Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
Allahumma Salli 'ala Muhammad wa aali Muhammad
Rab'i al-Thani 25 1439
Quran 64:8
Believe, therefore, in Allah and His Messenger, and in the Light which we have sent down. And Allah is well acquainted with all that ye do.
Quran 24:35
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, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light: Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things.
So what is the "Light" mentioned in these two verses?
The commentators have explained the meaning of this verse from many angles. The first is that Allah has described this example for His Prophet. The niche is the Holy heart of the Holy messenger and the lamp is his wisdom-filled soul and the glass is the Messengership which is neither eastern nor western, neither Christian nor Jewish because Christians face east and Jews towards the west while praying. The bountiful tree is Ibrahim (a.s.) and the light Muhammad which is about to come before people, visibly though not audibly.
Second: That niche may mean Ibrahim (a.s.) and lamp may be Ismail (a.s.) and glass may be Muhammad and the blessed tree may mean Ibrahim (a.s.) because the Holy Prophet (S) was born from his loins and they have been neither eastern nor western. The oil whereof almost gives light though fire touch it not may mean it is likely that the niceties of Muhammad (S) may become visible and apparent very soon before he gets revelation. Light upon light may mean that Messengership is a kind of light which is from the lineage of messengers.
Third: The niche is Abdul Muttalib and lamp is Abdullah and glass is the Holy Prophet (S) who is neither eastern nor western, rather he is a Meccan and Mecca is situated in the middle of the world map.
Fourth: This example has been given by Allah for the believer and the niche is his soul and the lamp his chest (heart) and the glass is faith and the Quran which is in his heart and it brightens or shines through that bountiful tree which is sincerity about Allah. So that tree remains ever green like the tree around which other trees have grown and the shine of the sky does not reach that tree at the time of sunrise nor at the time of sunset and this is the example of a believer. No trail or tribulation affects him adversely as he lives with four virtues (attributes): If Allah grants him something he thanks Him and if he is caught in some difficulty, he remains patient and when he gives a judgement or issues an order he does so with justice and when he speaks he tells the truth. Thus his example among all people is like a living man who walks through the graves of the dead ones. Light above light means his word is light and his deed or act is light. His entering every affair is light and coming out of it is also light and so also is his return towards light on the day of judgement.
Fifth: Allah has given this example regarding the Holy Quran. Thereby the niche is the Quran, the lamp is a believer’s heart, the glass is his tongue and mouth and the bountiful tree is the revelation. the oil whereof almost gives light though fire touch it not means it is likely that soon the argument of Quran will become clear even if it is not recited or that the proofs of Allah may become clear to the creations and for a man who ponders over it even if Quran is not revealed and ‘It is light above light’ means that the Quran is the light along with all those which were before it. ‘Allah guides to His light whom He pleases’ means Allah guides whom He wills towards Messengership and Imamate.
Apart from these, other explanations have also been given by the commentators but they would be too lengthy to mention them here.
حدثنا محمد بن همام قال حدثنا جعفر بن محمد قال حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصايغ قال حدثنا الحسن بن علي عن صالح بن سهل الهمداني قال سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول في قول الله { الله نور السماوات والأرض مثل نوره كمشكاة } المشكاة فاطمة عليها السلام { فيها مصباح المصباح } الحسن والحسين { في زجاجة الزجاجة كأنها كوكب دري } كأن فاطمة عليها السلام كوكب دري بين نساء أهل الأرض { يوقد من شجرة مباركة } يوقد من إبراهيم عليه وعلى نبينا وآله السلام { لا شرقية ولا غربية } يعني لا يهودية ولا نصرانية { يكاد زيتها يضيء } يكاد العلم يتفجر منها { ولو لم تمسسه نار نور على نور } إمام منها بعد إمام { يهدي الله لنوره من يشاء } يهدي الله للأئمة من يشاء أن يدخله في نور ولايتهم مخلصاً { ويضرب الله الأمثال للناس والله بكل شيء عليم
Narrated to me from Muhammad bin Hisham who said: Narrated to me from Ja'far bin Muhammad who said: Narrated to me from Muhammad bin Hassan bin Sabigh who said: Narrated to me from Hassan bin Ali from Salih bin Sahl al-Hamedani who said:
I heard Aba Abdillah (as) say on the words of Allah "Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche," the niche is Fatimah (sa), "and within it a Lamp: the Lamp," Hassan and Husayn, "enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star," Fatimah (as) was a shining star between the women of the earth, "Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive," lit from Ibrahim (as), "neither of the east nor of the west," it means neither of the Christians or the Jews, "whose oil is well-nigh luminous," the oil of knowledge emanates from it, "though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light!" Imam from it after Imam, "Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light," Allah guides to the Imams whom he wills enter specifically into the light of their guardianship (wilayah), "Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things."
