Reading the therapeutic contract in the Quran

Thought of the day

Day # 5

In psychoanalysis we talk about psychic defences while the Qur’an talks of diseased hearts. So are they the same phenomenon under different labels?

At first I thought they may refer to the same thing. However, in Islam, the foundation of a healthy heart is its connection to God and this is probably where the two concepts part ways.

As mentioned in the previous post, the heart is fed by a stream of external information that comes from its environment. Without the capacity to connect with the purifying source this external flood can sweep us away.

Thus we are introduced to another disease which is arrogance. Equality of men in the eyes of God does not sit well with people who think that they are special. This arrogance corrupts the heart and leads to an interesting phenomenon of turning a blind eye to the truth as reflected in verses 8 to 16.

Verses 17 to 28 of Surat Al Baqara reflect on the impact of the psychological phenomenon of turning a blind eye. Knowing something deep down but deciding against the truth and how misleading this is. Again the antidote to this disease is mindfulness of God and pondering his signs that are all around us.

God in addressing our demand for guidance is listing for us all the diseases our hearts can face and how to cure them.

Surat Al-Abqara

2:8  Some people say, ‘We believe in God and the Last Day,’ when really they do not believe

2:9  They seek to deceive God and the believers but they only deceive themselves, though they do not realize it

2:10  There is a disease in their hearts, to which God has added more: agonizing torment awaits them for their persistent lying

2:11  When it is said to them, ‘Do not cause corruption in the land,’ they say, ‘We are only putting things right,’

2:12  but really they are causing corruption, though they do not realize it

2:13  When it is said to them, ‘Believe, as the others believe,’ they say, ‘Should we believe as the fools do?’ but they are the fools, though they do not know it

2:14  When they meet the believers, they say, ‘We believe,’ but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, ‘We’re really with you; we were only mocking.’

2:15  God is mocking them, and allowing them more slack to wander blindly in their insolence

2:16  They have bought error in exchange for guidance, so their trade reaps no profit, and they are not rightly guided

2:17  They are like people who [labour to] kindle a fire: when it lights up everything around them, God takes away all their light, leaving them in utter darkness, unable to see

2:18  deaf, dumb, and blind: they will never return

2:19  Or [like people who, under] a cloudburst from the sky, with its darkness, thunder, and lightning, put their fingers into their ears to keep out the thunderclaps for fear of death- God surrounds the disbelievers

2:20  The lightning almost snatches away their sight: whenever it crashes o

2:21  People, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, so that you may be mindful [of Him]

2:22  who spread out the earth for you and built the sky; who sent water down from it and with that water produced things for your sustenance. Do not, knowing this, set up rivals to God

2:23  If you have doubts about the revelation We have sent down to Our servant, then produce a single sura like it- enlist whatever supporters you have other than God- if you truly [think you can]

2:24 If you cannot do this- and you never will- then beware of the Fire prepared for the disbelievers, whose fuel is men and stones

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