Al Qalb in the Quran

Of course, the first thing that comes to mind when we refer to “Qalb” is our physical heart in our chest which pumps blood into our body and plays a very central role in our body. That is the literal meaning of “Qalb” or “heart” and this has the same meaning in Arabic.The word comes from the root word of qalaba as described before, in al-Qur’an contained168 times, 36 times in verb and 132 times noun.From the amount can be detailed, 53 are in surah Makiyyah and 115 are in surah Madaniyyah.

When looking at different verses of the Quran, there is no doubt that the “Qalb” that the Quran is referring to in most of the cases is NOT referring to the physical heart.verses in the Quran using the word ‘Qalb” actually use it with different intended meanings. It should be noted that perhaps there is something common between them in that there is a central theme that all those meanings share and thus one word is used for all the meanings.

Few examples of Meaning of qalb in the Quran: 

1. In the sense of aql / intellect ; surah qaaf verse 37
2. In the sense of soul / ruh ; surah ahzaab verse 10 
3. In the sense of centre of our emotions ; surah anfaal verse 12 , surah al imraan verse 159 
4. In the sense of centre of human personality 
5. In the sense of internal face of human personality... Inner reflection ; surah baqrah verse 10 
6. And as the heart ( physical / spiritual) itself in different verses. 

There are different types of the heart as 

1. Qalbun Saleem : This is a heart that is sound and dedicated to the worship of Allah. It is the heart that knows and believes in its Lord and prevents itself from vain desires. 

Except him who brings to Allah a clean heart [26:89]

2.Qalbun Saqeem: This is the heart that is spiritually sick or diseased. It has been affected by doubts and desires. 

This person loves Allah and His commands but he also loves the things of this world and its desires. He is constantly wavering between the two.

And whose hearts have doubted, and they, in their doubt, are hesitating. [9:45] 

3. Qalbun mayyit : 

This heart contains no life. It is caught in its base desires. It does not know its Lord nor worship Him and is always arrogant to the truth.

But those who do not believe in the Hereafter – their hearts are disapproving, and they are arrogant. [16:22]

It has been covered, sealed and screened from the truth. It can’t see the truth as the truth not to mention following it. And it cannot see falsehood as falsehood, not to mention leaving it. Allah says,

Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil. And for them is a great punishment. [2:7]

There are also other terms to convey the al qalb in the Quran..... 

1. Al-Fuad: 

Term al-Fuad formed from the root word of faada. The word of al-fuad and similar with it, in

Alquran find 16 times, entirely contained in a

surah Makkiyah, with details: 3 times al-Fuadword, twice fuaduka/fuadaka words, 8 times afidata word, or afidatu word, and 3 times

afidatuhum/afidatuhum word. 

2. Al sadr 

3. Al nafs 

4. Al lub 

specifically, each of these terms

has different meanings. Al-qalb means the heart which tends to inconsistent and constantly changing, al-Fuad is conscience or delicate. feelings that tend to be fixed and consistently good instead of the mind, al-lub is a mind that is clear,clean of any dirt, al-nafs is more potential to encourage people to do good deed and devil deed, and al-sadr is a heart reside in chest refer to happiness and spaciousness chest.  

Adjectives used for Al qalb in the Quran :       

Cont......