By Umm Isam
“Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly (white) star lit from (the oil of) a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost 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 is knowing of all things.” (An Nur 24:35)
An-Noor is one of Allah’s (swt) beautiful names mentioned in the Quran. Had Allah (swt) not introduced His divine attributes to us via His Al-Asma ul-Husna (beautiful names), we would have remained in utter darkness about our Creator.
Who is An-Noor?
He is the light and source of every kind of light present in the world. Whether it is spiritual to guide us to Haqq (the truth) or material to help us see things around us. Only Allah An-Noor has illuminated everything and Noor only comes from Him. He is the sole Creator and Grantor of Noor to all.
A person once mentioned to a companion Abu Dhar Ghaffaari (rta): “Had I met the prophet Muhammad (sa), I would have asked him if He ever saw Allah (swt)?”
Abu Dhar Ghaffaari (rta) replied: “I did ask him and the prophet (sa) replied: ‘He is An-Noor, how could I see Him?’” (Muslim)
Allah is not like the ordinary light of the world that human eyes can witness. Creations do not have the capacity to see Allah An-Noor in this world. His veil is also made of light. If He removes His veil, His creation will not be able to withstand the power of Allah An-Noor.
However on the Day of Judgment, the hidden world will become apparent and everyone will be able to see angels, hell and heaven, etc. The prophet Muhammad (sa) confirms that the believers will be able to witness Allah An-Noor’s radiant face in Jannah as clear as the full moon. (Bukhari and Muslim)
Creation of two types of Noor
Allah (swt) created Noor on a Wednesday, as told by the prophet Muhammad (sa).
- Physical Noor in this world
Allah An-Noor, has created things in the universe that we can see and granted them light. For example the sun, moon, stars, fire, etc. These things further help illuminate other things for human benefit. Allah An-Noor also enabled humans to produce artificial light.
He also created the eye and granted it Noor to be able to see the physical world. The weight of these eyes is approx.30 gms. Half of brain function is dependent upon the eyes. It processes 36,000 pieces of information every hour. 1 million brain nerves are connected to the eye hence it cannot be reconstructed. Did you know that your eye is also connected to your heart? Subhan Allah. Only Allah (swt) can create such a wonder.
To thank Him, only watch what Allah (swt) approves of.
- Spiritual Noor in this world
This is hidden in nature and it’s a light that is granted to a believer’s heart through guidance, faith, Tauheed, Shariah, Quran and the Prophet’s (sa) Hadeeth. The believer sees the world happenings in this light, decodes it correctly and reaches the right conclusions in life. This helps him grow closer to Allah (swt).
However a disbeliever wrongly perceives the unfolding events and makes incorrect decisions and ultimately wastes himself. They have physical sight but lack spiritual insight hence are counted as the blind to truth.
“So believe in Allah and His messenger and the light (i.e. the Quran) which We have sent down. And Allah is aware of what you do.” (At Taghabun 64:8)
Benefits of Noor, for the Believer in Dunya
When a believer’s heart is filled with the divine Noor of spiritual guidance:
Doubts disappear
Everything becomes clear in times of difficulty
Worship (Ibadah) of Allah (swt) feels sweet
Remembrance (Zikr) of Allah (swt) becomes easy
Glorification (Hamd) of Allah (swt) comes naturally
His face looks enlightened
His heart is content
His breast opens up for Islam
“So is one whose breast Allah has expanded to (accept) Islam and he is upon (i.e. guided by) a light from His Lord (like one whose heart rejects it)? Then woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah. Those are in manifest error.” (Az Zumur 39:22)
Benefits of Noor, for the Believer in Aakhirah
“Some faces, that day will be bright – Laughing, rejoicing at good news.” (Al Abasa 80:38-39)
After a believer dies, his grave will be lit up like a full moon shining, because of his Iman and Amal e Sualeh,that he earned in Dunya obeying Allah An-Noor.
On the day of judgment, the plain of Hashr where humanity will be assembled to stand before Allah (swt) to give their individual account will be pitch dark. The believer will be granted Noor by Allah (swt) against the efforts of the believer in accumulating the Noor of guidance while he was in Dunya.
There are more glad tidings for the believers in return of their remarkable efforts in Dunya.
“On the day you see the believing men and believing women, their light proceeding before them and on their right (it will be said) ‘Your good tidings today are (of) gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein you will abide eternally.’ That is what is the great attainment.” (Al Hadid 57:12)
Darkness for the Disbelievers
“And (other) faces, that day, will have upon them dust. Blackness will cover them. Those are the disbelievers, the wicked ones.” (Al Abasa 80:40-42)
The hypocrite’s Noor will flicker on the day of resurrection just as they were part time muslims in Dunya. They will not be granted stable and strong Noor to cross over the bridge of Sirat and enter Jannah peacefully.
The Siraat is described to be as sharp as a sword and extremely thin. Everyone will cross it at a different speed according to the light granted to them in pitch dark. Just when needed the hypocrites’ Noor will extinguish. This is how he treated Allah An-Noor’s Deen in Dunya. Tossed it aside every now and then for worldly pleasures.
This emphasizes the fact that now is the time to generate Noor e Hidayah (light of guidance) through the Quran and the Sunnah. Nobody will be able to charge his Noor in Aakhirah.
How can we collect Noor in our lifetime?
- By praying Salah
- When we recite the Quran
- By remembering Kalmah e Tauheed, reciting it, believing in it and applying it
- When we keep our hearts firm with the belief in Tauheed by studying Allah’s (swt) beautiful names and observing His universal signs in His creation around us.
- By inviting others to this Noor once our hearts are illuminated
- When we thank Allah An-Noor for this light
- By controlling the darkness of doubts and desires
- When we offer Astaghfar. Especially when we are in anguish but cannot remember our past sin, follow the Sunnah and ask for repentance
- By seeking Noor. Abstaining from lies, back biting, bad manners, sins, Shirk, and Zulm
- When striving for Sadqa, wisdom, obedience of Allah An-Noor, guidance, preserving Fitrah
- By offering Wudhu with a happy and content heart
- When we walk to the Masjid for Salah
- By having heads shaved after performing Umrah or Hajj (for men only)
- When we offer justice in this world
- By offering Sabr in trying times
- When we make a truthful intention to act upon something and follow through
- By aging in Allah’s (swt) path and learning and dispensing the knowledge of Islam
- When we invoke Allah An-Noor to grant us Noor
- By reciting Surah Al Kahf every Friday with meaning and understanding
- By reciting the Dua of Tahajjud taught to us by the prophet (sa) “O Allah! To You belongs all praise. You are the light of the heavens and the earth and all that is within them…” (Bukhari)
Lastly we all should ask ourselves:
Are we concerned about the light of our heart?
Do we decide our worldly matters in the light of Islam?
Make Dua to Allah An-Noor in our Sajdah, in the following words:
اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِىْ قَلْبِىْ نُوْرًا
“Oh Allah! Create Noor in my heart.”
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