The Holy Quran, akin to a radiant lamp, illuminates the path of guidance for humanity. Among its verses, the Verse of Light (Surah An-Nur, Ayah 35) shines forth as a brilliant gem. This verse employs profound and meaningful allegories to depict the reality of Divine Light and reveals the exalted position of Wilayah (Divine Authority) within the cosmic order. In this treatise, relying upon the lectures of a learned scholar and in-depth exegetical analyses, we elucidate this verse and its connection to the Shajarat al-Tayyibah (the Pure Tree) of Ahl al-Bayt, peace be upon them. The structure of this work is arranged so as to comprehensively explore all semantic layers of the verse and to clearly demonstrate its relationship with the concepts of Wilayah, Ismah (Infallibility), and Divine guidance.
اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ ۗ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His Light is like a niche within which is a lamp; the lamp is within a glass, the glass as if it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil almost glows even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His Light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things.
The Verse of Light introduces Allah as the Light of the heavens and the earth. This expression presents Light not only as the essence of existence but also as the axis of guidance and illumination of the universe. Divine Light, like a sun that never sets, encompasses all existence and liberates it from the darkness of ignorance and misguidance. In mystical exegeses, this Light refers to the manifestation of the Divine Essence that is revealed through the lights of the Infallibles, peace be upon them, in the human realm. This Light provides physical illumination to the heavens and the earth, and in a spiritual dimension, it guides the hearts of the faithful towards the truth.
The verse employs allegories such as mishkat (niche), misbah (lamp), and zujajah (glass) to depict the reality of Divine Light. The mishkat, meaning a lamp-holder, is a place that preserves the light within and protects it from winds and extinguishment. The misbah is a lamp with a burning wick, and the zujajah is a transparent glass that transmits the light without distortion. These allegories act as mirrors reflecting various dimensions of Divine Light.
In Shiite exegesis, the mishkat is interpreted as the pure heart of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him and his progeny, or Lady Fatimah, peace be upon her, which is the locus of the light of Wilayah. The misbah denotes the light of Prophethood or Imamate, and the zujajah corresponds to the pure hearts of the Infallibles, peace be upon them, who, due to their innate purity, transmit Divine Light to the entire cosmos. These allegories contain the precious reality of Wilayah as a pearl within an oyster, offering it to humanity.
To better understand the allegory of the Verse of Light, each element must be considered individually:
These components function harmoniously like parts of a system, brilliantly displaying Divine Light. Just as a lamp without glass is vulnerable to extinguishment, the light of Wilayah cannot reach the whole universe without the pure hearts of the Infallibles, peace be upon them.
The Verse of Light, with innovative allegories, introduces Divine Light as the essence of existence and the axis of guidance. The mishkat