Now what is "the Light which we sent down" and "The Parable of his Light"?
So what is the "Light" mentioned in these two verses?
The commentators have explained the meaning of this verse from many angles. The first is that Allah has described this example for His Prophet. The niche is the Holy heart of the Holy messenger and the lamp is his wisdom-filled soul and the glass is the Messengership which is neither eastern nor western, neither Christian nor Jewish because Christians face east and Jews towards the west while praying. The bountiful tree is Ibrahim (a.s.) and the light Muhammad which is about to come before people, visibly though not audibly.
Second: That niche may mean Ibrahim (a.s.) and lamp may be Ismail (a.s.) and glass may be Muhammad and the blessed tree may mean Ibrahim (a.s.) because the Holy Prophet (S) was born from his loins and they have been neither eastern nor western. The oil whereof almost gives light though fire touch it not may mean it is likely that the niceties of Muhammad (S) may become visible and apparent very soon before he gets revelation. Light upon light may mean that Messengership is a kind of light which is from the lineage of messengers.
Third: The niche is Abdul Muttalib and lamp is Abdullah and glass is the Holy Prophet (S) who is neither eastern nor western, rather he is a Meccan and Mecca is situated in the middle of the world map.
Fourth: This example has been given by Allah for the believer and the niche is his soul and the lamp his chest (heart) and the glass is faith and the Quran which is in his heart and it brightens or shines through that bountiful tree which is sincerity about Allah. So that tree remains ever green like the tree around which other trees have grown and the shine of the sky does not reach that tree at the time of sunrise nor at the time of sunset and this is the example of a believer. No trail or tribulation affects him adversely as he lives with four virtues (attributes): If Allah grants him something he thanks Him and if he is caught in some difficulty, he remains patient and when he gives a judgement or issues an order he does so with justice and when he speaks he tells the truth. Thus his example among all people is like a living man who walks through the graves of the dead ones. Light above light means his word is light and his deed or act is light. His entering every affair is light and coming out of it is also light and so also is his return towards light on the day of judgement.
Fifth: Allah has given this example regarding the Holy Quran. Thereby the niche is the Quran, the lamp is a believer’s heart, the glass is his tongue and mouth and the bountiful tree is the revelation. the oil whereof almost gives light though fire touch it not means it is likely that soon the argument of Quran will become clear even if it is not recited or that the proofs of Allah may become clear to the creations and for a man who ponders over it even if Quran is not revealed and ‘It is light above light’ means that the Quran is the light along with all those which were before it. ‘Allah guides to His light whom He pleases’ means Allah guides whom He wills towards Messengership and Imamate.
Apart from these, other explanations have also been given by the commentators but they would be too lengthy to mention them here.
