Page 189 - Names of Allah

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The Light
Allah is the Light of the heavens and Earth. The metaphor of
His Light is that of a niche in which is a lamp, the lamp inside
a glass, the glass like a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an
olive, neither of the east nor of the west, its oil all but giving
off light even if no fire touches it. Light upon Light. Allah
guides to His Light whoever He wills, makes metaphors for
mankind, and has knowledge of all things. In houses that
Allah has permitted to be built and in which His name is re-
membered, there are men who proclaim His glory morning
and evening. (Surat an-Nur, 24:35-36)

Allah, the Light of the heavens and Earth, manifests this attrib-
ute upon people. As a blessing, He illuminates His servants who be-
lieve in Him, recognize and appreciate His greatness, turn to Islam
(the only just religion), and live by its morality:
Is he whose breast is opened to Islam, and who is therefore
illuminated by his Lord…? Woe to those whose hearts are
hardened against the remembrance of Allah! Such people
are clearly misguided. (Surat az-Zumar, 39:22)
For the unbelievers, however, there is not a single source of “il-
lumination.” Moreover, they cannot find a way out of the darkness
in which they exist. Allah describes this darkness in the following
terms:
Or they are like the darkness of a fathomless sea that is cov-
ered by waves above, which are waves above which are
clouds, layers of darkness, one upon the other. If he puts

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