THE SECOND GROUP

      These are the obstinate and stubborn unbelievers who stand exactly in opposite to the above mentioned VIRTUOUS PERSONS. Their qualifications in brief is said in the above verses. (NO. 6 & 7)

      The verse says: ``THEY BELIEVE NOT'' and it is alike to them whether you warn them of the chastisement of God, or do not warn them - they are so stubborn that they do not accept a truth even if they see it clearly! This is because, mentally, they are not ready for such acceptances.''

      The next verse, (NO. 7) indicates the reasons for such an obstinacy and rejection of truth by saying:

      ``Allah Has set a seal upon their hearts, and upon their ears, and there is a covering upon their eyes, and there is a great chastisement for them.''

A man who has not reached to such a condition, may still be liable to guidance; but when he lost his power of comprehension and distinction, there remains no way for his salvation. Such a man, for

losing all the means and instruments of understandings and grasping the fact; will meet a natural torment, or heavenly chastisment.

NOTES

1- IS NEGATING THE POWER OF DISTINCTION, SOME SORT OF COERCION, TO NULLIFY MAN'S FREE WILL?

      If according to the above verse, Allah HAS set a seal upon the hearts and upon the ears, and has covered the eyes, preventing them to see, such men are forced to remain faithless! Does this not mean that God HAS deprived them of their free will, and that they are held under compulsion?

      This question has already been answered by QURÄN, through many verses; that losing their power of distinction is a reaction proportional to their actings. Their continuous obstinacy and rejection - Their pride and vanity - Their frequent transgresses and excesses - Following their lusts and caprices, and their causeless and sudden changes of mind - And to make it short their DOING WRONG, has led them to such a misfortune and disaster.

WHAT IS MEANT BY SEALING THE HEARTS?

      In the said VERSE (NO.7) and several other verses, losing the power of distinction and comprehension is notified by setting a seal upon the hearts.

When usually people put something in a pocket or sack, they plumb it and seal it, for wanting not to be opened or touched. In Arabic language, such a plumb or seal is called `KHATM'. This is a simile of the obstinate rejectors of faith, that due to continuous sinning, their minds are closed to advices and sealed and their hearts are plumbed so that no truthful words can penetrate in them.

      Man should therefore be careful about himself, when even he does something wrong. He should wash out the wrong or the fault, what ever it is; with the clean water of repentance, and doing good deeds for amendment.

THE MEANING OF THE HEART

      BY HEART, in QURÄNIC LANGUAGE, sometimes UNDERSTANDING is meant, (S 50: 37), some times the SOUL is intended - (S 33: 10) and elsewhere the MIND is wanted. (S 8: 12).

EXPLANATORY NOTE

      It seems that there are two powerful important centers in the human body:

      1) The BRAIN, whose duty is sensual perceptions through the nerve system, and also controlling the movements of the limbs through the muscles.

      2) The HEART, is a hollow organ with muscular walls, settled in the chest. Heart is the functional center of senses and emotions, and it physically reacts on strong feelings. When we encounter a tragical event, we feel its PRESSURE upon our hearts, and also when we meet something that pleases and makes us happy, we feel its PRESSURE through the nerves of our heart.