An-Nur

The Light, who illuminates and gives light to all the worlds. Allah Almighty says: "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 glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow 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." (An-Nur, 35) Every outward and inward manifestation and dawning that appears in the conscience and in intuition — the opposite of every kind of darkness, whether of the senses or of the intellect and understanding — is called light. Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. It is He who brought the whole world into being, who displays the universe, who makes truth known, who gladdens eyes and hearts. Were it not for Him, nothing would exist, no truth would be perceived, no joy would be felt. The appearance and the knowing of everything is only through His manifesting and making known. The characteristic of light too is appearing, shining and being found. It therefore becomes plainly evident that in reality the absolute Light is Allah, glorified and exalted. And to call anything besides Him light is metaphorical. Just as everything appears to the eye by outward light, so too everything appears to inner insight through Allah. The light of Allah is present with all things and yet is not noticed. There is, however, a difference from the other: visible light is thought to disappear and be hidden with the setting of the sun. But the setting or disappearing of the divine light by which everything appears cannot be conceived; and since its changing is impossible, it always remains together with things. His hiddenness comes from the intensity of His manifestness. How exalted is the glory of Allah, who is concealed from His creatures by the intensity of His manifestness and veiled from them by the brilliance of His light! Allah is light, light upon light — a light that cannot be limited or comprehended. If it is asked, then why does not everyone find it? Why cannot everyone attain what is sought? — Allah guides whom He wills to His light, or by His light. Consequently not everyone can see the proof of truth or know the signs of truth or attain the desire of the truth. Not everyone can be a prophet, or a saint, or a believer, or a knower, or a good servant. And for that reason not everyone can benefit from the light of prophethood, the light of the Qur'an, the light of faith or the light of knowledge.

The noble name An-Nur is recited 256 times as "Ya Nur, jalla jalaluhu" in order to attain wisdom and knowledge, for the heart and the face to shine with the divine light, and to be loved and esteemed among people. If whoever persists in the remembrance of the noble name An-Nur is in a dark place, lights appear to him and his heart is filled with light.