ثُمَّ قَسَتْ قُلُوبُكُم مِّن بَعْدِ ذَٰلِكَ فَهِيَ كَالْحِجَارَةِ أَوْ أَشَدُّ قَسْوَةً ۚ وَإِنَّ مِنَ الْحِجَارَةِ لَمَا يَتَفَجَّرُ مِنْهُ الْأَنْهَارُ ۚ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَشَّقَّقُ فَيَخْرُجُ مِنْهُ الْمَاءُ ۚ وَإِنَّ مِنْهَا لَمَا يَهْبِطُ مِنْ خَشْيَةِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
[2:74] Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth, and there are some of them that split open and water comes out, and there are some of them that fall down for fear of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of what you do.
A rule / usool of Quran is: al ‘ibratu bi umoomi al lafz, laa bi khusoosi al sabab. The lesson from a Quran ayat is by the general meaning of the ayat not just from the specific context of revelation.
Above ayat was revealed with bani Israel in context but also applies to ummat a Muslima
Four things are signs of misfortune
- Unaccustomed to shedding tears
- Hardening of heart
- Desires
- Greed for worldly things
Heart softners:
- Care for orphan with a view that it was your privilege to be able to help
- Feed the poor
- Remember death
- Reciting Quran
Excessive and unnecessary talking can make heart hard.