An-Nur
Encyclopedia
Sura
t Al-Nur (The Light) is the 24th sura of the Qur'an
with 64 ayat.
in 5 AH
opens with a short introduction to the revelation
of the Quran, as many other sura do - that is a reminder and a clear sign for people to look to.
The sura thus begins with various explanations and decrees on or relating to corrupt sexual acts, family law, and specifications on the giving of testimony. Foremost amongst these rulings is God's punishment for adultery. This section ends with the pronouncement that good men and women should be paired together, as should corrupt men and corrupt women. This discussion turns into reflections on privacy and modesty, namely of hosts and women. Contained herein are several regulations and explanations of modesty, most directly lines traditionally used to argue for the wearing of hijab
. After these prohibitions are cast for women, the text turns towards men, asking them not to oppress slavegirls into prostitution
, and to marry those women who need husbands, despite their poverty.
appears. This is often referred to as "the Light Verse", or "the Parable of Light", a mystical group of lines that has been the subject of much scholarship and reflection.
The Qur'an here briefly returns to a slightly more literal form of speech as it reassures believers that their remembrance will be rewarded, as the forgetfulness of the sinners will be punished. In keeping with the Light Verse, the unbelievers too are explained in metaphor, returning to the deeply symbolic tone above:
"And as for the unbelievers, their works are as a mirage in a spacious plain,
in which a thirsty man thinks there to be water,
until when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing;
there indeed he finds God and He pays him his account in full;
and God is swift in the reckoning;
or they are as shadows upon a sea obscured,
covered by a billow above which is a billow above which are clouds;
shadows piled one upon the other;
when he puts forth his hand, wellnigh he cannot see it.
And whoever God assigns no light, no light has he." (Lines 39-40)
The Qur'an explains that the Earth itself is evidence of God's reality and power. He controls the clouds, the winds, the hail, and the mountains. It is also explained in this surah that God created all creatures from water, including animals with four feet, animals with two feet, and animals without any feet.
The Qur'an confirms that God has sent down signs (ayat) to make His reality clear, and that understanding that reality is as a "straight path", that if one is truly following, one can never be led astray. God keeps His word, and will continue to reward those who believe and keep to their religion, as He as rewarded others in the past for doing the same.
The Book urges the believer not to fret, and not to accuse people of sin merely for the conditions of their birth or social status. For example, in many tribal cultures a blind person or their parents were believed to be wicked, hence the gods or the spirits have blinded them. The Qur'an urges one not to think in this manner, and instead remember that all things are signs from God, and thus all believers should be of good nature to others, and wish them blessings from God. If that is done, the signs become clear and "haply you will understand".
As the believer must greet others well, so must they ask for leave from them before departing. However, the sura ends, God knows the hidden reasons people do as they do, "God knows those of you who slip away surreptitiously", for when all returns to Him, they will testify against themselves to Him.
is said to contain a prophecy
Sura
A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
t Al-Nur (The Light) is the 24th sura of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
with 64 ayat.
Background
The general agreement of scholars is that this sura was revealed shortly before or after the Battle of the TrenchBattle of the Trench
The Battle of the Trench also known as Battle of Ahzab, Battle of the Confederates and Siege of Medina , was a fortnight-long siege of Yathrib by Arab and Jewish tribes. The strength of the confederate armies is estimated around 10,000 men with six hundred horses and some camels, while the...
in 5 AH
Content
This suraSura
A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...
opens with a short introduction to the revelation
Revelation
In religion and theology, revelation is the revealing or disclosing, through active or passive communication with a supernatural or a divine entity...
of the Quran, as many other sura do - that is a reminder and a clear sign for people to look to.
The sura thus begins with various explanations and decrees on or relating to corrupt sexual acts, family law, and specifications on the giving of testimony. Foremost amongst these rulings is God's punishment for adultery. This section ends with the pronouncement that good men and women should be paired together, as should corrupt men and corrupt women. This discussion turns into reflections on privacy and modesty, namely of hosts and women. Contained herein are several regulations and explanations of modesty, most directly lines traditionally used to argue for the wearing of hijab
Hijab
The word "hijab" or "'" refers to both the head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women and modest Muslim styles of dress in general....
. After these prohibitions are cast for women, the text turns towards men, asking them not to oppress slavegirls into prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
, and to marry those women who need husbands, despite their poverty.
: Ayat an-Nur, "The Light Verse"
After a second statement of the Quran's status as a clear sign from Allaah, the famed Ayat an-NurAyat an-Nur
The Ayat an-Nur is the 35th line of the 24th sura of the Qur'an, Sura an-Nur. The verse is renowned for its remarkable beauty and imagery, and perhaps more than any other verse lends itself to mystical or esoteric readings of the Qur'an...
appears. This is often referred to as "the Light Verse", or "the Parable of Light", a mystical group of lines that has been the subject of much scholarship and reflection.
- "Allah is the Light of the heavens and the 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 well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His light: Allah doth set forth parables for men: and God doth know all things."
The Qur'an here briefly returns to a slightly more literal form of speech as it reassures believers that their remembrance will be rewarded, as the forgetfulness of the sinners will be punished. In keeping with the Light Verse, the unbelievers too are explained in metaphor, returning to the deeply symbolic tone above:
"And as for the unbelievers, their works are as a mirage in a spacious plain,
in which a thirsty man thinks there to be water,
until when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing;
there indeed he finds God and He pays him his account in full;
and God is swift in the reckoning;
or they are as shadows upon a sea obscured,
covered by a billow above which is a billow above which are clouds;
shadows piled one upon the other;
when he puts forth his hand, wellnigh he cannot see it.
And whoever God assigns no light, no light has he." (Lines 39-40)
The Qur'an explains that the Earth itself is evidence of God's reality and power. He controls the clouds, the winds, the hail, and the mountains. It is also explained in this surah that God created all creatures from water, including animals with four feet, animals with two feet, and animals without any feet.
The Qur'an confirms that God has sent down signs (ayat) to make His reality clear, and that understanding that reality is as a "straight path", that if one is truly following, one can never be led astray. God keeps His word, and will continue to reward those who believe and keep to their religion, as He as rewarded others in the past for doing the same.
The Book urges the believer not to fret, and not to accuse people of sin merely for the conditions of their birth or social status. For example, in many tribal cultures a blind person or their parents were believed to be wicked, hence the gods or the spirits have blinded them. The Qur'an urges one not to think in this manner, and instead remember that all things are signs from God, and thus all believers should be of good nature to others, and wish them blessings from God. If that is done, the signs become clear and "haply you will understand".
As the believer must greet others well, so must they ask for leave from them before departing. However, the sura ends, God knows the hidden reasons people do as they do, "God knows those of you who slip away surreptitiously", for when all returns to Him, they will testify against themselves to Him.
is said to contain a prophecy
See also
If that is done, the signs become clear and "haply you will understand". "Haply" means "perhaps," not "happily."External links
- Bowering, Gerhard 'The Light Verse: Quranic Text and Sufi Interpretation'