“God is the light of the heavens and the earth. The allegory of His light is that of a concave mirror within a lamp that is placed inside a glass. The glass is like a radiant planet, which is lit from a blessed olive-producing tree that is neither eastern, nor western. It’s oil is virtually self-radiating though no fire touches it. Light upon light. God guides to His light whoever wills (to be guided) and God cites the parables for the people. God is fully aware of all things.” 24:35

This beautiful Quranic verse is one which gives us a glimpse into the Glory of God, this is not easy to do since the Power and Might of God is far beyond any human’s understanding.

“They do not grasp God’s true Might. God is the Most Powerful, the Almighty.” 22:74

And for that reason, we see the word “allegory” in this verse to confirm that this is only an example and should not be taken literally.

This is not any different from trying to explain to someone the taste of chocolate if that person has never tasted chocolate in his life. We can say it tastes like this or like that, but we can never explain the real taste.

To give us some kind of understanding of God’s Light and God’s Might, God includes a number of words of great significance:

– The verse speaks of a radiant planet and the light it reflects from a star (oil producing tree). The words “oil producing” refer to the energy given off by the star. The enormous amount of energy given off by a star is allegorical to the infinite blessings from God which are multiplied for whom He pleases.

– God uses the most powerful energy known in the universe (atomic energy) to make an allegory which we can comprehend to His Might. The nuclear reactions which take place inside stars are not the same as the reactions which are given off as a result of wood burning (combustion). The words ”no fire touched it” confirms this meaning. The allegory in this is the fact that God’s power and might cannot be seen or comprehended by the human being.

– The words “self-radiating” tell us that God’s power is independent of all things.

– The word “blessed” tell us that all blessings come from God alone.

– The words “light upon light” tell us that the power of God is infinite.

– The word “neither eastern, nor western” tell us that God is everywhere and not confined to a one place or one direction.

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