Heart-Mind Relationship in the Holy Qur'an

From:


By Hassan Ali El-Najjar

For the Muharram 29, 1429 (February 7, 2008) Friday Khutba

Introduction

The Holy Qur’an refers to the heart as a processor of information, particularly concerning emotions. This reference to the heart as such attracts attention to the relationship between the mind and the heart.

This article starts by listing down the verses that deal with the heart and explaining them, in order to sort out the mind-heart connection. Then, few academic articles about the subject will be reviewed in order to explore this relationship further, from a scientific perspective.

Verses mentioning the heart in the Holy Qur’an

Upon checking the Holy Qur’an index in Arabic,[1] this author found that there were about 132 verses in which the heart was mentioned in singular and plural forms. Here are some of them.

The following translations of the meanings of the verses are Yusuf Ali’s except those in parentheses, which are by this author.

ۖ

وَلَوۡ كُنتَ فَظًّا غَلِيظَ ٱلۡقَلۡبِ لَٱنفَضُّواْ مِنۡ حَوۡلِكَ‌ۖ فَٱعۡفُ عَنۡہُمۡ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لَهُمۡ وَشَاوِرۡهُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَمۡرِ‌ۖ

Wert thou severe or harsh-hearted they would have broken away from about thee; so pass over (their faults), and ask for (Allah's) forgiveness for them; and consult them in affairs (of moment).

(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, Surat Al-E-Imran (Chapter 3), Verse 159)

إِلَّا مَنۡ أَتَى ٱللَّهَ بِقَلۡبٍ۬ سَلِيمٍ۬

But only he (will prosper) that brings to Allah a sound heart

(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, Surat Al-Shu’ara (Chapter 26), Verse 89)

مَّنۡ خَشِىَ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنَ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَجَآءَ بِقَلۡبٍ۬ مُّنِيبٍ

Who feared (Allah) Most Gracious unseen, and brought a heart turned in devotion (to Him)

(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, Surat Qaf (Chapter 50), Verse 33)

وَيُشۡهِدُ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا فِى قَلۡبِهِۦ وَهُوَ أَلَدُّ ٱلۡخِصَامِ

and he calls Allah to witness about what is in his heart; yet is he the most contentious of enemies

(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, Surat Al-Baqara (Chapter 2), Verse 204)

وَلَا تَكۡتُمُواْ ٱلشَّهَـٰدَةَ‌ۚ وَمَن يَڪۡتُمۡهَا فَإِنَّهُ ۥۤ ءَاثِمٌ۬ قَلۡبُهُ

Conceal not evidence (and testimony); for whoever conceals it his heart is tainted with sin. And Allah knoweth all that ye do

(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, Surat Al-Baqara (Chapter 2), Verse 283)

وَقَلۡبُهُ ۥ مُطۡمَٮِٕنُّۢ بِٱلۡإِيمَـٰنِ

his heart remaining firm in Faith

(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, Surat Al-Nahl (Chapter 16), Verse 106)

فَيَطۡمَعَ ٱلَّذِى فِى قَلۡبِهِۦ مَرَضٌ۬

lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire

(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, Surat Al-Ahzab (Chapter 33), Verse 32)

وَمَن يُؤۡمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ يَہۡدِ قَلۡبَهُ

and if anyone believes in Allah, (Allah) guides his heart

(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, Surat Al-Taghabun (Chapter 64), Verse 11)

قَالَ أَوَلَمۡ تُؤۡمِن‌ۖ قَالَ بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِن لِّيَطۡمَٮِٕنَّ قَلۡبِى

"Dost thou not then believe?" He said: "Yea! but to satisfy my own understanding."

(My translation: He said: Haven’t you believed yet? He (Ibrahim) said: “Yes,” but to assure my heart).

(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, Surat Al-Baqara (Chapter 2), Verse 260)

مَّا جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِرَجُلٍ۬ مِّن قَلۡبَيۡنِ فِى جَوۡفِهِۦ‌ۚ

Allah has not made for any man two hearts in his (one) body

(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, Surat Al-Ahzab (Chapter 33), Verse 4)

سَنُلۡقِى فِى قُلُوبِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ ٱلرُّعۡبَ

Soon shall We cast (great fear) into the hearts of the unbelievers

(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, Surat Al-E-Imran (Chapter 3), Verse 151)

ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ أَلَا بِذِڪۡرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطۡمَٮِٕنُّ ٱلۡقُلُوبُ

Those who believe, and whose hearts find (assurance, peace, and) satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find assurance, peace, and) satisfaction.

(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, Surat Al-Ra’ad (Chapter 13), Verse 28)

وَمَن يُعَظِّمۡ شَعَـٰٓٮِٕرَ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقۡوَى ٱلۡقُلُوبِ

and whoever holds in honour the Symbols of Allah, (in the sacrifice of animals), such (honour) should come truly from piety of heart.

