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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Hayat Al-Qulub Vol.3 Part 10: Exegesis of the verse of Noor Exegesis of the verse of Noor - Luminosities denote these divine personalities and the exalted houses denote the houses of Ahlul Bayt (a.s.). Darkness denotes their enemies.

First verse: اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ مُبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونِةٍ لَا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ نُورٌ عَلَى نُورٍ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ.

Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth; a likeness of His light is as a niche in which is a lamp, the lamp is in a glass, (and) the glass is as it were a brightly shining star, lit from a blessed olive-tree, neither eastern nor western, the oil whereof almost gives light though fire touch it not — light upon light — Allah guides to His light whom He pleases, and Allah sets forth parables for men, and Allah is Cognizant of all things.

(Sura Nur 24:35) This holy verse is one of the allegorical verses having hidden meanings and there are several aspects in its explanation. The apparent translation is: It is Allah who grants light to the skies and the earths from the light of His existence and knowledge and Guidance as well as the outward shine of the stars etc. The attribute and quality and example of Allah’s light is like the niche and it is the hole in which the lamp is kept.

Some have said that there is a sphere in that lantern which contains a wick and as if there is a lamp in that niche and that the lamp may be in a lantern made of glass and that lantern may be shinning like a very bright star or Venus and that lamp has been lighted by the bounteous tree of olive and that olive tree is neither eastern nor western.

Some have said that it might not have grown either in the east or in the west that the sunshine may or may fall on it sometimes and sometimes may not fall on it, rather it might have grown in some expansive desert on top of a mountain where it might be receiving sunshine all the time so that its fruit might be ripe and its oil extremely pure.

Some have said that it may not be either on the east or on the west of habitation but in the middle of it which is Syria and the olive oil wherefrom is the best of all olive oils the world over.

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