78
Praising Himself, Allah Almighty says:
{Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within a glass, the glass is as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is All-Knowing of all things.} [Surat an-Nūr: 35]
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to make this supplication: “Allāhumma ij‘al fi qalbi nūran, wa fi basari nūran, wa fi sam‘i nūran, wa ‘an yamīni nūran, wa ‘an yasāri nūran, wa fawqi nūran, wa tahti nūran, wa amāmi nūran, wa khalfi nūran, waj‘al li nūra (O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my sight, light in my hearing, light on my right, light on my left, light above me, light below me, light in front of me, light behind me, and make light for me.)” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
By Allah, this is the most precious thing Allah Almighty may ever give to a servant: His light and guidance.
We are talking here about the provision of hearts and the pleasure of souls. Indeed, this is the greatest, most beneficial, and best provision ever. As a poet says,
Your remembrance keeps it too preoccupied
to eat or drink!
Your light illuminates the path for it,
and Your speech is like the pleasant singing of the camel driver,
who reminds the camels of the sweet destination,
and so they do not feel bored or tired of the journey!
Allah Almighty says: {Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.} [Surat an-Nūr: 35]
The texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah in which Allah Almighty calls Himself as Light come in three ways, as Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy upon him) said,
First: He possesses the attribute of light. In the Qur’an, He says: {And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord.} [Surat az-Zumar: 69] And in a Hadīth: “And He cast some of His light upon them.” [Narrated by Ibn Hibbān] [Sahīh (Authentic)]
Second: He, Glorified and Exalted, is light: {Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.} [Surat an-Nūr: 35] And in a Hadīth: “You are the Light of the heavens and the earth.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Third: His Veil is light, as related in an authentic Hadīth: “His Veil is light, and if He were to remove it, the glow of His Face would burn everything of His creation, as far as His gaze reaches.” [Narrated by Muslim] --
The light of Allah Almighty is not like the created lights: {There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.} [Surat ash-Shūra: 11]
Light is one of His Names
and also one of His Attributes. Glory be to Him!
The erudite scholar ‘Abd al-Rahmān al-Sa‘di (may Allah have mercy upon him) said, “One of the Names and Attributes of Allah is An-Nūr (Light). He is the Owner of majesty, honor, and glory. If the veil were to be lifted off His noble Face, the glow of His Face would burn everything of His creation, as far as His gaze reaches."
He is the source of light for all the worlds. His Light dispels darkness and illuminates the Throne, the Kursi, the seven heavens, and the entire universe. This is an actual light.
As for the moral light, this is the light that illuminated the hearts of the prophets, pious people, and the angels. This includes the lights of knowing and loving Him. Indeed, His servants’ knowledge of Him brings to their hearts lights, as much as they know of His Attributes of Majesty and Beauty.
If you know Allah Almighty, you thus possess the greatest and most sublime of all areas of knowledge. Useful knowledge brings lights to the heart. So, what about this knowledge which is the best, most sublime, and the root of all other knowledge!
Thereupon, this verse truly applies to your heart: {Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within a glass, the glass is as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is All-Knowing of all things.} [Surat an-Nūr: 35]
This is the light of belief in Allah Almighty and His Attributes and signs. It is in the hearts of the believers like that light which combines all good traits.
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) used to say in his supplication: “Allahumma ij‘al fi qalbi nūran, wa fi basari nūran, wa fi sam‘i nūran, wa ‘an yamīni nūran, wa ‘an yasāri nūran, wa fawqi nūran, wa tahti nūran, wa amāmi nūran, wa khalfi nūran, waj‘al li nūra (O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my sight, light in my hearing, light on my right, light on my left, light above me, light below me, light in front of me, light behind me, and make light for me).” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Once the heart becomes full of this light, it manifests on the face, which shines as a result. Then, the body organs comply and become submissive and obedient. Allah Almighty says: {Allah guides to His light whom He wills.} [Surat an-Nūr: 35]
Ibn Sa‘di (may Allah have mercy upon him) said, “When their inside gets illuminated by prayer, their outside becomes radiant. {Their mark is on their faces from the trace of prostration.}”
This light prevents a person from committing immoral acts. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: “An adulterer is not a believer at the time of committing adultery, a drinker of alcoholic drink is not a believer at the time of drinking, and a thief is not a believer at the time of committing theft.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Allah Almighty informs us that the Books He revealed are light from Him that illuminates the hearts of His servants. He says: {Indeed, We sent down the Torah, in which was guidance and light.} [Surat al-Mā’idah: 44] Allah Almighty also says: {And We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light.} [Surat al-Mā’idah: 46]
And the greatest light sent down is the Book revealed to Muhammad (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). Allah Almighty says: {There has come to you from Allah a light and an evident Book.} [Surat al-Mā’idah: 15]
Through it, Allah Almighty brings those who believe out of darkness into light: {Alif Lām Ra. This is a Book which We have sent down to you [O Prophet], so that you may bring people out of the depths of darkness into light – with their Lord’s permission – to the path of the All-Mighty, the Praiseworthy.} [Surat Ibrāhīm: 1] Therefore, when the disbelievers realize the great impact of this light upon this Ummah, they try hard to extinguish it. Yet Allah Almighty is preserving His Book. {They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.} [Surat as-Saff: 8] And the Almighty Lord will always preserve this Ummah as long as they hold onto His Book.
As "The Light" is one of the Names and Attributes of Allah, His religion is light, His Messenger is light, His speech is light, and the abode of honor for His servants is a glittering light. This light is shining within the hearts of the believers and manifesting on their tongues and body organs. In addition, Allah Almighty will complete this light for them on the Day of Judgment. He says: {Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say: “Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are Capable of all things”} [Surat at-Tahrīm: 8]
O Allah, the Light of the heavens and the earth, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are Able to do all things!