I do not believe that civilizations have to die because civilization is not an organism. It is a product of wills.
Arnold J. ToynbeeRead
The eye of the heart, though closed in fallen man, is able to take in a glimmering of light and this is faith. But anyway of living causes a covering like rust to accumulate over the heart so that it cannot sense the Divine origin of Allah's message.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote expresses the idea that true faith allows one to perceive divine truths, even if one's inner vision is obscured by life's challenges.
Martin Lings suggests that while humans may have a natural inclination towards faith, their experiences and challenges can obscure this inner vision, much like rust covering over a precious surface. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining an open heart to truly recognize and connect with the divine essence of messages from God, despite the closed state of our hearts due to worldly distractions.
Themes
FaithHeartDivinePerceptionMessage
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a spiritual retreat may use this quote to encourage participants to open their hearts to faith.
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