“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth… Light upon light! Allah does guide whom He wills to His Light” (Q24:35)
Truth is distinct from falsehood just as light is distinct from darkness. Light is constant and unitary while shades and levels of darkness abound. Allah describes the nature of the two in the Qur’an: the element of light is described in singular term Nur (plural An’war) while darkness is described in plural (zulumat- darkness or depths of darkness).
Light is singular and unitary because its source- Allah- is unitary and singular and this explains the nature of Allah.
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His light is as if there were a niche and within it a lamp: the lamp enclosed in glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: lit from a blessed tree, an Olive, neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil is well-nigh luminous, through fire scare torched it: Light upon light! Allah does guide whom He will to His Light…” (Q24:35)
The path through which Allah guides to His light is the complete submission to His Will (Islam). Whoever rejects the light of Islam rejects Allah. No one does that except an unbeliever whose condition
“…is like the depths of darkness in a vest deep ocean, overwhelmed with billow topped by billow, topped by (dark) clouds: depths of darkness, one above another: if a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it! For any to whom Allah gives not light there is no light!” (Q24:40)
Whoever shuns the remembrance of Allah and gratitude to Him wallows in the darkness of this world (zulumat dun’ya). Knowingly committing sin without remorse and persisting in the same keeps him in darkness of sins (zulumat ma’asii), feigning belief while harbouring in the heart the contrast seasoned with tyranny, he is completely wrapped in the final layers of worldly darkness hypocrisy and tyranny (zulumat zulm). Associating partner with Allah in worship, reverence, love and obedience pushes him further into the dark depth: into the darkness of polytheism (zulumzt shirk). Now, since he rejects Allah’s light completely he is immersed in darkness of unbelief (zulumat kufr).
All efforts lead to an end: living in truth (the light of Allah) and in falsehood (shades of darkness) have their consequences. The end of light is “light upon light” while that of darkness is “depths of darkness, one above another.” The darkness pf the world (zulumat dun’ya) leads to that of the grave (zulumat qabr). Whoever rejects Allah’s signs in the world is further plunged into another layer of darkness in the grave while the recipient of Allah’s light continues to bask in His light.
When the trumpet sounds to usher in the Hereafter, the light of the believers as a consequence of their devotion in the world will begin to shine forth. On that day
“…shall you see the believing man and thee believing women how their light runs forward before them and by their right hands: (their greetings will be): God News for you this Day! Gardens beneath which flow rivers! To dwell therein forever! This is the highest achievement!” (Q57:12)
But for those who shun the remembrance of Allah, darkness is their lot.
“Whosoever turns away from My message, verily for him is a life narrowed down, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Judgement” (Q20:124)
a total darkness without a glimmer of light.
Allah is the Malik Yaun-u-Deen (Master of the Day of Judgement) who judges with fairness and by His command, all men will proceed onto the sirat (of ultimate decision), a bridge that leads to Paradise and under which Hell lies (Bukhari). While the unbeliever continue in their darkness (zulumzt strat), the believers bear their light. On this day, the unbelievers will say to them
“Wait for us! Let us borrow (a light) from your light! It will be said: ‘turn your back to your rear! Then seek a light (where you can)!’ So a wall will be put up between then with a gate therein. Within it will be Mercy throughout and without it all alongside will be wrath and punishment!” (Q57:13)
The end of ingratitude (kufr-unbelief) is Hell-the final abode of darkness. It blazes with the glow of fire but it is as dark as a bottomless pit. Paradise on the other hand is the final resting place for the believers, an abode of light set aglow by the praises of Allah with the believers faces well lit by the Pleasure of Allah (ridwanullah).
“Is there any other reward for good other than good?” (Q55:60)
Where would you fall, among the people of Nur (light) or with the people of Nar (Hell Fire)? Decide now!
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited