Hardening of Heart

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.