حدثنا محمد بن همام قال حدثنا جعفر بن محمد قال حدثنا محمد بن الحسن الصايغ قال حدثنا الحسن بن علي عن صالح بن سهل الهمداني قال سمعت أبا عبد الله عليه السلام يقول في قول الله { الله نور السماوات والأرض مثل نوره كمشكاة } المشكاة فاطمة عليها السلام { فيها مصباح المصباح } الحسن والحسين { في زجاجة الزجاجة كأنها كوكب دري } كأن فاطمة عليها السلام كوكب دري بين نساء أهل الأرض { يوقد من شجرة مباركة } يوقد من إبراهيم عليه وعلى نبينا وآله السلام { لا شرقية ولا غربية } يعني لا يهودية ولا نصرانية { يكاد زيتها يضيء } يكاد العلم يتفجر منها { ولو لم تمسسه نار نور على نور } إمام منها بعد إمام { يهدي الله لنوره من يشاء } يهدي الله للأئمة من يشاء أن يدخله في نور ولايتهم مخلصاً { ويضرب الله الأمثال للناس والله بكل شيء عليم
Narrated to me from Muhammad bin Hisham who said: Narrated to me from Ja'far bin Muhammad who said: Narrated to me from Muhammad bin Hassan bin Sabigh who said: Narrated to me from Hassan bin Ali from Salih bin Sahl al-Hamedani who said:
I heard Aba Abdillah (as) say on the words of Allah "Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche," the niche is Fatimah (sa), "and within it a Lamp: the Lamp," Hassan and Husayn, "enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star," Fatimah (as) was a shining star between the women of the earth, "Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive," lit from Ibrahim (as), "neither of the east nor of the west," it means neither of the Christians or the Jews, "whose oil is well-nigh luminous," the oil of knowledge emanates from it, "though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light!" Imam from it after Imam, "Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light," Allah guides to the Imams whom he wills enter specifically into the light of their guardianship (wilayah), "Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things."
Now what is "the Light which we sent down" and "The Parable of his Light"?
في التوحيد عن الصادق عليه السلام هو مثل ضربه الله تعالى لنا وعنه عليه السلام { اللهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ } قال كذلك الله عزّ وجلّ مثل نوره قال محمد صلى الله عليه وآله كمشكاة قال صدر محمد صلى الله عليه وآله فيها مصباح قال فيه نور العلم يعني النبوة المصباح في زجاجة قال علم رسول الله صلّى الله عليه وآله صدر الى قلب عليّ عليه السلام الزجاجة كأنّها قال كانّه كوكب درّي يوقد مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُبارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلا غَرْبِيَّةٍ قال ذلك امير المؤمنين علي بن ابي طالب عليه السلام لا يهودي ولا نصراني يكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نارٌ قال يكاد العلم يخرج من فم العالم من آل محمد صلوات الله عليه من قبل ان ينطق به نور على نور قال الإِمام في اثر الامام وفي معناه اخبار اخر.
And in at-Tawheed (Kitab at-Tawheed by Ibn Babuwayh) from as-Sadiq (as) on the verse "Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth," he said "So this is Allah the Great and Powerful, the example of his light he said is Muhammad (saw), so the niche is the chest of Muhammad (saw) in it a lamp he said in it is the light of knowledge, meaning prophethood. The lamp in a glass case is the knowledge of Rasulullah (saw) given to the heart of Ali (as), the glass case. The shining light lit from a blessed olive tree neither eastern not western is Amir al-Mumineen Ali bin Abi Talib (as), not Jewish nor Christian, whose oil is well-nigh luminous is the oil of knowledge coming from the knowledgeable mouth from the family of Muhammad (saa) from before he utters to him, light upon light if Imam giving way to (another) Imam," and in its meaning there is another narration.
Source: Tafsir as-Safi, Mullah Faydh al-Kashani, commentary on verse 24:35
More ahadith from marefateahlebait.com
Regarding the above verse [64:8] there is a narration in Usool Al Kaafi: الحسين بن محمد، عن معلى بن محمد، عن علي بن مرداس قال: حدثنا صفوان ابن يحيى والحسن بن محبوب، عن أبي أيوب، عن أبي خالد الكابلي قال: سألت أبا جعفرعليه السلام عن قول الله عزوجل: " فآمنوا بالله ورسوله والنور الذي أنزلنا " فقال: يا أبا خالد النور والله الائمة من آل محمد صلى الله عليه وآله إلى يوم القيامة، وهم والله نور الله الذي أنزل، وهم والله نور الله في السماوات وفي الارض، والله يا أبا خالد لنور الامام في قلوب المؤمنين أنور من الشمس المضيئة بالنهار، وهم والله ينورون قلوب المؤمنين، ويحجب الله عزوجل نورهم عمن يشاء فتضلهم قلوبهم، والله يا أبا خالد لا يحبنا عبد ويتولانا حتى يطهر الله قلبه ولا يطهر الله قلب عبد حتى يسلم لنا ويكون سلما لنا فاذا كان سلما لنا سلمه الله من شديد الحساب وآمنه من فزع يوم القيامة الاكبرOther articles on the tafsir of this verse:
Abu Khalid al-Kabuli who has said the following.
