Symbol and Secret of Heart in the Holy Quran: Literal or Figurative?

Human limbs, in particular heart, have been the centre of attention in religious texts and specifically in the holy Quran. Recently, some experts such as Michael Rison believe that there are thousands of nerve cells in heart that function as saving data. Based on these resent scientific studies, some other researchers in the field of Islamic studies have announced that the word "Heart" in the verses of the holy Quran is literal and not figurative or metaphorical. The present article, taking into account the exegetical tradition of the holy Quran tries to prove that consciousness in not a function of physical heart, despite its very strange functions in human body. Consequently, in many of the Qur’anic verses, "heart" has a figurate meaning.