Light

Critic:-

Sufis speak about the Light of Muhammad. They quote the Light verse Quran 24:25. However to bring in Mohammad into this verse that talks explicitly and almost exclusively about Allah, that infiltration seems like a forced introduction. I am not at all convinced that the Quran is talking about Mohammad in that verse. Any such claim seems to me to be totally indefensible.

Comment:-

This is speculation without knowledge and understanding.

The verses in question states:-

"Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth; The similitude of His light is as a niche in which is a lamp, and the lamp is in a glass, the glass is as though it were a brilliant star; it is lit from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the east nor of the west, the oil of which would well-nigh glow of itself though no fire touched it; light upon light! Allah guides whom He will to His Light; and Allah strikes out parables for men, and Allah knows all things.

"(This lamp is found, or the light is lit) In the houses which Allah has permitted to be exalted and that His name shall be remembered (or mentioned) therein. His praises are celebrated therein mornings and evenings.

"By men whom neither merchandise nor selling (commerce) divert from the remembrance of Allah and steadfastness in prayer and charity, who are in awe of the day when heart and eyes shall be transformed." 24:25-37

The Quran also says:-

"O Prophet! Surely We have sent you as a witness, and as a bearer of good news and as a Warner, and as one inviting to Allah and as a light giving Lamp." Quran 33:45-46

"Then those who believe in him (Muhammad), and honour him, and help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him, they are the Successful. 7:157

"O people of the Scripture! Now has Our Messenger come unto you, expounding unto you much of that which you used to hide in the Scripture, and forgiving much. Now has come unto you Light from Allah and a plain scripture whereby Allah guides him who seeks His good pleasure unto paths of peace. He brings them out of darkness unto light by His decree, and guides them unto a straight path." 5:15-16

Here, Light refers to the Light that shines through Muhammad.

"O mankind! verily there hath come to you a convincing proof from your Lord: For We have sent unto you a light (that is) manifest." 4:174

This can refer to the Quran. Thus both the Quran and Mohammad (saw) are referred to in the Quran as Nur (Light).

"What! Is he whose heart Allah has opened to the Surrender (Islam) so that he is in a light from his Lord (like him who is hard-hearted)? Nay, woe to those whose heart are hard against the remembrance of Allah; those are in clear error." 39:22

Here the Muslim (one who has accepted Islam) is one who has obtained Light from Allah through Muhammad and the Quran.

"So believe in Allah and His Messenger and the Light which We have revealed. And Allah is aware of what you do." 64:8

Thus Light can be understood as referring to the Spirit.

Note that we have a Trinity here, but not in the Christian sense. i.e. it does not refer to Allah, but to Religion that comes from Allah, through a Messenger and by the Spirit.

It is Light that enlightens and brings to life.

"Is he who was dead and We have raised him unto life, and set for him a light wherein he walks among men as him whose similitude is in utter darkness whence he cannot emerge? Thus is their conduct made fair seeming for the disbelievers." 6:123

"And verily We gave Moses and Aaron the Criterion and a Light and a Reminder for those who keep from evil." 21:48

The Light is certainly the Spirit of Allah but when it shines through Muhammad (saw) it is referred to as the Light of Muhammad. It also shines through other Messengers and may then be referred to as the Light of those Messengers.

"O mankind! Now has proof from your Lord come unto you, and We have sent down unto you clear light. As for those who believe in Allah, and hold fast unto Him, them He will cause to enter into His Mercy and Grace, and will guide them unto Him by a Straight Path." 4:175-176

"Verily, it was We who have revealed the Torah in which there is guidance and light; the prophets who had surrendered did judge the Jews thereby, as did the Rabbis (masters) and doctors of Law." 5:44

"And We followed up the footsteps of these (prophets) with Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which was before him, and We bestowed upon him the Gospel, wherein is guidance and light, verifying what was before it of the Torah (Hebrew Scripture), a guidance and an admonition unto those who fear (or ward off evil)." 5:46

But we ought not to exaggerate and say that the Universe was created through the “Light of Muhammad” though it is part of Allah's Light. This would be misleading and lead us into the same mistake as the Christians make when they mistake Jesus, the Messenger, for God. However, as the Quran says we must not separate the Messengers from God (4:150) because the Message and Light that comes through them comes from God.

Is that too complicated to understand?

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