Sunday, June 28, 2015

ALLAH IS THE LIGHT OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH

In Surah al-Nur of the Glorious Qur’an, the Essence of Allah is described in Ayah 35 as follows:
                “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. A metaphor for His light is a niche in which there is a lamp placed in a glass. The glass is like shining star which is lit from a blessed olive- tree that is neither Eastern nor Western. Its oil almost lights up even though it has not been touched by the fire. It is Light upon light. Allah Guides to His Light whomever He wants. Allah uses various metaphors. He has the knowledge of all things.”
In the Glorious Qur’an and the traditions, Nur has been referred for various entities;
1.       The Glorious Qur’an: Surah al-Ma’idah Ayah 15: “Indeed, there has come to you Light, from Allah, a Light and a clear book.” Also Surah al-A’raf Ayah 157: “Then those who…and follow the light which has been sent down with him, these are they that are prosperous ones.”
2.       Eimaan (Faith): Surah al-Baqarah Ayah 257: “Allah is the guardian of those who have faith; He brings them out of darkness into the Light….”
3.       Divine Guidance: Surah al-An’am Ayah 122: “Is he who was dead (with ignorance and polytheism) and We gave him life (by Our Guidance), and provided him with a Light by which he walks among the people, as one whose likeness is in the utter darkness (of ignorance and polytheism) whence he cannot come forth from them.”
4.       Religion of Islam: Surah al-Tauba Ayah 32: “…and Allah refuses but to perfect His Light, though the infidels detest it.”
5.       The Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.): Surah al-Ah’zab Ayah 46: “And as summoner unto Allah by His permission, and as a Light-giving lamp.”
6.       The Infallible Imams: In Ziarat-e-Ja’miah, we read: “Allah created you (as) Lights, then He set you encircled (His Throne). You are the Light for the good ones and guiders of those who do good deeds”
7.       Knowledge: Bihar-ul-Anwar volume 1 page 325: “Knowledge is a Light that Allah casts in any heart that He wills.”
On the other hand, the distinction of light (Nur) is:
1.       In the material world, light is the most beautiful creation of the Exalted and Sublime Allah (s.w.t.)
2.       The speed of light is the fastest i.e. 30 lakh kilo meters per second. It can complete 7 circles around the globe in a wink of eye.
3.       Light is the means of cognizance of bodies and also illuminates itself.
4.       Solar light is the mainstay of life on the earth.
5.       All the colors on earth owe themselves to solar light.
6.       The center of all energies, except nuclear energy, is the solar light.
7.       Solar light eliminates every type of harmful germs on earth.
Allah is the creator, sustainer and protector of every type of life in the universe. Consequently, every creature of Allah acquires Nur or light to the extent that creation is attached to the Omnipotent Creator e.g. the Glorious Qur’an is light because it is His Address to mankind, Islam is light because it is His constitution, the prophets are light because they were sent by Him, the Infallible Imams are light because they were the guardians after His prophets, Imaan is light because it relates to Him, and knowledge is light because it is the cause of knowing  Him.

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  1.                 Tafsir-e-Namoonah                                               Ayatollah Nasir Makarem Shirazi

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