I asked Al-Ridha about the Honorable the Exalted God’s words, ‘Those whom God (in His plan) willeth to guide, He openeth their breasts to Islam…’ The Imam (s) said, ‘Those whom God wishes to guide in their faith in this world towards Paradise and His House of Munificence in the Hereafter, He will open their breasts to submit to God, rely on Him, get calmed by the rewards that He has promised until they trust Him. But regarding ‘…those whom He willeth to leave straying…’ to be deprived of His Paradise and His Home of His Munificence in the Hereafter due to their disbelief in it and their disobedience of God in this world. ‘…He maketh their breast close and constricted…’ so that they fall in doubt in his state of disbelief. God will upset their belief in their heart as things get so hard for them ‘…as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus doth God (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe.’”