Shaykh Jamal Zarabozo said that when we study the Qur’an, we have to make sure our intentions are correct. Sometimes what we want from the Qur’an, is not as important as what the Qur’an wants for you to gain. Is what we want consistent with what the Qur’an is for? The Qur’an came to lead, to show you the way, to guide; not to follow.
We are not huffadh (preservers) of the Qur’an, the Qur’an is huffadh (preserver) of us.
Verse 35 of Surat an-Noor – Light Upon Light
"Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His Light is like a niche within which there is a lamp; the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly star lit from the blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if it were untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for all people, and Allah is Knowing of all things."
Allah describes Himself as light; His Message as light; the Prophet Muhammad (s) as light.
Noor - Light
Sama’ - Sky, heaven
`Ard - Earth
Mithal - Like, similar
Miskha - Niche
Misbah - the source or projector of light
Zujaaja - Glass vessel
Kokabun - Star
Duree - Star made of pearls, very shiny OR reflective, reflection
Yuqad - To light
Sajarah - Tree
Mubarakah - Blessed
Zaytuna - Olive
Sharqeeya - East
Gurbiya - West or western
Yaqad - About
Zayt - Olive oil
Yudi’ - Luminate, to glow
Tamsasa - To touch
Sometimes we get bothered by the rules and guidelines set down by Allah subhanahu wa ta`ala but they are for our own benefit. This is a reminder to us, while Allah is giving us guidelines, that this is truly a mercy come to us, a light to lead us out of darkness. This should not become a source or cause of our misery – Allah gave us these guidelines to benefit us.
The Analogy
Ayat un-Nur is so detailed. There is a special place which is chosen because it allows for the most light to be shone – that niche is then filled with a lamp, whose glass shines from its own purity. The glass is crystal clear, and is so pure that it glows. The light within the lamp is lit from olive oil, from a blessed olive tree. The olive oil itself is so pure that it glows. If you see extra virgin olive oil, it is thick and smells beautiful. So the oil glows, the glass shines, the lamp is placed in a niche which allows for the most light… The olive tree is neither in the west or the east – it is in a position where it will get sun at all times, at sunrise and sunset, which will make it produce only the best oil. Light upon light – meaning the light of the olive oil, on top of the light of the glass, on top of the light of the lamp, which is in a niche that provides light in all directions.
This is Allah subhanahu ta`ala – His Light, the light of His Message, and the light of the Messenger (s). What does this mean? That the Sunnah and the Shari’ah are carefully planned and placed to provide the most light and guidance in this life and the hereafter. Light upon light – you must bring together the light of your iman with the light of the divine message and its guidelines. This can also be taken as the light of the Qur’an and the Sunnah together. Both are needed – one will not suffice.
HOMEWORK
Ayah 36 – “In houses which Allah has ordered to be raised and to be honored. And then His name is remembered in those houses, exalting Him in the mornings and the evenings.”
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Faqih wants to start a campaign in the next two weeks to change how we treat masajid. We should not disrespect the masajid. We need to go to the masjid and glorify Allah’s names in the mornings and the evenings. We need to maintain our masajid. We must cultivate love and respect to the Houses of Allah. The masajid belong to Allah, do not celebrate or praise anyone besides Allah within them. The masjid does not belong to the people.
- Come next week with ideas about what we can do about the masjid. Can we pull off a national Masjid day: clean them, decorate them? We need to connect and respect the masjid. Bring awareness of the adab and etiquette of the masjid. Next week the class will start at 7pm and we will have Q&A to discuss this idea.
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