When you internalize the light of Allah in your heart you become a universal human being. Quran provides humanity with a comprehensive and holistic worldview, in particular to those who accepted it as their reference for meaning and direction.
“Verily, Quran is a reminder to all worlds, to whoever among you wills to go straight.” [81:27-28]
The commitment to the straight path is a human challenge and a human decision made freely without compulsion or coercion. The navigation of the straight or the right path requires two things: a compass and a light. The compass helps us to stick to the straight path and protects us from confusing it with other pathways.
“Verily, this is my Way leading straight: Follow it; follow not other paths: They will scatter you from His Path; thus, he commands you that you may practice taqwa.” [6:153]
Light makes our navigation clear and safe, while darkness stops the movement and disrupts the journey towards our goals and in particular towards Allah, our ultimate Qibla. Listen to this rhetorical question from Quran, “Can he who was dead, to whom We gave life, and a light whereby he can walk among people, be like him who is in the depth of darkness from which he can never come out?” [6:122]
Quran provides both the compass and the light. Quran describes itself as the Criterion or “furqan””فُرْقان” which indicates the ability to differentiate between good and bad, right from false.
“Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion to His worshipper in order to be an admonition to all worlds.” [25:1]
Quran is the Criterion or “Furqan” but the readers of Quran must exercise their faculty of “furqan” and their inner compass in order to understand it and internalize its meanings.
“O you who believe! If you are conscious of Allah, He will grant you a criterion.” [8:29]
Notice that there is an economy (dialogue, dialectic relationship) between Taqwa and Furqan, an ongoing exchange between them: If you exercise taqwa, you will be granted furqan; and if you utilize your faculty of furqan, you will have a greater capacity to stick to what is good and right and avoid what is bad and wrong.
In addition to the compass, Quran provides the light that guides us in all our actions and movements.
“Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and in the light which we have sent down.” [64:8]
Quran is described as light and the readers of Quran must internalize its light to guide themselves and others in this life.
“O you who believe! Be conscious of Allah and believe in His Messenger, and He will bestow on you a double portion of His Mercy: He will provide for you a light by which you shall walk, and He will forgive you.” [57:28]
Notice that there is also an economy (dialogue, dialectic relationship) between taqwa and light, an ongoing exchange between them: If you exercise taqwa, you will be granted light; and if you take advantage of the light of Quran, your path will take you safely and peacefully to your destination.
The light of Quran is the manifestation of the Light of Allah. Light is one of the Beautiful Names of Allah. Listen to the frequently recited Quranic verse from the middle and heart of Surah Al-Noor: “Allah is the light of the heavens and earth, the parable of His light is as if there were a niche and within it a lamp: the lamp enclosed in glass; the glass as it were a brilliant star: lit from a blessed tree, an olive; neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is very luminous though fire scarce touched it: Light upon light! Allah guides whom He will to His light.” [24:35]
There is a lot of symbolism in this verse, but I limit myself to one aspect which is the description of the olive tree. It is neither from the East nor from the West. It is universal, for such is the light of Allah. Therefore, the light of the true guidance of Allah is perfect and universal; and those who are guided to His light are universal human beings. They are not bound to the East or the West. They do not belong to the North or to the South. They carry the light to all worlds. People see the light radiating from their faces reflecting their inner peace and calmness. This light is the result of repeated prostration to Allah.
“On their faces are marks, the traces of their prostration.” [48:29]
People can see a similar illumination in their faces- the light and rejoice of faith- every time they learn a new Quranic construct as if revealed to them for the first time.
“Whenever there comes down a Surah, some of them say: Whose faith was increased by it? Those who believe- their faith is increased with rejoice.” [9:124]
The enlightened believers then carry the light that results from their worship and education to all people and translate it into social actions and justice.
“a light whereby he can walk among people” [6:122]
They base their behavior on the universal high values that emanate from the Beautiful Names of Allah; and Noor is one of them. They reject injustice everywhere it occurs, and commit themselves to social justice regardless of the circumstances. Slavery, oppression, discrimination, occupation, dictatorship, torture, and killing of the innocent are all wrong and the darkness they produce must be dissipated by the light of freedom, equality of conditions, tolerance, mercy, and love. We become truly universal human beings when we join others to discover the root causes of poverty, homelessness, poor access to healthcare, and illiteracy regardless of our location.
The high sensitivity of the universal human beings is not limited to humans but to other creatures and the environment. Omar Ibn Al-Khattab (R), the second righteous Caliph was famous for his just rule. He was not only concerned about his fellow human beings but he expressed his accountability to the animals as well: “If a female-camel trips, Omar will be asked: Why I did not pave the road for it?”
The beauty of the verse about the Light of Allah is more appreciated when you see it coming amid the directions to solve and manage serious domestic and social issues that threaten the fabric of the family and the society at large. Quran described these threats as layers of darkness that stop its journey of progress and cause its destruction.
“Like the depths of darkness in a vast deep ocean, overwhelmed with waves topped by waves, topped by clouds. Layers of darkness one above another: if one stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it! For anyone to whom Allah does not give light, there is no light.” [24:60]
In conclusion, these are the take-home messages:
- We are all interested in seeking the guidance of Allah to the straight and right path.
- The right path requires a compass and a light.
- The compass and the light together constitute the translation of taqwa into practice.
- When we internalize the light of Allah in our hearts we become enlightened universal human beings.
By Dr. Walid Khayr