بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

24:35  اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ ۗ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ

Allah is the Light/reflection of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His light is of a niche and in it is a lamp. The lamp enclosed in glass. the glass as it were a brilliant planet. Lit from a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is about to light up, though fire did not touch it. Light upon Light! Allah guides whom He wills to His light. Allah sets forth parables for people, and Allah  knows all things.

Light is a parable of knowledge, enlightenment and reflection while darkness is a parable of ignorance. Everything in the Universe reflects upon an intelligent design with which it has been created. Every single thing and its place in the perfect grand scheme of the Universe, helps us reflect on the Creator’s wisdom. From the grandest to the most minute part of the Universe including living beings, these complex intricate systems, working harmoniously together, speaks volumes about the intelligent design of the Creator. Science is making every day new discoveries about what has been created by the Creator. The discoveries are mind boggling and still we know that we know so little.  We don’t have any idea about the farthest frontier of the Universe, nor about the smallest particle on the micro scale. All systems within living organisms and the universe are so meticulously designed to work in harmony, it is unthinkable for a believer to consider it coming together as an act of random chance without the intervention of an intelligent designer. This is what the Ayat states that Allah is the light/reflection of the skies and the earth, i.e every thing in the Universe bears the signature of the Creator and Allah’s design is reflected from everything in the Universe.

This light and reflection of Allah is in something which is a parable of a niche, i.e some people may not be able to reflect upon it.  The unbelievers and atheists assume that the intricately balanced system of the Universe came into existence by random act of chance and is running without the intervention of an intelligent Designer. So they are unable to see the reflection or light of Allah in the Universe. The believers however are able to perceive this light in the niche. For them, this light and wisdom is the example of a lamp which is a source of light. The fuel of this light bearing lamp is their faith, which is the example of a blessed beneficial olive tree. They see the light through the parable of bright glass i.e not directly exposed to it, but they are able to perceive the light by inference. The light of Allah is knowledge/wisdom and reflection which is not dependent upon worldly source of knowledge. It’s fuel is the blessed faith, focused on the Creator and does not waiver to East or West side. Pure faith is able to manifest without the need of a  trigger or ignition every time. The faith leads to the light of Wisdom. Allah increases the light of Wisdom for those who strive to see this light and keeps on increasing it for their guidance. Allah teaches with the help of examples and He is the knower of all things.