By Randa Hillal
In Islam, light can be a mark of God’s presence. One of Allah’s 99 Beautiful Names is An-Nur, meaning “The Light,” and many prophets such as Musa or Moses (PBUH) and Muhammad (PBUH) reported seeing blinding lights while communicating with Allah. Light also symbolizes goodness; the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) reported that the angels, wholly good beings created by God for a multitude of purposes (including cataloging mankind’s deeds and asking Allah to bless the virtuous, among others) are made from light. Finally, light represents Allah’s gifts of divine guidance and human intellect to all people, not just Muslims. Indeed, the Quran specifically mentions that the Jewish and Christian scriptures were each “a light and guidance” unto the people (Quran 5:44-46), and that every community in world history received messengers who provided “clear [guiding] light” and “convincing proof” encouraging them to serve God and forbid evil (Quran 4:174 and 16:36).
The mystical Quranic verse known as Ayat-an-Nur (the verse of light) explains the light of God through an extended metaphor about the lighting of a lamp. The verse can be translated as:
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is a niche wherein is a lamp — the lamp is in a glass, the glass as it were a glittering star — lit from a blessed olive tree, neither eastern nor western, whose oil almost lights up, though fire should not touch it. Light upon light! Allah guides to His Light whomever He wishes. Allah draws parables for mankind, and Allah has knowledge of all things.” (Quran 24:35)
The multitude of symbols — the window, the lamp, the glass, the star, the tree, the oil — allows for a plethora of interpretations and extended metaphors. Interestingly, the lamp imagery is a reference to the practices of other faiths and other traditions. The Olive Tree universally represents peace, The Blessed Tree; “neither eastern nor western” may imply that peace is a universal goal to all Mankind. Although the verse’s meaning may be elusive, it describes a picture that is possible to visualize. So, as we think of the celebration of “The Festival of Lights” it is possible that the picture of a shining lamp in one’s mind’s eye based on this verse would look similar to the festival’s celebration.
As we celebrate, Diwali, Hanukah and Christmas and other feasts during the year, may our hearts and minds be the rays of love, truth and peace. The Quran states, “Virtue and evil are not equal. If you repel evil deeds with virtuous ones, you will certainly find that your enemies will become your intimate friends.” (Quran 41:34).