IS THE HEART RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDERSTANDING?

Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims 
who have some knowledge of Islam

Q9. Is the heart responsible for understanding?

Question:

The Qur’an says that Allah has put a seal on the hearts of the kafirs and they will not believe. Science tells us today that the brain is responsible for understanding and believing and not the heart. Isn’t the Qur’an Contradicting Science?

IS THE HEART RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDERSTANDING?

Answer:

1. Allah has set a seal on the heart of the kafirs

The Glorious Qur’an says: 
“As to those who reject Faith it is the same to them whether thou warn them or do not warn them; They will not believe.

Allah hath set a seal On their hearts and on their hearing and on their eyes is a veil, Great is the penalty they incur.”

[Al-Qur’an 2:6-7]

2. The word ‘qalb’ in Arabic means heart as well as intelligence

The Arabic word ‘qalb’ used in these verses means the heart. it also means intelligence. Thus the above verses also mean that Allah has put a seal on the intelligence of the kafirs (unbelievers) and they will not understand and believe.

3. In the Arabic language heart is also used as a centre of understanding

In the Arabic language the word ‘heart’ is also used to connote one’s centre of understanding.

4. Several words used in English language whose literal meaning is different

Even in English language there are several words which are used to explain something, though the literal meaning of these words are different. Consider the following examples

1. Lunatic - struck by the moon

The word ‘lunatic’ literally means struck by the moon. Today people use the word lunatic for a person who is insane or mentally unstable. People very well know that a mad or a mentally unstable person is not struck by the moon. Yet even a medical doctor uses this word. This is normal in the evolution of a language.

2. Disaster – An evil star

The word ‘disaster’ literally means an evil star. Today the word disaster is used for a great or sudden misfortune or calamity. We know very well that a misfortune has nothing to do with an evil star.

3. Trivial – three roads meet

The word trivial literally means where three roads meet. Today the word trivial is used for a something of small nature or little importance. We know very well that if something is of small value it has nothing to do with where three roads meet.

4. Sunrise and sunset

Sunrise literally means rising of the sun. Today when the word sunrise is used most of the people know that the earth is rotating and is moving in relation to the sun. Most of us know that the sun does not rise during sunrise. However even an astronomer uses the word sunrise. Similarly we know that during sunset, the sun does not actually set.

5. In the English language heart is the centre of love and emotion

In the English language heart means an organ in the body which pumps blood. The same word heart is also used for the centre of thought, love and emotion. Today we know that brain is the centre of thought, love and emotion. Yet while expressing emotions a person is likely to say ‘I love you from the bottom of my heart’. Imagine a scientist telling his wife, ‘I love you from the bottom of my heart’ and the wife replies, “Don’t you even know the basics of science, that the brain is responsible for the emotions and not the heart? In fact you should say I love you from the bottom of my brain.”

6. Arabs know that heart is also used for centre of thought and understanding

No Arab will ever ask the question as to why Allah has sealed the hearts of the kafir because he knows that in this context it refers to the centre of thought, understanding and emotions.

Source: DZN

HOOR Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims who have some knowledge of Islam

What does women get in Jannah?

Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims 
who have some knowledge of Islam

Q8. Hoor

Question:

According to the Qur’an when a man enters paradise, he will get ‘hoor’, i.e. beautiful maidens. What will a woman have when she enters paradise?

HOOR

Answer:

1. Hoor mentioned in the Qur’an

The word hoor occurs in the Qur’an in no less than four different places:

(1)  In Surah Dukhan chapter 44, verse 54

“Moreover, We shall join them to companions With beautiful, big and lustrous eyes.”

 [Al-Qur’an 44:54]

(2)  In Surah Al-Tur chapter 52 verse 20

 “...And We shall join them to companions, with beautiful, big and lustrous eyes.”

[Al-Qur’an 52:20]

(3)  In Surah Rahman chapter 55 verse 72

“Companions restrained (as to their glances), in goodly pavilions.”

 [Al-Qur’an 55:72]

(4)  In Surah Al-Waqiah chapter 56 verse 22

“And (there will be) companions with beautiful, big and lustrous eyes.”

 [Al-Qur’an 56:22]

2. Hoor Translated as Beautiful Maidens

Many translators of the Qur’an have translated the word ‘hoor’ as ‘beautiful maidens’ especially in the Urdu translations. If ‘hoor’ means ‘beautiful maidens’ or girls, then they are meant only for the men. Hence, what will the women get if they enter Paradise?

