Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD

Introduction

Surah An-Nur (“Light”) contains in verses 35–40 one of the Quran’s most celebrated parables – the Verse of Light (24:35) – followed by contrasting metaphors of belief and disbelief. These verses have inspired extensive commentary in Islamic tradition, from classical scholars like Ibn ʿAbbās, Al-Ṭabarī, and Al-Ghazālī to modern commentators. They invite theological reflection on God’s guidance, philosophical insight into truth and meaning, and even psychological analysis of the human soul. In what follows, we will examine each verse in turn, then explore overarching themes. We will draw on classical exegesis and contemporary insights (including the writings of Zia H. Shah MD and others) to illuminate how these verses speak to the inner light of faith versus the abyss of error.

Verse-by-Verse Commentary

Verse 24:35 – “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth…”

“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 glass, the glass as if it were a glittering star lit from a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor 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 Knowing of all things.” (Qur’an 24:35)

This verse opens with a powerful divine attribute: “Allah is the Light (nūr) of the heavens and the earth.” Early authorities explain that this “Light” refers to Allah’s function as the ultimate guide and illuminator of the universe surahquran.com. As Ibn ʿAbbās said, Allah being “Light” means He is the One who guides the inhabitants of the heavens and earth surahquran.com. In other words, just as physical light makes sight and life possible, Allah’s guidance is the fundamental source of spiritual insight and existence. All knowledge, goodness, and beauty emanate from Him al-islam.orgal-islam.org. Classical commentators also note that Allah “illumines” creation literally (with the sun, moon, stars) and metaphorically (with revelation and reason) surahquran.com surahquran.com. He is “the Light of lights” – the source to which all lights, physical and spiritual, can be traced al-islam.org.

After this declaration, the verse gives a famous parable (“the example of His Light is like…”) to illustrate how divine light operates in the realm of human faith. The imagery is drawn from the 7th-century household: a niche (mishkāt, a small alcove in the wall) containing an oil lamp (miṣbāḥ) that is enclosed in a glass cover. The lamp is fueled by the purest olive oil from a “blessed tree” that enjoys full sun (neither eastern nor western, i.e. not in shade) – so pure it almost glows by itself. The glass shines like a sparkling star. The Quran calls this “light upon light”, and says Allah guides whom He wills to this light surahquran.com.

Islamic tradition offers multiple layers of interpretation for this rich parable. A prevalent classical interpretation is that it describes the light of iman (faith) in the heart of a believer islamicstudies.infoal-islam.org. On this reading, Allah’s “Light” in verse 35 is His guidance and faith that He instills in the believer’s heart surahquran.com. Early companions like Ubayy bin Kaʿb explained the symbolism as follows: the niche is the believer’s chest or breast; the glass lamp represents the believer’s heart, polished and clear; the lamp’s light itself is the divine illumination – the faith and Quranic guidance residing in that heart surahquran.com surahquran.com. Ubayy said, “the lamp is the light, and this refers to the Qur’an and the faith in his heart”, and that the glass is like the believer’s heart – fragile but transparent and radiant surahquran.com. The pure olive oil symbolizes the God-given fitra (innate disposition) or revelation that fuels the flame of faith al-islam.orgal-islam.org. Because this oil is derived from a blessed tree in optimal sunlight (“neither of the east nor west”), it signifies a source of guidance that is universal and pristine – not confined to any one culture or context al-islam.orgal-islam.org. It is so pure that it almost gives light of itself, even before the flame touches it – hinting that the human soul has an inborn capacity to recognize truth, yearning to ignite al-islam.org. When Allah’s revelation (the “fire”) ignites this pure fuel, the result is “light upon light”: layers of guidance, from innate reason to prophetic revelation, combine to illuminate the believer’s life surahquran.com. As Tafsir al-Jalalayn succinctly puts it: “the light of Allah is His guidance of the believer, light upon the light of faith.” surahquran.com

Other commentators have extended the parable to additional meanings – all compatible under the broad concept of divine light. Some said the “Light” refers to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself (the bringer of revelation), or to the Qur’an in the abstract al-islam.org. Indeed, Al-Ṭabarī reports a summary: “The Light” in this verse can be understood as “the light of the Qur’an”, the niche as the believer’s chest, the lamp as the light of faith (kindled by the Qur’an), and the glass as the believer’s heart that contains this light islamicstudies.info. All these interpretations revolve around the same core truth: Allah’s guidance is the only true light that can illuminate the human heart and mind quran-wiki.com. Imām Al-Ghazālī was so enamored of this verse’s depth that he wrote an entire treatise, Mishkāt al-Anwār (“The Niche of Lights”), delving into its philosophical mysteries. He and other sages saw in it a profound metaphysical lesson: just as all material light (like photons) ultimately comes from a single source (the cosmic order Allah created), all knowledge and moral truth emanate from Allah’s singular Light. Every ray of truth we perceive is a spark of the divine Light shining upon us themuslimtimes.info. (Notably, even modern science reveals light’s wondrous nature – behaving as both wave and particle, and defying full prediction at the quantum level themuslimtimes.info themuslimtimes.info. This mystery led Al-Ghazālī to champion the idea that natural laws themselves are manifestations of Allah’s will, an “Occasionalist” view arguably vindicated by the probabilistic behavior of each photon themuslimtimes.info themuslimtimes.info. In short, the more we learn about light, the more it inspires awe – fitting for a parable of God’s ever-mysterious providence.)

“Light upon light” thus captures the layering of divine guidance: Allah’s external revelations augment the internal spark He placed in our souls, multiplying the illumination surahquran.com. The verse concludes by reminding us that Allah alone guides to this Light whom He wills, and that He speaks in parables for people’s understanding while His knowledge is complete surahquran.com. No human can attain enlightenment without Allah’s light: “And he for whom Allah has not appointed light, for him there is no light.” (Qur’an 24:40) quran.com. This closing refrain (appearing at the end of verse 40) reinforces the point that guidance is ultimately a gift from God, not merely a product of human effort. From a theological perspective, it inculcates humility: believers have received nur not by their own merit, but by Allah’s grace – and they must cherish and reflect this light.

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