al-Nur is the 24th sura of the Qur’an, which means ‘The Light’. The chapter derives
its name from verse 35, which describes God as the ‘Light of the Heavens and the
Earth’ in one of the most recognised and mystically beautiful verses of the Holy
Qur’an, known as the ‘The Light Verse’ (Aya al-Nur). It belongs to the Medinan period
and comprises 64 verses, 1,316 words, 5,680 letters, and 9 segments. It is the 102nd
sura in chron-ological order, revealed after Sura al-Hashr.
A major section of this chapter deals with the issue of chastity and sexual misconduct.
The sura describes several legal and moral injunctions regarding moral conduct.
These include the punishment for adultery; the evidential standards for establishing
adultery; the importance of establishing modesty; the importance of a suitable dress
code for women; the way in which one must respond to false allegations and rumours;
the etiquette of seeking permission to enter someone’s home; the importance of establishing
prayer; the im-portance of paying alms and giving charity; the importance of forgiving;
the importance of assisting those in need; and the significance and necessity of
absolute obedience to the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him).
This chapter also details rulings regarding false allegations and claims against
individuals. The chapter further offers prohibitive instructions regarding the vice
of prostitution. This chapter also condemns hy-pocrisy as a major vice. Furthermore,
this chapter describes the severity of the crime of false slander re-garding an
accusation of adultery. These rulings are set out by this chapter to demonstrate
an equilibrium between the severity of the sin of immodesty, as well as the magnitude
of the crime of false slandering and allegation in the sight of Allah Almighty.
The chapter concludes by emphasising the command to guard one’s chastity and modesty
by lowering one’s gaze. This ruling is common to all everyone, i.e. men and women.
This chapter is significant in terms of the wide variety of social and legal injunctions
and codes that it lays down.
* In that you have received Shariah commands regarding this, and also Allah has Himself borne witness to the chastity of ‘A’isha the truthful (may Allah be well pleased with her) which has revealed to you her majesty and dignity.
* So, considering the purity of the Holy Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him), imagine how chaste and pure his wives would be, for Allah has chosen them for him.
* The likeness of Allah’s Light refers to the light of Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him). The niche refers to his sacred breast wherein the lamp of Prophethood is glowing. This lamp of Prophethood is placed in a glass, which is the radiant heart of the Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him). This glass is shining like a glittering star. This lamp is lit with the sacred olive tree, which may refer to the blessing of Divine revelation or the blissful genealogical tree of the Prophets and the Messengers (peace be upon them). The blessing of Prophethood or the guidance of Divine revelation is neither Eastern nor Western. Instead, it is a universal and timeless guidance. This lamp of Muhammad’s Prophethood is almost shining due to its inherent qualities even before revelation had touched him. This Light of Prophethood radiates under the Light of the Holy Essence of God. In such a way, Allah guides people to understand the reality of His Light.
‘Abd Allah b. ‘Abbas (may God be pleased with both of them), ‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar (may God be pleased with both of them), Ka‘b al-Ahbar, Sa‘id b. Jubayr, Abu al-‘Aliya and al-Dahhak b. Mazahim have described these meanings of the Verse of Light. ‘Abd b. Humayd, Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, Ibn al-Mundhir, Ibn Abi Hatim al-Razi, Abu Mansur al-Maturidi, al-Tabarani, Abu al-Layth al-Samarqandi, al-Sulami, Abu Ishaq al-Tha‘labi, Makki b. Abi Talib al-Muqri, al-Baghawi, al-Qadi ‘Iyad, Ibn ‘Atiyya, Ibn al-Jawzi, Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, al-Qurtubi, Ibn Hayyan, Ibn al-Qayyim, Abu Hafs al-Hanbali, al-Suyuti, al-Qastallani, al-Alusi and many other exegetes have reported the above-mentioned meanings. The parable of the light may also refer to the light in the heart of the believers. The niche can be the breast of the believers, the lamp can be the Qur’an and faith, and the glass can be the heart of the believers. Many other such interpretations have also been given for the Verse of Light.