The Quran: A Miracle Beyond Time- A Study of Its Miraculous Nature (Part 47)
The Heart and the Circulatory System
The heart, this unmatched muscle, is not only astonishing in its physical structure, but also holds a lofty position from the spiritual, moral, and emotional perspectives. The place of the heart in the human body is primary and fundamental. It is the ruler, while the other organs and limbs are its soldiers and servants. The heart commands, and the organs and limbs obey. As Allah the Almighty says in the Noble Qur’an: «إِنَّ فِی ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكرَىٰ لِمَن كَانَ لَهُۥ قَلبٌ أَو أَلقَى ٱلسَّمعَ وَهُوَ شَهِید» Translation: (Indeed, in that is a reminder for whoever has a heart or listens while he is present [in mind].) (1)
The heart is the reality of the human being — the essence of knowledge, the seat of faith, the source of emotions, the center of perception, the mirror of intention and will, and the place of piety, love, fear, sincerity, and tranquility.
The various acts of worship in Islam are all arranged along the path of purification of the heart — cleansing it from impurities and cultivating virtues. The purpose is that a person, through a purified heart, may ascend toward Allah the Almighty, perceive divine nearness, and in the Hereafter attain the bliss of Paradise.
The Heart — the Unknown Jewel in the Human Body
The heart is among the most wondrous creations of Allah the Almighty. Outwardly, it is a small organ, but inwardly, it is a world full of secrets. If the strings and melodies of the heart are tuned with purity, it elevates the human being to the rank of the angels — filled with kindness, compassion, love, and noble feelings. But if the heart becomes polluted, it is distanced from mercy and drags the human being into the depths of humiliation, hatred, and violence.
The heart, though small, possesses a power that makes every great thing appear small before it, and every small thing great in its sight. Some hearts are like jewels — clear, transparent, and precious. Some are like rocks — firm, but devoid of light. And some are like air — light, unstable, and without effect.
The heart dies and comes to life. It rises and falls. At times it reaches the height of the stars, and at times it Is lost in the dust. This is the great secret of the human being: if he finds everything but loses his heart, he has found nothing.
The Structure and Physiological Function of the Heart
From a scientific point of view, the heart is a “dual pump” that continuously and ceaselessly sends blood to the entire body. This blood contains food, oxygen, and vital substances that, through a network of vessels more than 150 kilometers long, reach every cell, tissue, and organ of the body.
The heart begins to beat from the second month of fetal development and, until the last moment of life, it neither weakens, nor ceases movement, nor needs rest or care, nor awaits guidance or renewal of power.
Even though a person, through negligence and negative emotions such as anger, hatred, and grief, presses and strains his heart, still this noble muscle continues its work. The heart is the sun of the world of human existence. All actions, thoughts, feelings, and decisions originate from this center of life.
The Wonder in the Functional Structure of the Heart
The heart is a muscle that not only possesses one of the most complex muscular structures but also performs in an extraordinary manner. It contracts and expands about 80 times per minute, and during stress or excitement, its beat may reach 180 times per minute.
The heart pumps about 8,000 liters of blood daily, equal to 8 cubic meters. Over a lifetime, this amount could fill a reservoir the size of one of the world’s skyscrapers!
Another wonder is that the heart does not need a direct command from the brain for its beats. It has an independent electrical center within itself that issues the command for contraction and expansion. This center is so efficiently and automatically regulated that it needs no external adjustment.
Even the valves of the heart operate with astonishing precision. These valves allow blood to pass only in one direction and prevent its return — a principle that is also used in all advanced industrial pumps.
The Death of the Heart Is the Death of the Human Being
When the heart comes to rest in the chest and ceases to beat, nothing remains of the human being except a lifeless body — like the dry trunk of a fruitless palm tree. It is the heart that, if it remains alive, gives life to the entire body and soul. As the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: «ألا وإن فی الجسد مضغة: إذا صلحت صلح الجسد كله، وإذا فسدت فسد الجسد كله، ألا وهی القلب.» (2) Translation: (Indeed, there is a piece of flesh in the body: if it is sound, the whole body becomes sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body becomes corrupt. Verily, it is the heart.)
In Summary: The Heart Is the Axis of Life and Happiness
The heart is not merely a muscular organ; rather, it is the axis of life, the center of knowledge, and the place of connection between the human being and his Lord. The happiness or misery of a person depends upon the purity or impurity of his heart. If one seeks spirituality and growth, he must purify his heart, cleanse it from envy and hatred, and illuminate it with the light of faith and the remembrance of Allah.
How beautifully the renowned Arab poet Ahmad Shawqi composed:
دقّاتُ قلبِ المرءِ قائلةٌ لَهُ
إِنَّ الحیاةَ دقائقٌ وثوانِی
فارفعْ لنفسِكَ قبلَ موتكَ ذِكرَها
فَالذِّكرُ للإنسانِ عُمرٌ ثانِی
Translation: The beats of a man’s heart say to him: life is but minutes and seconds.
So raise for yourself a noble remembrance before your death, For remembrance is a second life for a human being.
The heart, in the view of both religion and science, is not only the source of physical life but also the center of spiritual and moral existence. Therefore, knowing it is important both for physicians and for the people of insight and spiritual understanding. Allah the Almighty says in the Noble Qur’an: «وَفِی أَنفُسِكُمۚ أَفَلَا تُبصِرُونَ.» [3] Translation: (And (there are signs) in your own selves — do you not see?) (4)
