AWOT (ALLAH WAY OF THINKING) PART 2.5 FUAD

Assalamu'alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

It’s me again, Abu Musa.

Today is Thursday, January 2, 2025.

Continuing from yesterday’s session, AWOT 2, titled “Allah Commands Us to Think Using the Intellect”, today we move into study 2.5, which focuses on the word Fuad, translated by Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (standar) as “heart.” In their translation, both Qolbu and Fuad are rendered as "Heart."

Yesterday, we discussed that the function of Qolbu is to understand, to think, and to use reason—functions aligned with the brain.

So, what about Fuad ? Is it really “heart,” or does it have a different meaning ?

Let’s begin. The word Fuad in the Qur’an is always paired with the words sama’ (hearing) and bashar (sight), because Fuad is the function that processes data captured by these two faculties.

Let’s look at Surah As-Sajdah (32 : 9) :

ثُمَّ سَوَّىٰهُ وَنَفَخَ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِهِۦۖ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفِۡٔدَةَۚ قَلِيلٗا مَّا تَشۡكُرُونَ

“He fashioned him and breathed into him of His spirit; and gave you hearing, sight, and hearts (Fuad). Little thanks do you give.”

Next, Surah An-Nahl (16 : 78) :

وَٱللَّهُ أَخۡرَجَكُم مِّنۢ بُطُونِ أُمَّهَٰتِكُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ شَيۡٔٗا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرَ وَٱلۡأَفِۡٔدَةَ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَشۡكُرُونَ

“Allah brought you out from the wombs of your mothers knowing nothing, and He gave you hearing, sight, and hearts (Fuad), so that you might be grateful.”

And Surah Al-Isra (17 : 36) :

وَلَا تَقۡفُ مَا لَيۡسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلۡمٌۚ إِنَّ ٱلسَّمۡعَ وَٱلۡبَصَرَ وَٱلۡفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ كَانَ عَنۡهُ مَسُۡٔولٗا

“Do not follow that of which you have no knowledge. Indeed, the hearing, the sight, and the heart (Fuad)—all of those will be questioned.”

And Surah Al-Ahqaf (46 : 26) :

وَلَقَدۡ مَكَّنَّٰهُمۡ فِيمَآ إِن مَّكَّنَّٰكُمۡ فِيهِ وَجَعَلۡنَا لَهُمۡ سَمۡعٗا وَأَبۡصَٰرٗا وَأَفِۡٔدَةٗ فَمَآ أَغۡنَىٰ عَنۡهُمۡ سَمۡعُهُمۡ وَلَآ أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ وَلَآ أَفِۡٔدَتُهُم مِّن شَيۡءٍ إِذۡ كَانُواْ يَجۡحَدُونَ بَِٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَحَاقَ بِهِم مَّا كَانُواْ بِهِۦ يَسۡتَهۡزِءُونَ

“We had established them more firmly than We have established you, and We gave them hearing, sight, and hearts (Fuad); but their hearing, sight, and hearts availed them nothing because they denied the signs of Allah…”

So, Fuad is always paired with sama’ (hearing) and bashar (seeing). It clearly has a connection to those two senses.

If we relate this to Surah Al-A'raf (7 : 179), we find it mirrors Qolbu :

وَلَقَدۡ ذَرَأۡنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرٗا مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِۖ لَهُمۡ قُلُوبٞ لَّا يَفۡقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمۡ أَعۡيُنٞ لَّا يُبۡصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمۡ ءَاذَانٞ لَّا يَسۡمَعُونَ بِهَآۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ كَٱلۡأَنۡعَٰمِ بَلۡ هُمۡ أَضَلُّۚ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡغَٰفِلُونَ

“They have hearts (Qolbu) with which they do not understand, eyes with which they do not see, and ears with which they do not hear. They are like cattle—nay, even more astray. They are the heedless ones.”

From these verses, we understand that Fuad and Qolbu share functions. However, as we discussed before, in the Qur’anic language, there are no true synonyms—every word carries a distinct nuance and meaning.

So what is Fuad ?

In the natural world, our senses generally capture two types of input: sound and form. Sound is perceived through hearing; form through sight. These become data for us to process the world and ourselves.

