Surah Ibrahim, Chapter 14:43, "hearts as air."

[Ruhi_Rose]

 


"Deem not that Allah is unaware of what the wicked do. He but giveth them a respite till a day when eyes will stare (in terror),
As they come hurrying on in fear, their heads upraised, their gaze returning not to them, and their hearts as air."  (14:42-43)  Surah Ibrahim.

I was pondering on the words of Verse 14:43 quoted above which I've underlined: "their hearts as air."  Here Allah describes the disbelievers who will be repaid for every bit of violation they indulged in during earthly life.  How they will wake up in shock and awe on the Day they are resurrected for accountability.   The awareness of their guilt will make them feel so preoccupied and griped in fear, that they will only be looking ahead of them with their heads raised up.  They won't even bother to look at themselves and their hearts will feel like "air."   I was thinking of this description of "hearts as air."  Does it refer to getting back the physical heart as it was on earth but with a lighter feeling, so Allah describes it "hearts as air" or is there some other reference to it?

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Hummm, interesting question sister ....

Well, I don't think it refers to a feeling of physical lightness of the heart or body.  I think this is an expression to describe the anxious state of all disbelievers at the time of resurrection.  In my opinion the connotation is that when awakened on the Day of Accountability, their worries and anxieties will exceed everything else as a result of their past sins.  They will barely be aware of their existence.  Their guilt will only be making them think of their own fate.  Thus, the phrase "hearts as air" might mean that they will hardly be thinking of themselves.  And Allah knows best.   

I would also like to add from everything I understand of the Noble Quran, is that after resurrection we will get our physical bodies back.  Allah has mentioned many things which imply that everyone will have a physical body.  E.g. Allah confirms that He can restore our very fingers.  Allah confirms about disbelievers to the effect (paraphrasing) that in Hellfire their skins will melt away and will be replaced with new skins.  Also, many more references about the wonderful lives of the dwellers in Paradise which make the presence of a physical body for everyone very plain. It is through the physical body that the righteous will appreciate everything Allah will provide them with.  It's also obvious that since life in the next world will be permanent, therefore the physical body will not be destructible as it is in this world.  It will not be vulnerable to diseases, illnesses, fatigue etc.  Nor will it be bogged down with biological limitations like pain, passing of urine, passing of stool, feeling of nausea, vomiting etc.etc.  As for those in Hellfire, the torment they will face there will be much worse than any illness on earth.  Therefore, even if illnesses are absent for the dwellers of Hellfire, that won't benefit them. 

This is an opinion from my understanding of the Quran.  There could be many more details which Allah has not disclosed to us yet.  Therefore, the exact truth and details are only known to Allah.