"I asked (Imam) abu Ja‘far (as) about the meaning of the words of Allah, the Majestic, the Gracious, ‘Believe, therefore, in Allah and His Messenger, and in the Light (Noor) which we have sent down' [64:8]
"O abu Khalid, I swear by Allah, it is the Imams from the family of the Holy Prophet (saww) up to the Day of judgment who are called light in the above verse. They, I swear by Allah, are the light of Allah whom He sent down. It is they, I swear by Allah, who are the light of Allah in the heavens and in the earth. O abu Khalid, I swear by Allah, that the light of the (Imams) in the hearts of the true believers is more bright than the light of the sun in the midday. They, I swear by Allah, give light to the hearts of the true believers and Allah, the Most Holy, the Most High, may block such light from reaching the hearts of whoever He may will, thus their hearts remain dark. O abu Khalid, no one would believe in our Divine authority except that Allah will cleanse his heart. Allah will not cleanse the heart of a person until he or she will acknowledge our Divine authority and live in peace with us. When one lives in peace with us Allah will safeguard him against the severity of the Day of recockning and grant him security against the great terror on the Day of Judgment"
[Source: Al-Kaafi Vol.1 Pg.194]
حدثنا الحسين بن أحمد بن إدريس رضي الله عنه قال: حدثنا أبي، عن محمد ابن الحسين بن يزيد الزيات، عن الحسن بن موسى الخشاب، عن ابن سماعة، عن على بن الحسن بن رباط، عن أبيه، عن المفضل بن عمر قال: قال الصادق جعفر ابن محمد عليهما السلام إن الله تبارك وتعالى خلق أربعة عشر نورا قبل خلق الخلق بأربعة عشر فقيل له: يا ابن رسول الله ومن الاربعة عشر؟ فقال: محمدو على وفاطمة والحسن والحسين والائمة من ولد الحسين، آخر هم القائم الذي يقوم بعد غيبته فيقتل الدجال ويطهر الارض من كل جور وظلمNarrated to us Husain bin Ahmad bin Idrees that: Narrated to us my father from Muhammad bin Husain bin Yazid Zayyat from Hasan bin Musa Khashshab from Ibne Samaat from Ali Ibne Hasan Ribat from his father from Mufaddal bin Umar that he said:
As-Sadiq Jafar bin Muhammad (a.s.) said: "Allah, Blessed and the High, created fourteen lights 14000 years before the creation of the universe, thus they were our souls. It was asked: O, son of Allah’s Messenger, who are these fourteen lights? He replied: Muhammad, Ali, Fatima, Hasan, Husain, and Imams from the descendants of Husain and the last of them is Qaim who will rise up after occultation. Then he would kill the Dajjal and purify the earth from every type of injustice and oppression."
[Source: Kamal Al-Deen, Chapter. 33, Hadees. 7]
Another Hadees of Imam Musa Kazim (as) Endorses the above truth that the Ahlul Bait (as) are NOT Humans and have only come in Human form for the guidance of Human beings :
Imam Musa Kazim (as) while taking about Meraj and referring to Prophet Muhammad (saww) and Imam Ali (as) says:
ظاهر هما بشریة و باطنهما لا هوتیه ظهرا الخلق علی هیاكل الناسوتیة حتی یطیقوا روتیها“These 2 are apparently (Externally) Human and their Batin (internal) is related to Allah (swt). They have come amongst people in their form (appearance) so that people can see them."
