Juz 18: Al-Muʾminūn to Al-Furqān 20
Section 14 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
14. The Light Verse and Examples of Belief vs. Disbelief | Verses: An-Nur 24:35-40
The most magnificent verse in Surah An-Nur, from which the surah derives its name, is verse 35, known as the Ayat al-Nur (The Light Verse). This profound verse contains one of the most beautiful and profound metaphors in the Quran:
اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ ۗ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche in which there is a lamp; the lamp is in a crystal; the crystal is like a brilliant star, lit from a blessed olive tree, neither eastern, nor western, whose oil would almost glow forth even though fire has not touched it. Light upon light! Allah guides to His light whomever He wills. Allah sets forth examples for mankind, and Allah is All-Knowing of everything.”
This verse presents an exquisite metaphor for divine guidance, depicting it as light emanating from a carefully designed lamp. In pre-electric times, the quality of light depended on the purity of the oil, the clarity of the glass casing, and the strategic placement of the lamp. Allah (swt) describes His light as emanating from a lamp placed in a niche, enclosed in crystal glass clear as a brilliant star, fueled by oil from a blessed olive tree that receives balanced sunlight throughout the day (neither exclusively eastern nor western).
The olive oil is described as being so pure that "it would almost glow forth even though fire has not touched it," symbolizing the natural predisposition (fitrah) of the believer's heart toward truth and goodness. When this natural predisposition encounters divine revelation, it becomes "light upon light" – a perfect harmony of natural inclination and revealed guidance.
This metaphor beautifully represents the heart of a true believer who possesses both natural inclination toward goodness and the illumination of divine guidance. Such a heart is ready to receive truth and respond to it positively even before being fully exposed to detailed religious teachings.
Following this inspiring metaphor of belief, Allah (swt) presents contrasting images of disbelief in verses 39-40:
وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَعْمَالُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍ بِقِيعَةٍ يَحْسَبُهُ الظَّمْآنُ مَاءً حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءَهُ لَمْ يَجِدْهُ شَيْئًا وَوَجَدَ اللَّهَ عِندَهُ فَوَفَّاهُ حِسَاب
“As for those who disbelieve, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert plain, which a thirsty person deems to be water, until when he comes to it, he finds it nothing, and finds (the decree of) Allah with him, so He pays him his account in full. Allah is swift at reckoning.” (24:39)