Fuad allows us to identify and interpret this sensory data. In modern terms, Fuad can be likened to perceptive reasoning or empirical intuition—thinking based on what is seen and heard, commonly referred to as instinct.

Instinct, according to the Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), is inherited behavioral patterns from birth, also known as innate drives or natural impulses.

Fuad exists from birth—unlike Qolbu, which develops through learning. Because of this, Fuad also exists in animals.

For example :

• A baby feeds when hungry
• Cries when in pain
• Screams when angry
• As a teenager reaches puberty (baligh), he is instinctively drawn to the opposite sex
• Feels fear or competitiveness

These instinctive responses are driven by Fuad. Since animals also have Fuad, it’s a force that often drives destructive behavior when unregulated—like mating without discrimination or competing violently.

That’s why Allah gave Qolbu only to humans. Without using Qolbu, humans are likened to cattle, as stated in Surah Al-A'raf (7 : 179).

Qolbu allows humans to discern good from bad, acting as a filter for Fuad's impulses. For example, Qolbu regulates sexual behavior by distinguishing who is lawful to marry. Religion further refines this regulation, helping the Qolbu assess what is good or bad behavior.

The same applies to competition. With Qolbu, humans can distinguish between fair and harmful competition. Through revelation (qauliyah), Allah affirms Qolbu’s judgments and instructs what should and shouldn’t be done.

Why does the Qur’an affirm human behavior ?

Affirmation (affirmasi) is a positive declaration used to reshape thoughts and behavior. It bridges conscious and subconscious minds and brings many benefits: boosting confidence, preventing depression, promoting happiness, calming the mind and body, and improving health.

So, affirmation is important.

What about those who don’t read the Qur’an ?

They miss out on this divine affirmation—missing the guidance of whether what they’re doing is good or bad.

This understanding isn’t just personal reasoning; it’s rooted in the Qur’an, specifically Surah Al-Qasas (28 : 10) :

وَأَصۡبَحَ فُؤَادُ أُمِّ مُوسَىٰ فَٰرِغًاۖ إِن كَادَتۡ لَتُبۡدِي بِهِۦ لَوۡلَآ أَن رَّبَطۡنَا عَلَىٰ قَلۡبِهَا لِتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ

“And the heart (Fuad) of the mother of Moses became empty. She was about to disclose his [identity], had We not strengthened her Qolbu so that she would be of the believers.”

From this verse, we understand:

• Fuad of Moses’ mother was “empty”—driven by emotion and fear
• Allah strengthened her Qolbu, helping her remain faithful and composed

She then instructed Moses’ sister (Maryam) to follow him as he floated down the Nile (Qur’an 28 : 11).

وَقَالَتۡ لِأُخۡتِهِۦ قُصِّيهِۖ فَبَصُرَتۡ بِهِۦ عَن جُنُبٖ وَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡعُرُونَ

“And she said to his sister, "Follow him"; so she watched him from a distance while they perceived not.”

Here, Qolbu guided and controlled Fuad, preventing a rash and dangerous act.

In everyday life, we often act on impulse (Fuad)—e.g., reacting violently to a thief without thinking. That’s why the Qur’an regulates such behavior through legal rulings, preventing us from responding to wrongs with further wrongs.

So, that’s the concept of Fuad in the Qur’an.

To conclude this session of Allah Way of Thinking 2.5, we’ll continue with a related discussion in the next session, based on Surah Al-Hajj (22 : 46) :

أَفَلَمۡ يَسِيرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَتَكُونَ لَهُمۡ قُلُوبٞ يَعۡقِلُونَ بِهَآ أَوۡ ءَاذَانٞ يَسۡمَعُونَ بِهَاۖ فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعۡمَى ٱلۡأَبۡصَٰرُ وَلَٰكِن تَعۡمَى ٱلۡقُلُوبُ ٱلَّتِي فِي ٱلصُّدُورِ

“Have they not traveled through the land, so that their hearts (Qolbu) may understand, or their ears may hear? Indeed, it is not the eyes that are blind, but the Qolbu within the chests (shudur) that are blind.”

Now, if shudur means “chest” and Qolbu is interpreted as “brain,” how could the brain be in the chest?

So what is shudur ?

Let’s discuss that in the next session.

Until next time with me, Abu Musa.

Wassalamau'alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh