The meaning of heart (qalb) in the Quran. Why has understanding reality been attributed to the heart in the Quran when we know that the heart is not a center of understanding, rather it is an organ for the movement of blood?
The following would be said for an answer:
A. It has been used to mean the intellect as in the 37th verse of Sūrah Qāf: “Verily in this is a Message for any that has a heart.”[1]
B. It has been used to mean the soul as in Sūrah Ahzāb, verse 10: “and behold, the eyes became dim and the hearts gaped up to the throats.”[2]
C. It has been used to mean the center of affection as in Sūrah Anfāl, verse 12
The explanation is this:
There are two powerful centers in the human existence:
A. The center of understanding which is the brain and nervous system. Therefore, when a matter of thinking presents itself to us we feel that we are experiencing it and analyzing it through our brains (even though, in reality, the brain and the nervous system are tools for the soul).
B. The center of affection which is termed the heart which is an organ located in the left part of the chest. In the first stage, stages of affection effect this center – the first spark comes from the heart.
When we are faced with tragedy we feel the pressure on our hearts. Likewise, when something happens that makes us extremely happy we feel the happiness in this center (ponder over this).
It is true that the principal center for understanding and affection is man’s spirit, but their physical reactions are different. The reaction of understanding first shows itself in one’s brain, but the reaction of affection (such as love, hatred, fear, comfort, happiness, and sorrow) present themselves in one’s heart.
The result is this: if issues of affection are related to the heart (the real organ) in the Quran and issues of understanding to the heart (meaning the brain and intellect), the reason is what we said which was not an exaggeration.
Disregarding all of this the heart plays an important role in human life and human survival is such a way that if one instant of it stopping would be equal to death. Therefore, what problem would there be to relate intellectual and affectionate maters to it?
