From 'Abdallah ibn 'Abd al-Rahmanal-Asamm from 'Abdallah ibn...

From 'Abdallah ibn 'Abd al-Rahmanal-Asamm from 'Abdallah ibn al-Qasim from salih ibn Sahl al-Hamadani who has said that abu 'Abdallah (a. s.) has said the following about the verse of the Holy Quran below. "God is the light of the heavens and the earth. A metaphor for His light is a lantern in which there is a lamp placed in a glass. The glass is like a shining star which is lit from a blessed olive tree that is neither eastern nor western.

Its oil almost lights up even though it has not been touched by the fire. It is light upon light. God guides to His light whomever He wants. God uses various metaphors. He has the knowledge of all things." (24:35) The Imam (a.s.) said that the lantern metaphorically stands for the Holy lady, Fatima (a.s.), the lamp stands for Imam al-Hassan (a. s.) and the glass stands for Imam al-Husayn (a.s.). The shining star stands for the Holy lady Fatima (a.s.) who shines among the ladies of the world.

The blessed olive tree stands for Prophet Abraham. Neither eastern nor western means not Jewish nor Christian. 'Its oil almost lights up' means that it almost bursts up with knowledge.

'Light up on light' means that there will one Imam after the other Imam (a.s.) 'God guides to His light who ever He wants' means that Allah guides through the Imams whomever He wants." About 'God uses various metaphors' I said, "Or it (the deeds of the unbelievers) are like the darkness of a deep, stormy sea with layers of giant waves, covered by dark clouds. It is darkness upon darkness whereby even if one stretches out his hands he can not see them.

One can have no light unless God gives him light. (24:40) The Imam (a.s.) said, " 'darkness' refers to the first and his friend, 'with layers of giant waves' refers to the third, 'covered with darkness' refers to the second. 'it is darkness up on darkness' refers to Mu'awiya and the disasters caused by the Amavides. 'even if one stretches out his hands' means that even if a true believer would stretch his hands in such disastrous condition 'he can not see them'.

'One can have no light unless God gives him light, means the light from the children of the Holy Lady, Fatima (a.s.) 'Can have no light' means an Imam on the Day of Judgment." The Imam (a.s.) said that, "On the Day of Judgment you will see the believers with their light shining in front of them and to their right. They will be told, "Paradise wherein streams flow is the glad news for you today. You will live therein forever.