Al-Nasiyah (front of the head) (1/2)

The holy Qur’an describes the front of the head being lying and sinful.

Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) says: “a lying sinful nasiyah (front of the head).” (Surah Al-Alaq, 96: 16)

Since the front of the head does not speak, how can it be described as being lying? It does not commit sins. How is it then said to be sinful?

Professor Muhammad Yusuf Sukkar[1] dispelled my perplexity[2] while he was talking to me about the function of the brain.

He said: “The function of the portion of the brain that lies in the font of the human head is to control the human behavior.”

I said: “I have found it.”

He said: “what have you found?”

I said: “The interpretation of the saying of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala): a lying sinful nasiyah.”

He said: “Let me consult my books and references.”

After having done so, he, confirming what he had said, added: “When a person intends to tell a lie, the decision is made in the frontal lobe of the brain, which is the front of the head. If he wants to commit a sin, the decision is made there, too.”

Then I discussed the subject with a number of specialized scholars, among whom was Keith L. Moore,[3] who stated that the front of the head is responsible for judging and for directing human behavior. The working organs of the body (e.g. the limbs) are but tools to carry out the decision made in the front of the head. Therefore, the law in some states of the USA[4] punishes major criminals that exhaust the police, by excising the front part of the brain (nasiyah), (for it is the center of control and guidance) whereupon the criminal becomes as mild as a child obeying the orders of anyone.

The Anatomical structure of the upper region of the forehead shows that it consists of one of the bones of the skull, called the fronted bone, which protects one of the lobes of the brain called the frontal lobe, which contains several neural centers in various locations and with various functions.

Functional regions of the left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex. The prefrontal area is located at the front of the cerebral cortex. (Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology, Seeley and others, p. 210.)

The prefrontal cortex constitutes the bulk of the frontal lobe of the brain, and its function is involved in the making of one’s personality. It is also considered as a superior center among the centers of concentration, thinking and memory. It plays a significant role in the person’s emotion and it is somehow concerned with initiative and discrimination.

The cortex is situated directly behind the forehead; it is hidden deep in the front of the head. Thus the prefrontal cortex directs some of the human behavior that reflects one’s personality, with respect to being truthful, lying, right, wrong…etc. It also distinguishes between these virtues and vices and urges one to take the initiative whether with good or evil intent.[5]

In a joint research on the scientific miracle of nasiyah by Keith L. Moore and me, presented in an international conference held in Cairo[6]  in 9172, Keith L. Moore did not talk about the function of the frontal lobe of the human brain only, but talked about the function of the nasiyah in the brains of various animals. Demonstrating pictures of the fronted lobes of a number of animals, he said: “The Comparative anatomical study of human and animal brains shows that the nasiyah has the same function: It is the center of control and guidance in both man and animals that have brains.

Nasiyah is the center of control and guidance in both man and animals that have brains.

His saying drew my attention to the saying of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala): “There is not a moving animal but He has the grasp of its nasiyah. Verily, my Lord is on a straight Path.” (Surah Hud, 11: 56)

I also called to mind some of the traditions of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), such as: “O Allah! I am your servant and the son of your servant and the son of your bondmaid, my nasiyah (front of the head) is in Your Hands…”[7] and: “I seek refuge with you from the evil of everything whose nasiyah is in Your Grasp.”[8] and: “Horses have goodness embedded in their nasiyahs, till the Day of Resurrection.”[9]

From the meanings of these texts we can conclude that the nasiyah is the center of control and guidance of both human and animal behavior.

 (Continued)