(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, Surat Al-Hajj (Chapter 22), Verse 32)

أَفَلَمۡ يَسِيرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمۡ قُلُوبٌ۬ يَعۡقِلُونَ بِہَآ أَوۡ ءَاذَانٌ۬ يَسۡمَعُونَ بِہَا‌ۖ فَإِنَّہَا لَا تَعۡمَى ٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرُ وَلَـٰكِن تَعۡمَى ٱلۡقُلُوبُ ٱلَّتِى فِى ٱلصُّدُورِ

Yusuf Ali’s translation:

Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts (and mind) 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.

This author’s translation:

Do not travel throughout the Earth, which enables their hearts to reason, and enable their ears to hear? Truly it is not the eyes that become blind, but it is the hearts which are in the chests.

(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the meanings of the Holy Qur’an, Surat Al-Hajj (Chapter 22), Verse 46)

Meanings associated with the heart, according to the above verses

The above verses provide us with a number of meanings associated with the heart. These include severity and harshness in dealing with people, soundness, repentance, rivalry, sinfulness, faith, sickness and trouble, guidance, assurance and peace, love, fear, thankfulness for positive surroundings, and reasoning.

Basically, the heart reacts notably to issues related to goodness and evil.

Exploring the relationship between the heart and the mind

Upon asking Yahoo search engine about the relationship between the heart and the mind, it gave me about 58,900,000 entries about the two terms, but not necessarily about the relationship between them. However, the relationship has been explored in many articles or works, as readers can find. Here are some information from few of them, by no means this is a survey or a review of the literature. The idea here is conveying to readers that the relationship between the mind and the heart has been studied and researched away from any references to the Holy Qur'an.

“While not all negative thoughts and feelings are bad for health, specific emotional states (mental), especially stress and depression, have now been linked to heart troubles of all kinds. Evidence is overwhelming that the heart takes a beating after psychic trauma, but lesser insults may do us in as well. A bad marriage, an angry or abusive boss, a mugging in the park—all increase risk of heart disease, a bounty of evidence shows. Personality factors like extroversion and optimism can positively impact the cardiovascular system and the health of the heart, while anger and stress can damage the heart and the mind. Some forms of heart disease even trigger the same chemistry found in depression and stress.” [2]

“At HeartMath we’ve spent the last 15 years diligently studying the “heart” physically, emotionally and spiritually. Our researchers have been mapping the communication pathways between the heart, the brain and the rest of body while also studying the effects of positive emotions on health and performance. What we’ve learned is that the heart is the master controller in the human system capable of sending powerful, healing commands throughout the entire body. These signals from the heart have a dynamic impact on the nervous, hormonal and immune systems. They also influence brain function and have the ability to improve cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, psychological problems and more. In essence our old friend the heart may be the best healer of all.” [3]

“The key to harnessing the heart’s amazing power lies in our ability to consciously generate positive emotional states like appreciation, care and love. With stress increasing—personally, interpersonally and socially—many people have lost this ability only experiencing these regenerative emotions occasionally.” [4]

The relationship of our emotions and psyche (mind) to heart disease is intriguing. There is evidence linking cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric disorders and the possible mechanisms and pathophysiology of this association. There is also a possible role of using mood enhancing therapies (mainly antidepressants) and their safety in patients with cardiovascular disorders. [5]

“There is a plausible biological basis for the association between psychiatric morbidity (mind) and cardiovascular (heart) disease. Anxiety, panic disorder, and depression are common in patients with coronary heart disease and hypertension.” [6]

Conclusion

There is a very close and a reactive relationship between the mind and the heart, particularly regarding the issues of emotions as well as issues related to good and evil.

People with optimistic and good life style enjoy peace of the mind and calmness of the heart. However, pessimism and wrong doing may be associated with mental and cardiac disorders.

Thus, basic good characteristics of love, appreciation, care, tolerance, sharing, understanding, helping others, and observing God’s teachings not only are rewarded in the hereafter but also bring peace of the mind and soundness of the heart during your life on Earth, making it better and more enjoyable.

Notes and References


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[1] Pages 549-551 of the Holy Qur’an Index in Arabic by Muhammed Fuad Abdul Baqi. Cairo: Dar Al-Fikr. 1406 (1986). The Arabic Title of the index is: “Al-Mu’ajam Al-Mufahras Li Alfadh Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem.”

[2] The High Price of a Broken Heart Yes, you can die from heartbreak. In fact, even mild forms of the blues can put you at risk By PsychologyToday.com: http://health.msn.com/health-topics/depression/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100170423



[3] Understanding the Relationship Between Heart, Mind & Body By Howard Martin: http://www.inlighttimes.com/archives/2006/03/heart-body-mind.htm

[4] Understanding the Relationship Between Heart, Mind & Body By Howard Martin: http://www.inlighttimes.com/archives/2006/03/heart-body-mind.htm

[5] Heart and mind: (1) relationship between cardiovascular and psychiatric conditions By S U Shah, A White, S White, W A Littler: http://pmj.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/80/950/683

[6] Heart and mind: (2) psychotropic and cardiovascular therapeutics By S U Shah, Z Iqbal, A White, S White: http://pmj.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/81/951/33