Imam Musa Kazim (as) continues saying that this has been mentioned in the following verse of the Holy Quran:
وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَاهُ مَلَكًا لَجَعَلْنَاهُ رَجُلًا وَلَلَبَسْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ مَا يَلْبِسُونَ "If we had made it an angel, We should have sent him as a man, and We should certainly have dressed them the way they are dressed up." [6:9] هم خلقوا من الأنوار، و انتقلوا من ظهر إلى ظهر، و صلب إلى صلب، و من رحم إلى رحم في الطبقة العليا من غير نجاسة، بل نقلا بعد نقل، لا من ماء مهين، و لا نطفة خشرة كسائر خلقه، بل أنوار انتقلوا من أصلاب الطاهرين إلى أرحام المطهّرات"They are created from Light (Noor). And moved from back to back and loin to loin (Sulb) and womb to womb in highest grades without Najasah (uncleanliness). But transferred, not from the despised fluid and not sperm unlike the rest of his creations. But (they are) lights (noor) transferred from pure Loins to Pure wombs."
[Source: Bihar Al Anwar Vol.35 H.24, Tafseer-e-Burhaan Vol.3 H.7, Taawil-al-Ayat Vol.1 Pg:398]
وعن محمد بن سنان عن ابن عباس قال: كنا عند رسول الله صلى الله عليه آله فأقبل علي بن أبي طالب عليه السلام فقال له النبي صلى الله عليه وآله: مرحبا بمن خلقه الله قبل أبيه بأربعين ألف سنة، قال: فقلنا: يا رسول الله أكان الابن قبل الأب؟ فقال نعم، إن الله خلقني وعليا من نور واحد قبل خلق آدم بهذه المدة ثم قسمه نصفين، ثم خلق الأشياء من نوري ونور علي عليه السلام، ثم جعلنا عن يمين العرش فسبحنا فسبحت الملائكة، فهللنا فهللوا، وكبرنا فكبروا، فكل من سبح الله وكبره فإن ذلك من تعليم علي عليه السلام
Ibn Abbas narrates:
We were with the Holy Prophet (saww) when Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) entered.
The Prophet said to Imam Ali (as), "Greetings to Him who was created 4000 years before His father.
We said, O Prophet of Allah (saww), "Can a son be before his father?"
The Prophet replied, "Yes, Indeed Allah (swt) created Me and Ali (as) from a single light (noor), 4000 years before the creation of Adam (as). Then He split that light into two. He then created the things from My light and the light of Ali (as)."
"Allah (swt) than placed us on the right side of the throne (Arsh). So we did Tasbeeh and hence the angels did Tasbeeh. We did Tahleel and hence the angels did Tahleel. We did Taqbeer and hence the angels did Taqbeer.
So everyone who does Tasbeeh and Taqbeer of Allah (swt), that surely is from the teaching of Imam Ali (as).
(Tasbeeh - Saying SubhanAllah, Tahleel - Saying La ilah illalAllah, Taqbeer - Saying Allahu Akbar)
[Source: Bihar al-Anwar, Vol. 25, Pg. 24]
Imam Ali(as) addressing his companions said:
"What do you accept, that my brother the Holy Prophet(saww) said, I and my Ahlebait(as) we were each and everyone of us One Noor(Light) that were walking in presence of Allah(swt) 14000 years before Adam(as) was created and when Adam(as) was created this light was put on his back and brought to this earth. Then this light was put in the boat through Nooh(as) and then in the fire through Ibrahim(as) and after that transferred on highly esteeemed backs........................."
[Source: Kitab Sulaym ibn Qays al Hilaali, Hadees 11]
- https://hubeali.com/books/English-Books/TafseerHub-e-Ali/CH24_SuraAlNoor_Verses1-35.pdf
- https://www.al-islam.org/hayat-al-qulub-vol3-allamah-muhammad-baqir-al-majlisi/part-10-exegesis-verse-noor
- http://www.shiachat.com/forum/topic/234961039-lets-have-a-glance-at-the-ayate-noor/
