A Light That Never Goes Out
But God talks about something in the Quran whose light will never go out.
In Verse 174 of Surah An-Nisa, all people of the world are addressed: “O people! surely there has come to you manifest proof from your Lord and We have sent to you clear light.”
There are two important phrases in this verse: ‘manifest proof’ (Burhan in Arabic) and ‘clear light’ (Nur Mubin in Arabic). According to Hadiths, Burhan refers to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) and Nur Mubin refers to the Holy Quran.
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) is indeed a proof for the religion because he has brought such a book without having been to any classes and the more time passes and sciences advance, the more clear the truthfulness of his teachings become.
The question here is that light is clear itself, so why is the Quran referred to as clear light in this verse?
The Quran is a light that is clear and also sheds light on other things. It is guidance for all and without it people lose the path and cannot reach their destination.
In this verse and the next, God clarifies this light. “From your Lord” signifies the fact that the light is from God and He is the source of this light.
In Verse 175, God says: “Those who believe in Allah and hold fast to Him, He will surely admit them to a Mercy and Bounty from Him, and He will guide them to Him on a Straight Path.”
Hence, faith and holding fast to the light of the Quran will lead one to benefitting from divine mercy and paves the way for his guidance that will lead him to paradise and its everlasting blessings.
Holding fast to the light of the Quran in this verse means paying attention to the Holy Book’s teachings and acting upon them, which guides one to the Straight Path.
