A Reflection on The verse of light

*THE VERSE OF LIGHT THROUGH THE LENS OF ISLAMIC PSYCHOLOGY*

By: The Millennial Muslimah

"Allah is the Noor (Light) of the skies and the earth. The example of His Light is like a

Mishkat (a hole in a wall made to hold lamps in homes); inside the Miskhat is a

Misbah (a light or a lamp); the Misbah is inside a glass; the glass is like a Kawkabun

Durri (brightly shining star) that is lit from a blessed olive tree - neither from the east

nor the west- the oil from which almost glows on its own despite not being touched by fire. Light upon light.

Allah guides whomever He wills to His Light , and Allah sets forth examples for mankind, and Allah knows all things."

I penned this reflection in 2020 but there is a bit of a back story here which I'd like to share. Ever since I can remember, whenever I heard the ayat of Noor, I would wonder about the description. Allah ta Ala goes into such detail describing each part; the lamp, the glass the very specific oil. It's origin and properties... WHY? Allah NEVER does anything in vain.

What is Allah telling us here. It's definitely important as it contains too much detail to be a simple reference to the light alone. What about everything else that's being described?

For years I researched but could not find any literature on the literal meaning of the description. At one stage I even thought that perhaps shaytaan was using this as a way to shake me belief, so I began avoiding this ayah altogether....

Then I had the opportunity to study ISLAMIC PSYCHOLOGY. I remember the grand epiphany during the lecture where professor Skinner described the HUMAN PSYCHE according to the Qur'an from the works of Imam Ghazali!

As he spoke and described the different parts of the psyche, An image of the different parts of the lamp formed in my mind's eye.. I cannot begin to describe the feeling of elation! Finally! After all these years Allah ta Ala had lifted the veil that allowed me to grasp this understanding!!

I then wrote an article drawing parallels between the description of the lamp and the psyche... The problem was that I had NO WAY of double checking. I had no way to check if my understanding was correct.

As I usually do, I sent the article to my Spiritual mentor who responded that he didn't see an issue with the explanation, however I did not publish my work as I could not find any Traditional text to support it...

A little while after, I went to Bait Al Hikmah to pick up a textbook I ordered. As I waited for them to retrieve the book, my eye fell on this little booklet and Imam Ghazali's name caught me eye...

I never knew he had written a book on the Niche of Lights..

I opened the book and saw the question my mind had been wrestling with for all those years!

Subhan Allah!

Someone had asked Imam Ghazali the very same question regarding the literal meaning of the niche,the glass, the lamp and the oil THIS BOOK WAS HIS RESPONSE!!!

I was in awe for days!

After all this time, when the time was right Allah sent proof that transcended Eons to reach me at a time when I had acquired the necessary knowledge that would enable me to grasp the concepts!

I was able to check my work and make adjustments accordingly.

Just another example of how the theme of اجل مسمى (specified time) played out for me...

Alhamd ulilla!

In every delay there is goodness and wisdom. Had I found the booklet before understanding the concepts of the human psyche I would not have reached the depth of understanding that Allah ta Ala wanted for me, however when I had reached a point where I was able not only to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but to understand the significance and function of each piece Allah ta Ala sent the words of Imam Ghazali to allow me to check and develop an even deeper understanding than I had before...

Here is my reflection...

*Understanding the Human psyche through the metaphor of the lamp*

*The Light*

- Imam Ghazali explains there are different grades of meaning for the metaphor of the *LIGHT*

- The nature of light is that it makes things visible.

-A human being has two types of sight, *physical eye* and *the minds eye* ie, intellect the Aql which is able to see things as they are. To draw a parallel, the physical eye sees the oyster but the minds eye is able to grasp the concept of the pearl within the oyster.

Each "eye" has a light that enables it to see.

The physical sun lights up the physical world so humans are able to see while the Qur'an is the *Light* of the Spiritual realm through which the heart is able to distinguish reality. Allah is the light of both and beyond

Allah ta Ala tells us in the Qur'an;

Surely We have created for Hell a lot of people from among Jinn and mankind. They have hearts wherewith they do not understand, eyes wherewith they do not see, and ears wherewith they do not hear. They are like cattle. Rather, they are much more astray. They are the heedless.

(Aaraf verse 179)

In this Ayah, Allah does not refer to physical defects rather they are spiritual defects caused by heedlessness.

*It is not the sun that leaves but the earth that turns away*

Allah never shops showering us with His Divine Gifts, it is our hearts that become heedless by turning away from the rememberance of Allah. Then we wonder why we find ourselves in darkness.

*The Spiritual light of Allah's guidance*

Imam Ghazali explains;

Imagine a moon shining through a window and that light lands on a mirror which is then reflected on a wall and eventually reaches the floor which becomes illuminated.

Similarly, within the Spiritual realm there are various degrees of enlightenment. Nabi saw is the Siraj Al Munir and the Ultimate Source of Light is Allah ta Ala Himself. The moon reflects the light of the Sun.

‘O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner, and one who invites to Allah, by His permission, and an illuminating lamp. [33:45-46]

- *Levels of the Heart* -

- *The “Mishkat”* -

This alludes to the chest which holds everything within it. The Sadr.

