What is God, and How is it?
(Interpretation of the Quranic Verse of Light in Surah An-nur, Verse 35)
Literal meaning: "God is the light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a crystal1 within which is a lamp. The lamp is within a glass, and the glass is in another. It is as if it is a silver star lit from a blessed olive tree, limited neither from the East nor the West, whose oil would glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills, and Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah knows of all things."
Brief Interpretation
God is the light of the heavens and the earth– Everything is of Him and His existence. There is nothing outside of Him, and everything in existence is of Him. If we say that something is not of Him or is outside of Him, it would be a word of polytheism because everything is Him, and there is nothing but Him.
The example of His light is like a clear glass – As an example, we refer to His light as clear glass. Just as in a clear glass where there are reflections of objects, He is in everything. He is clear glass-like, but which clear glass?
Within which exists a lamp – It is a clear glass with a lamp within it. So, the light is within Himself, and it is not outside of God, unlike the other clear glasses we see in the world. Yes, He is like a clear glass that everything is inside it, and its light is not from an outside source. The light is within this clear glass because outside for this clear glass does not exist at all. It is a powerful, clear glass that all physical objects and all spirituals and all in existence are within, and its light originates from itself. The sacred book did not denote a clear glass with the source of light outside of it. That would be how ignorant people perceive God to be.
The lamp is within a glass, and the glass is in another – According to the sacred book, the air and other ethereal substances surrounding it are like that glass because no object more ethereal than glass can be used as an example. However, this clear glass and everything else is all within God and …
It is as if it is a silver star – This clear glass and the light always radiate, shine, and manifest, like a shining star that we see. This star is also within it, and it is not outside of it.
Lit from a blessed olive tree – All this great light is from a blessed olive tree. This notion is an example that the source and the origin of all are Him. Of course, this is just a metaphor. As asserted at the beginning and the end of the Quranic Verse, the infinite universe is metaphorically referred to as an olive tree, whose fruits are the stars, and branches and leaves are the other parts of the universe. However, these parts are not separate; they are called an olive tree as a whole. All these parts are parts of the tree. This tree is a metaphor for the universe, but it is not a regular tree. This tree's trait is such that, …
Neither the East nor of the West – There exists no east or west for this tree. There are no ups or downs, no beginning or no end. It is as if everything is inside itself, despite not having any beginning or ending. Can a better metaphor be said?
Whose fire would glow even without oil– This light does not need an oil source to stay lit; neither does it need any fire to keep it burning. It is a light, its source of power is from within, not from the outside. Yes, the glowing of this light is from itself. It did not come from an outside source; it is within itself.
Light upon light – It is a light superior to all lights. Light is all that exists, and it is powerful. Light layered over light without any limitations.
God guides those to His light whom He wills– God will guide those towards His light whom He wills (Ask Him to guide you to His light as well, so that you may become aware of the verities of the universe).
God presents examples for the people – God will guide and enlighten anyone that He wills (Ask Him to guide and enlighten you and become aware of the secrets and verities of the universe).
God is Knowing of all things – God is aware of all things.
The spirit, its rays and manifestation
(Al-Isra, Verse 85)
Literal Meaning: "Say, the spirit is the affair of my God."
A concise and literal interpretation
The manifestation of the spirit is the mind
The mind manifests thinking; its power is knowledge in humankind
Right now the spirit is manifesting:
Mind with thinking and knowledge with actions entwined
Elaboration: The mind is an instrument to activate the spirit. The tool for thoughts is the mind, a ray from the spirit, and functions by thoughts.
The power of the mind and thoughts are knowledge that is showing and manifesting. Any of these factors by themselves would be worthless.
The mind alone, the thoughts alone, and the knowledge alone, is insufficient. So, the mind and thought and knowledge together manifest into actions. When all these factors work together and come to action, they will manifest, and this manifestation is the effect of the spirit.
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The fruits of a tree in a region are ripened due to weather conditions. In another environment, they may take longer to ripen. Yet, and even longer in other regions. Nevertheless, all fruits in all regions will eventually ripen. The picture above shows palm trees in tropical Borneo, Malaysia, and the picture below are palm trees in Sicily, Italy. |
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Footnotes
- Also translated to a lantern, crystal like glass, and other things.