An ayah [a verse] in holy Sura Zumar says, "Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against celebrating the praises of God! They are manifestly wandering in error" [The Holy Quran, 39: 22]. A hardened and vicious heart is like this. This ayah has mentioned that they are clearly wandering. In an ayah in holy Sura al-Maeda, God says about Bani Israel [the children of Israel], "But because of their breach of their covenant, We cursed them and made their hearts grow hard" [The Holy Quran, 5: 13]. Divine curse is manifested by the hardness of hearts as a result of one's own actions. "Because of their breach of covenant…" They forgot and violated their covenant with God the Exalted.
These are points that should receive attention by our pious society. In particular, we officials – every one of whom has a responsibility in a certain area – should pay attention to it. In holy Sura Baqara, God speaks about Bani Israel again, "Thenceforth were your hearts hardened: they became like a rock and even worse in hardness. For among rocks there are some from which rivers gush forth" [The Holy Quran, 2: 74].
It says that their hearts became even harder than rocks. Quoting God, the Holy Prophet (s.w.a) says this to Bani Israel, reminding them of their past. All these points are instructive lessons and words of advice for us. We should endeavor. There is a narration in al-Kafi which says, "A person whose heart is hardened is distant from me" [Kafi, Vol.2, page 329]. Being away from God the Exalted is the worst disaster for humans. It is the worst disaster for individuals to be distant from God the Exalted and the hardness of heart makes this happen. There is another narration which says, "There is no punishment worse than the hardness of heart for any creature of God."
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