Page 31 - The Basic Concepts in the Qur’an

To those who inherit the earth in succession to its (previous) possessors, is it not a
guiding, (lesson) that, if We so willed, We could punish them (too) for their sins, and
seal up their hearts, so that they could not hear?
(Al-Araf, 100)

Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil;
great is the penalty they (incur).
(Al-Baqara, 7)

“(Such) as dispute the Signs of Allah, without any authority vouchsafed them, grievous
and odious is their conduct in the sight of Allah and of the believers. Thus Allah seals
up every heart - of every arrogant and obstinate transgressor.”
(Al-Ghafir, 35)

O Messenger! let not those grieve you, who race each other into unbelief: (whether it
be) among those who say “We believe” with their lips but whose hearts have no faith;
or it be among the Jews, men who will listen to any lie, will listen even to others who
have never so much as come to you. They change the words from their (right) times
and places: they say,”If you are given this, take it, but if not, beware!” If anyone’s trial
is intended by Allah, you cannot help him against Allah. For such - it is not Allah’s
will to purify their hearts. For them there is disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter
a severe punishment.
(Al-Maeda, 41)

Then after him We sent (many) messengers to their peoples: they brought them clear
signs, but they would not believe what they had already rejected beforehand. Thus do
We seal up the hearts of the transgressors.
(Jonah, 74)

Such were the towns whose story We (thus) relate to you: There came indeed to them
their messengers with clear (signs): yet they persisted in their unbelief. Thus Allah
seals up the hearts of those who reject faith.
(Al-Araf, 101)

The ground (of complaint) is against such as claim exemption, although they are rich.
They prefer to stay with the (women) who remain behind: Allah has sealed their
hearts; so they do not know (what they miss).
(Al-Tawba, 93)

Say: “Think , if Allah took away your hearing and your sight, and sealed up your
hearts, could any but Allah restore them to you?” See how We explain the signs by
various (symbols); yet they turn aside.
(Al-Anaam, 46)
The foregoing verses reveal an important reality: Faith is something related to the
sensitivity of the heart. A person with a heart not hardened, or “sealed” has already a tendency
to know Allah and obey Him. When the message of the Qur’an is communicated to him, the
comprehension of his heart makes him see the truth and he believes immediately. However,
unbelievers are of a different nature. Their hearts are dead and “sealed”. Nor can they acquire
wisdom since their hearts do not have any kind of sensitivity. In such a state there is also no
possibility of belief. In different verses of the Qur’an, those who are inclined towards faith are
told to believe as soon as they hear the message. Unbelievers, on the other hand, never show a
propensity for faith:

The Word is proved true against the greater part of them: for they do not believe. We
have put yokes round their necks right up to their chins, so that their heads are forced