Az-Zumar (The Groups)

22. Is he whose breast Allah has opened to [convert to] Islam, so that he is [alighted on] light from His Lord [like someone entangled with bias, obduracy, and vanity]? So woe to those whose hearts are hardened against remembrance of Allah! They are in plain error!

The Islamic faith rests on arguments and one possessing extension of mind (sharh sadr) may draw a distinction between truth and falsity through Divine Light.

The blessed Verse in question is asking:

“Is the one whose breast is opened to convert the Islamic faith by God and is mounted on Divine Light is on a par with the lightless hardhearted deprived of Divine Guidance?”

The Verse further adds:

“Woe to those whose hearts are so hardened and impenetrable that they may not be affected by remembrance of Allah.”

Neither fruitful admonitions, nor good tidings, nor warnings, nor moving Qur’anic Verses, nor life giving rain of Divine Revelation may cause flowers of fearing God and piety grow in their hearts. In other words, they have neither freshness, nor leaves, nor flowers, nor shade!

Such people

“are in plain error.”

The word qasiya is taken from qaswa indicating coarseness, uncouthness, and impenetrability and the word qasi is applied to rough stones.

Likewise, the word is applied to hard hearts unaffected by Divine Light and Guidance.

The expression is employed as the opposite of “extension of mind” and openness of heart, since extension and openness alludes to preparation for acceptance. A desert or a spacious mansion may accommodate more people and likewise, an opened mind and broad breast may accept more realities.

According to a report narrated by Ibn Mas’ud, the Noble Prophet of Islam (S) was asked concerning the interpretation of the Verse,

“In what manner man may attain to extension of mind?”

the Noble Prophet replied:

“When Light penetrates into human heart, it broadens in extent and returns.”

He was again inquired regarding the tokens thereof, to which he replied:

“The tokens include attentiveness toward the everlasting abode, separation from the abode of vanity, and preparation for welcoming death prior to its occurrence.”1

According to the exegetic work by ‘Ali ibn Ibrahim,

“Is he whose breast Allah has opened to [convert to] Islam, so that he is [alighted on] light from His Lord [like someone entangled with bias, obduracy, and vanity]?”

is revealed for the Commander of the Faithful, Imam ‘Ali (as).

As per some Qur’anic exegetic works,

“So woe to those whose hearts are hardened against remembrance of Allah”

is addressed to Abu Lahab and his offspring.¹

It is worthy of note that Light in

“[alighted on] light from His Light”

is expressed such that it reminds one of a mount on which believers are alighted on it whose speed is extraordinary, whose path is bright, and whose rigor encompasses the world over.