Question:
The Qur’an says that Allah has put a seal on the hearts of the Kuffar and they will not believe. Science tells us today that the brain is responsible for understanding and believing and not the heart. Isn’t the Qur’an contradicting Science?

Answer:

1.Allah has set a seal on the heart of the Kuffar
The Glorious Qur’an says:

"As to those who reject Faith it is the same to them
Whether thou warn them or do not warn them;
They will not believe.
"Allah hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing and on their eyes is a veil
Great is the penalty they incur."
[Al-Qur’an 2:6-7]

2.The word qalb in Arabic means heart as well as intelligence
The Arabic word qalb used in these verses means the heart. It also means intelligence. Thus the above verses also mean that Allah has put a seal on the intelligence of the kuffaars (unbelievers) and they will not understand and believe.

3.In the Arabic language heart is also used as a centre of understanding
In the Arabic language the word ‘heart’ is also used to connote one’s centre of understanding.

4.Several words used in English language whose literal meaning is different
Even in English language there are several words which are used to explain something, though the literal meaning of these words are different. Consider the following examples

a. Lunatic - Struck by the moon:

The word ‘lunatic’ literally means struck by the moon. Today people use the word lunatic for a person who is insane or mentally unstable. People very well know that a mad or a mentally unstable person is not struck by the moon. Yet even a medical doctor uses this word. This is normal in the evolution of a language.

b. Disaster – An evil star

The word ‘disaster’ literally means an evil star. Today the word disaster is used for a great or sudden misfortune or calamity. We know very well that a misfortune has nothing to do with an evil star.

c. Trivial – Three roads meet

The word ‘trivial’ literally means where three roads meet. Today the word ‘trivial’ is used for something of small nature or little importance. We know very well that if something is of small value it has nothing to do with where three roads meet.

d. Sunrise and Sunset

‘Sunrise’ literally means rising of the sun. Today when the word ‘sunrise’ is used most of the people know that the earth is rotating and is moving in relation to the sun. Most of us know that the sun does not rise during sunrise. However even an astronomer uses the word ‘sunrise’. Similarly we know that during sunset, the sun does not actually set.

5. In the English language heart is the centre of love and emotion
In the English language heart means an organ in the body which pumps blood. The same word heart is also used for the centre of thought, love and emotion. Today we know that brain is the centre of thought, love and emotion. Yet while expressing emotions a person is likely to say "I love you from the bottom of my heart". Imagine a scientist telling his wife, "I love you from the bottom of my heart" and the wife replies, "Don’t you even know the basics of science, that the brain is responsible for the emotions and not the heart? In fact you should say I love you from the bottom of my brain."

6.Arabs know that the word heart in Arabic is also used for centre of thought and understanding
No Arab will ever ask the question as to why Allah has sealed the hearts of the kafir because he knows that in this context it refers to the centre of thought, understanding and emotions.

Yes, it is a contradiction. I definitely favour the brain theory and do not consider the heart to be credible as a center of any thinking or feeling.

When one receives an emotional shock, however, the brain triggers a release of adrenaline which would make the heart speed up. Perhaps this is the origin of the heart myth.

I think using "heart" is just a figure of speech. We say "get to the heart of the matter," or "follow your heart," or "I know in my heart of hearts." This means to get to your "center" or to the core of a problem.

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It is interesting, however, that some people have associated an area of the heart, I forget where right now, but I"ll find it later, as a seed for deeper consciousness structures than the brain. This is actually backed up in some Eastern Traditions (as well as some Western adaptations like the "sacred heart" images of Jesus and Mary).

Most rationalists will point out the ancient men mistook the heart as the most important organ, often relegating the brain to "cooling the blood" or some other task. In the eastern chakra systm, the fourth chakra is often known as the "heart chakra", but this is not the same thing that the "Heart Sutra" nor the "Sacred Heart" images refer to. There is a more subtle energy point said to reside deeper within the heart chakra that is the focus of some meditative practices.

I personally do not know, I'll see if I can find that book to relate what they said about it.

-TC

Please note that both heart and brain have a relation since brain is a control panel that manages the organs of the body and even a heart cannot function without the brain.

The heart pumps oxygenated blood into the body so that musceles and cells could recieve oxygen through this blood and after that blood flows through the entire body donating great amount of oxygen to the musceles of the body, the de-oxygenated blood then passes across the lungs recieving fresh oxygen and after returning to heart it is again pumped to the entire body.
This entire process is controlled by the brain.

It functions just like a battery where its negative and positive terminals are connected with a copper wire and a bulb is attached with it.
The electrons from the negative terminal of the battery are attracted to the positive terminal causing a flow of electrons and the bulb recieving the electrical energy from the electron uses it operate itself and these same electrons return to the battery through positive terminal and regain electrical energy from the battery and continue to flow in the wire and provide energy to the bulb.

The electrons in this case is blood and bulb in this case is the organ.

I hope you understand what I mean.

Neither heart is useful without brain nor brain is useful without heart.