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.
