“We had seen earlier (Chapter: 2 Verse 60) that the word ‘Hajar’ was used for a porous rock which served the purpose of an acquifier from which twelve springs had gushed out (2:60). In this verse an associated word ‘Al Hijarah’ meaning a rock containing small pores is compared with human heart which contains pores full of blood which is pumped out when the heart contracts. One has to admire the selection of the most appropriate word to convey a specific meaning. Out of a number of words available in Arabic which could convey the meaning of a rock, the selection of the word ‘Al Hijarah’ conveys to the reader a true picture by comparison. A porous muscle ‘Qalb’ meaning heart is compared with a rock which in addition to being porous is also hard and rigid. The opposite of the word ‘Khaswatan’ translated as ‘hardness’ is ‘sharaha’ meaning open (Chapter: 39 Verse 22). Just as rocks, whose pores are closed, cannot absorb anything, similarly a heart whose pores are closed due to contraction cannot absorb anything. Besides a porous material already filled with something cannot absorb something else. In the case of rocks, it is physical rigidity and in the case of hearts it is rigidity in the abstract sense.

Bani Israel had seen a number of miracles but their hearts had become so hard that they did not absorb plain facts consequently they refused to believe in the truth. Even rocks sometimes succumb to internal pressure or external influences but the hearts of Bani Israel were harder. Through some porous rocks rivers gush out while others split due to external pressure of digging or drilling and water comes out of them in the form of wells still others fall down due to the fear of Allah. In the last case, we know for certain that rocks fall down due to the force of gravity of the earth as in the case of landslides. Combining these two facts from the Quran and science we can formulate an equation ‘Gravity’is equal to fear of Allah (Khashiyat-i- Allah)’The whole universe is held together due to the universal force of gravitation, this means that the whole universe is held together due to the fear of Allah. In the absence of this fear or the universal force of gravity, one cannot imagine the existence of the universe including us. Allah (SWT) knows everything, seen & unseen, consequently He is aware of all that is going on in the hearts and the actions that are motivated by their intentions.”