Recitation of ayat 35 to 38, by Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Sudais,
AL-NUR, the title of this surah, is one of God's exalted names and appears in verse thirty five. Just as God is the source of all life and creation, HE is also the source of light, physical as well as metaphorical. The universe is like a shadow that cannot exist without a body; if the latter goes the former fades away or disappears altogether. The universe only exist because God is there, controlling it and running its affairs. The light which enables life to continue originates with God Almighty. Hence, all that we know and see and feel in this world is, in its own right, living proof of the existence of God.
The Arabic term, nur, can be found in several sayings of Prophet Muhammad. When, in 619 AC, he was rejected by the people of Ta'if, east of Makkah, he turned to God for help , saying:
I take refuge in the light of Your face which has illuminated the darkness and put right the affairs of this life and of the light to come. I appeal to You that You shall not send Your wrath upon me or be angry with me. The pleasure is Yours until You are well pleased. There is no power without God.
When the Prophet used to get up to pray during the night, he was known to recite the following prayer: "Lord, praise be to You. You are the Light of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. praise be to You. You are the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is in them.." He was also reported to have said: "Your Lord knows no night or day; the light of the Throne comes from the light of His face. "
We shall return to this topic shortly, but let us first look at the opening verse of the surah: "(Here is) a surah which We have revealed and enjoined, and wherein We have revealed plain tokens, that haply ye may take heed " (1). Unique to this surah, this is a solemn opening statement which underlines the seriousness of the injunctions and instructions that are to follow. Attention to this fact is drawn twice more in verses 34 and 46:
And verily We have sent down for you revelations that make plain, and the example of those who passed away before you. An admonition unto those who ward off (evil). (34)
Verily We have sent down revelations and explained them. Allah guideth whom He will unto a straight path. (46)
The special attention accorded seems to be due to the subject matter of the surah itself which deals with relations between men and women in society; introduces penalties for some sexual crimes and a number of social rules and regulations for mixed-sex environment and behavior; establishes some of the lawful and the unlawful modes of social behavior in Muslim society and contains a whole host of instructions relating to personal privacy and the etiquette governing behavior not only in other people's homes but inside one's own as well.
The aim of these social and personal rules and regulations is to maintain the integrity and decency of Muslim social life and to protect society against corruption and disintegration. Islam has been remarkably successful in achieving this goal and one has only to look at modern societies to see to what extent promiscuity and lack of moral cohesion have eaten into its fabric giving indecency and immorality a different and more acceptable status. Coupled with this, religion has been completely sidelined, leaving the door wide open for social ethics and norms that attach no importance to honor or moral integrity to creep in without effective challenge.
" A Thematic Commentary On The Qur'an "
Shaykh Muhammad al-Ghazali
[ 1917 - 1996 ]
Reflection and commentary by Imam Zia,
Session 1.1
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