا ۚ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءُوكَ يُجَادِلُونَكَ يَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ هَـٰذَا إِلَّا أَسَاطِيرُ الْأَوَّلِينَ
(Al-An’aam 6:25)
Veiled! (ME: But why is God saying HE casts the veil?)
HEART IS POTENTIALLY A LINK BETWEEN SEEN AND UNSEEN.
Not finished - 5:00 first lecture