3. Meaning of Hoor

The word ‘hoor’ is actually the plural of ‘ahwar’ (applicable to man) and of ‘haura’ (applicable to woman) and signifies a person having eyes characterized by ‘hauar’ a special quality bestowed upon a good soul, male or female in paradise and it denotes the intense whiteness of the white part of the spiritual eye.

The Qur’an describes in several other verses that in paradise you will have ‘Azwaj’ which mean a pair or spouse or companion which means you will have spouses or companions pure and holy (‘Mutaharratun’ means pure, holy).

 “But give glad tidings to those who believe and work righteousness, That their portion is Gardens, beneath which rivers flow. Every time they are fed with fruits therefrom, They say: ‘Why, this is what we were fed with before’, For they are given things in similitude; and they have therein Companions pure (and holy); and they abide therein (forever)”.

 [Al-Qur’an 2:25]

“But those who believe and do deeds of righteousness, We shall soon admit to Gardens, with rivers flowing beneath –Their eternal home; therein shall they have Companions pure and holy: we shall admit them to shades, cool and ever deepening”.

 [Al-Qur’an 4:57]

Therefore the word ‘hoor’ has no specific gender. Mohammad Asad has rightly translated the word ‘hoor’ as spouse and Abdullah Yusuf Ali as ‘companion’.  There-fore a man in paradise will have a ‘hoor’ that is a beautiful maiden with big beautiful eyes and a woman in paradise will get a man with big beautiful eyes.

4. Women will get something exceptional in Paradise

Many scholars say that in context, the word ‘Hoor’ used in the Qur’an refers only to ladies since gents are addressed. A reply that would be accepted by all types of people would rather be the answer given in the Hadith when a similar question was posed that if a man gets a Hoor, a beautiful Maiden in Paradise, then what will the women get? The reply was that the women will get that which the heart has not desired for, the ear hasn’t heard off and the eye hasn’t seen, indicating that even the women will get something exceptional in Paradise.

Source: DZN

DOES ONLY ALLAH KNOW THE SEX OF THE CHILD IN THE MOTHER’S WOMB?

Most Common Questions asked by Non-Muslims 
who have some knowledge of Islam

Q7.Does only Allah know the sex of the child in the mother's womb?

Question:

The Qur’an says that only Allah knows the sex of the child in the womb of the mother but now science has advanced and we can easily determine the sex of the child in the womb by Ultra sonography. Isn’t this verse of the Qur’an conflicting with Science?

DOES ONLY ALLAH KNOW THE SEX OF THE CHILD

IN THE MOTHER’S WOMB?

Answer:

Allah is Omnipotent and Omniscience. Allah has granted knowledge of certain things to humankind. But Allah has knowledge of the seen as well as the unseen.

1. Allah has knowledge of all things

Many people believe that the Qur’an claims that Allah alone knows the sex of the child in the mother’s womb. The Glorious Qur’an says:

“Verily the knowledge of the Hour is with Allah (alone). It is He who sends down Rain, and He who knows what is in the wombs….”

 [Al-Qur’an 31:34]

A similar message is given in the following verse: 
“Allah doth know what every female (womb) doth bear, By how much the wombs fall short (of their time of number) or do exceed. Every single thing is before His sight, in (due) proportion.”

 [Al-Qur’an 13:8]

2. Sex can be determined by Ultra sonography

Today science is advanced and we can easily determine the sex of the child in the womb of a pregnant mother, using ultrasonography.

3. The word ‘sex’ is not mentioned in the verse of Qur’an

It is true that many translations and commentaries of this verse of the Glorious

Qur’an say that only Allah knows the sex of the child in the mother’s womb. If you read the Arabic text of this verse, there is no Arabic word corresponding to the English word ‘sex’. In fact the Qur’an says the knowledge of what is in the womb is with Allah alone. Many commentators have misunderstood it to mean only Allah knows the sex of the child in the womb which is a mistake.

4. No one besides Allah can determine the nature

This verse does not refer to the sex of the child in the womb but it refers to how the child in the mother’s womb will be. How will his nature be? Will he be a blessing or a curse to his parents? Will he be a boon or a bane to the society? Will he be good or evil? Will he go to heaven or hell? The complete knowledge of all things is with Allah alone. No scientist in the world, no matter how advanced his equipment, will ever be able to accurately determine the knowledge of these things about the child in the mother’s womb.

Source: DZN