In His saying, the Exalted: “Then their skins and hearts soften,” is there any figurative interpretation for those who hold to it?
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The student: ...
The Shaykh : Yes, there is no objection to taking it literally, because the softness of the heart, which is the softness of the texture, is not what is meant here. The apparent heart does not become like skin that stiffens and hardens. The apparent reality is that if it stiffens and hardens, then the anatomists should be asked about this. If they say that it hardens when one is afraid, then the softness is physical. Yes, that is sound.
The student:[Az-Zumar 39:24-27]
The Shaykh : But.
The Shaykh : Yes, there is no objection to taking it literally, because the softness of the heart, which is the softness of the texture, is not what is meant here. The apparent heart does not become like skin that stiffens and hardens. The apparent reality is that if it stiffens and hardens, then the anatomists should be asked about this. If they say that it hardens when one is afraid, then the softness is physical. Yes, that is sound.
The student:
(24) Then is he who will shield with his face the worst of the punishment on the Day of Resurrection [like one secure from it]? And it will be said to the wrongdoers, "Taste what you used to earn." (25) Those before them denied, and punishment came upon them from where they did not perceive. (26) So Allah made them taste disgrace in worldly life. But the punishment of the Hereafter is greater, if they only knew. (27) And We have certainly presented for the people in this Qur'an from every [kind of] example - that they might remember.
أفمن يتقي بوجهه سوء العذاب يوم القيامة وقيل للظالمين ذوقوا ماكنتم تكسبون كذب الذين من قبلهم فأتاهم العذاب من حيث لا يشعرون فأذاقهم الله الخزى فى الحياة الدنيا ولعذاب الاخرة أكبر لو كانوا يعلمون ولقد ضربنا فى هذا القرآن من كل مثل لعلهم يتذكرونThe Shaykh : But.