Al-‘Awfi narrated from Ibn Abbas that ‘light upon light’ means the faith and deeds of a person, (Al-Mubarakpuri, Tafsir Ibn Kathir) the basis of which lies within the heart. Whatever is nurtured in the heart, manifests itself through the limbs. While the fitrah has the natural tendency to incline towards the commands of Allah SWT, it is only when one actually submits to Him in obedience – making it a matter of both the heart and the limbs – that he exemplifies Light upon Light. For this reason, the companions and their students confined this parable to the heart of a believer alone; due to the fact that it is only the believer who draws benefit from the revelation, even though the pure fitrah has been granted to each and every human being. As for those who reject the revelation, they eventually end up corrupting their fitrah with their wrong doings.
Points of Action from this Parable 1. Strive to seek the Light of Allah, since there is no other light that will benefit you in this life and in the life of the Hereafter. When the Messenger of Allah SAW was rejected by the people of Ta’if, he turned to Allah SWT for help, saying: “… I seek refuge in the light of Your face by which all darkness is dispelled and both this life and the life to come are put in their right course… To You I submit, until I earn Your pleasure. Everything is powerless without your support,”(Al-Ghazali, A Thematic Commentary of The Qur’an). From this beautiful du’a, we find that one is to seek the Light of Allah by seeking refuge in Him, by submitting to His commands and by striving for His pleasure. 2. Nurture and protect your fitrah by holding on to the divine revelation; making it the guiding light of your day and night. Allah SWT says, “… There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book, by which Allah guides those who pursue His pleasure to the ways of peace, and brings them out from darkness into the light…” (Surah Al-Ma’idah, 15-16) 3. Within the capabilities that Allah has granted you, be a source of guiding light for everyone around you. Allah SWT says, “… [This is] a Book which We have revealed to you, that you might bring mankind out of darkness into the light by permission of their Lord - to the path of the Exalted in Might, the Praiseworthy.” (Surah Ibrahim, 1) 4. Seek good company and hold on to the company of those whose guiding light reminds you of Allah. It is mentioned in the Muwatta of Imam Malik that Luqman alHakim made his will and counselled his son, saying, “My son! Sit with the learned men and keep close to them. Allah
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gives life to the hearts with the light of wisdom as Allah gives life to the dead earth with the abundant rain of the sky.” 5. Last but not least, seek the light of Allah through du’a. The best du’as are those of the Messenger of Allah SAW. The Messenger SAW used to make the following du’a in prostration:
اللَّ ُه َّم اجْ َع ْل فِي َق ْل ِبي ُنورً ا َواجْ َع ْل فِي َسمْ عِي ْص ِري ُنورً ا َواجْ َع ْل ِمن َ ُنورً ا َواجْ َع ْل فِي َب َتحْ تِي ُنورً ا َواجْ َع ْل ِمنْ َف ْوقِي ُنورً ا َو َعنْ َيمِينِي اري ُنورً ا َواجْ َع ْل أَ َمامِي ُنورً ا ِ ُنورً ا َو َعنْ َي َس َواجْ َع ْل َخ ْلفِي ُنورً ا َوأَعْ ظِ ْم لِي ُنورً ا ‘O Allah, place light in my heart, and place light in my hearing, and place light in my seeing, and place light beneath me, and place light above me, and light on my right, and light on my left, and place light behind me, and make the light greater for me.’ (Sunan An-Nasai, Book 12, Hadith number 93)
Conclusion The light of fitrah and the light of revelation is what drives one to strive for the light of faith and good deeds in this world - aspiring to the light of the hereafter and the honor of being blessed with the company and sight of their Lord in the next world. It was narrated in the Sahih Muslim from Suhayb that the Messenger of Allah SAW said, “When the people of Paradise enter Paradise, Allah will say, ‘Do you want anything more?’ They will say, ‘Have You not brightened our faces, admitted us to Paradise and saved us from Hell?’ Then the veil will be lifted and they will not have seen anything dearer to them than looking upon their Lord, may He be glorified and exalted. This is what is meant by ‘even more.’” Then he SAW recited the verse: “For those who have done good is the best reward and even more,” (Surah Yunus, 26). We ask Allah SWT for a heart that is alive with the love and remembrance of its Lord, a heart that remains steadfast on His Deen, a heart that is a source of benefit to others, and a heart that will be able to meet its Lord on the Day of Judgement as a Qalbun Saleem, Ameen. v
Q&A ...because you asked...
Questions are answered by Shaykh Rizwan Ali At my workplace, I have to interact with a lot of people and some of them identify openly as LGBTQ. My experience with them has been that they are generally very nice and polite and I feel conflicted in how my behavior towards them should be. I need your guidance with this please! Jazak Allah Khair. Answer: The Prophet SAW is our example and role model. He interacted with people with the best of manners. His Uncle Abu Tālib was not a Muslim, but the Prophet SAW respected him and treated him in an excellent way. At the same time, the Prophet SAW did not agree with his faith, but he respected his decision. Similarly, there will be people in society that may live in ways we don’t agree with or condone but we should be respectful, kind, and compassionate and this is the Prophetic way. I have the intention to get married soon insha’Allah, but one thought has been concerning me. Do I have to share my past sins (sexual in nature) with the prospective person especially if I have sincerely repented for them? Need your advice Shaikh. Jazak Allah Khair. Answer: You are not obligated to share your past. It was narrated from Abu ‘Ubadah bin ‘Abdullah, that his father said: “The Messenger of Allah SAW said, ‘The one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin,’” (Ibn Majah). If you want to disclose something, you can tell the person that there was a time that was different in your life and leave it at that. Rizwan Ali was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. After completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education, he moved to Egypt to pursue religious studies. He enrolled at Al-Azhar University and graduated from the College of Shariah in 2016. The following year, he successfully defended his dissertation at Creighton University and obtained his doctorate in Educational Leadership. Alongside his position as Religious Director of the Islamic Center of Naperville, he teaches at CPSA and serves as the head of the Arabic and Islamic Studies Dept. He also works for Mishkah University as an instructor and member of the Academic Committee.
Do you have any questions you would like a scholar to answer? Send them to us at icnanooreng@gmail.com Answers to Ramadan Crossword Puzzle: Across: 1. Power 6. Siyam 8. Baqarah 9. Zakah 10. Generous
Down: 2. Ramadan 3. Taraweeh 4. Sahoor 5. Rayan 7. Ikhlas Noor Magazine I 2021 | 21