As Allah tells us in the Qur’an,

(6:125) Thus, whomsoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his chest for Islam;

and whomsoever He wills to let go astray, He causes his breast to become strait and

constricted.

The more the niche is expanded the more the light is able to spread.

- *The lamp* -

This can be compared to the Spiritual component of the heart that interacts with the Aql and is able to recognize the deeper truth in reality.

We often hear the phrase, "It's not the eyes that are blind but the heart."

- We are also told in the hadith that we should Beware the insight of the believer, he sees with the Noor of Allah.

This lamp reflects the light, it is not light. Nor it does give light itself.

- *The glass* -

This alludes to the aspect of the heart, the part that deals with day to day living. The part that is affected by the darkness of sin.

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon

him, said, “Verily, when the servant commits a sin, a black mark appears

upon his heart. If he abandons the sin, seeks forgiveness, and repents,

then his heart will be polished. If he returns to the sin, the blackness will be

increased until it overcomes his heart. It is the covering that Allah has

mentioned: No, rather a covering is over their hearts from what they have

earned.” (83:14)

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3334

The nature of the heart as described in the hadith is similar to glass in that the black spot is not absorbed but remains on the surface and that the heart is something that can and must be polished. The glass has the quality of impermeability, so when we wash this glass with tears of repentance, the spot is removed completely without leaving a stain.

The more we cleanse and polish our hearts the better we will be able to recognize and reflect the Truth in this world. This glass must remain spotless so that the light of Allah can radiate through.

*“Kawkabun Durri”*

This is a combination of the Light and the glass. It is a bright star that is a collection of an enormous amount of light and constantly gives out powerful rays of light. The enlightened soul. A magnificent combination of a heart reflecting the Light of Allah. A heart that is content with the Will of Allah. This state of the heart is referred to as Qalbun Saleem. Allah tells us in the Qur’an that on the day of Qiyamah, nothing will avail a person except a Qalbun Saleem.

The one who has recognised His Lord such that his very presence illuminates the path for others. A light that can be viewed from the Heavens.

- *The oil* -

Symbolic of potential. This can be best described as a person who has not yet realised the truth but has been selected by Allah to be part of those guided by his light.

The nature of this oil is that it glows without the flame. So the potential is there .

Like a person who is not yet a accept Islam but is still searching for the Truth. Once the spark of Iman enters his heart the oil is ignited and begins to radiate. *Light upon Light!* When the heedless person receives a spark of guidance as a result of which he is able to recognise his Lord.

- The mention of the olive tree being "neither eastern or western" leads to the question, where then? A question that hints to something beyond...

Beyond the realm of the physical and spiritual there exists worlds beyond the grasp of our understanding.

There are things that exist beyond our understanding and knowledge and only Allah knows what it is.

Where is this tree that ignites? (Reminds me of the burning bush in the story of Musa AS.)

- At this point we are forced to accept that there are such matters which are beyond the finite grasp of our human minds. It is a part of wisdom to know where to stop probing as Allah has placed a veil over certain aspects. Some veils are lifted when the time is right, while others are meant to remain closed until Allah decides.

An important part of Islamic Psychology and counseling is *respecting the veil* and not to probe further. To accept the limitations of the mind and to leave the matters of the Unseen to Allah. Not to put a question mark where Allah has placed a full stop. Humans should accept the limitations of the intellectual capacity and realise that our minds are incapable of fully comprehending the infinite. We are here for a very specific purpose and Allah has made accessible to us the knowledge to achieve that. Knowledge beyond that belongs to Allah and He may grant parts of that knowledge to whom He Wills.

- *Light upon light*

The light of the heart this glowing oil, ignited by the light of the guidance of Allah (swt), produces light upon light in this world and lights the path of guidance for mankind.

Nabi saw told us about the insight of the believer, for he sees with the Light of Allah.

In another hadith e qudsi Allah speaks about those servants who live their lives so strictly in accordance with the Laws of Allah, being particular regarding the observation of Faraid, sunnah and nafl that Allah Himself declares that He becomes the eyes with which he sees and the hand with which he strikes.

*He who burns his desires for Allah fills the Universe with his fragrance!*

The use of a lantern, as the example draws our attention to the fact that a lantern is not designed to simply light its own insides, rather it is designed to light the way for those around it. Similarly, we must carry the light of the Deen of Islam to radiate through us as we fulfill our duties as Khalifa tulla (the delegation of Allah) upon this Earth through enjoining what is good and forbidding evil. To be a beacon of hope for those who meet us and those who come after us.

O Allah, place light in our hearts,

and on our tongues light, and in our ears light and in our sight light, and above us light, and below us light, and to our right light, and to our left light, and before us light and behind us light. Place in my soul light. Magnify for us light, and amplify for us light. Make for us light, and make us examples of your light

*O Allaah, grant us light, and place light in our nerves, and in our bodies light and in our blood light and in our hair light and in our skin light.

-Allah (swt) knows best the meaning of His verses.

*Islamic psychology is the study of the human psyche, the dynamics of these components in relation to Allah, ourselves, and the world around us* Creating a sense of awareness in alignment with our Fitra (innate disposition) thus instilling Peace in our hearts (Qalbun Saleem) and contentment in our soul (Nafsul Mutmainna)

In Sha Allah