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Q 24:35 - The Qur'anic Light Verse

The Qur'anic Light Verse, Q. 24: 35,  and its Islamic Interpretations


 

 

 

The Qur'anic Light Verse, Q. 24:35

 اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ

 

 God is the Light  of the heavens and of the earth

 مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ

The likeness of His Light is even as [the light streaming from] a niche  (mishkat) containing a lamp (al-miṣbāḥ);

 الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ

the lamp (al-miṣbāḥ)  is in a glass (zujājat),

  الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ

the glass even as a resplendent Star (kawkāb durriya)

يُوقَدُ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونِةٍ

enkindled from the oil (zaytūn), of a blessed Tree (shajarat mubāraka)

لاَ شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلاَ غَرْبِيَّة ٍ

 [an olive] neither of the East nor of the West.

 يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ

 Its oil (zaytuhā) well nigh radiates forth  even though it [Fire] hardly touches it.

نَارٌ نُورٌ عَلَى نُورٍ

It is Light upon Light [and]

يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ

God guideth unto His Light whomsoever He willeth.

  وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ 

And God [does indeed] strike similitudes (al-amthāl) for the people for God is aware of it all things.