Deel II The Light of The Prophet Allah said: The likeness of His light is as a niche wherein is a Lamp (the lamp in a glass, the glass as it were a glittering star) kindled from a Blessed Tree, an olive that is neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil wellnigh would shine, even if no fire touched it; Light upon Light. (24:35) Suyuti said in al-Riyad al-aniqa: Ibn Jubayr and Ka`b al- Ahbar said: What is meant by the second light is the Prophet because he is the Messenger and the Expositor and the Conveyor from Allah of what is enlightening and manifest. Ka`b said: Its oil wellnigh would shine because the Prophet wellnigh would be known to the people even if he did not say that he was a Prophet, just as that oil would send forth light without a fire. Ibn Kathir comments on this verse in his Tafsir by citing the report through Ibn `Atiyya whereby Ka`b al-Ahbar explained Allahs words: yakadu zaytuha yudiu wa law lam tamsashu nar as meaning: Muhammad is nearly manifest as a Prophet to people, even if he did not declare it. Qadi `Iyad said in al-Shifa (English p. 135): Niftawayh said regarding the words of Allah: Its oil almost gives light when no fire has touched it (24:35): This is the likeness that Allah has made of His Prophet. He said that the meaning of the ayat was that this face almost indicated his Prophethood even before he had received the Quran, as Ibn Rawaha said: Even if there had not been clear signs among us, His face would have told you the news. Among those who said that the meaning of mathalu nurihi -- the likeness of His Light -- is the Prophet Muhammad, upon him blessings and peace: Ibn Jarir al-Tabari in his Tafsir (18:95), Qadi `Iyad in al-Shifa, al-Baghawi in Ma`alim al-Tanzil (5:63) in the margin of al-Khazin, from Sa`id ibn Hubayr and al-Dahhak, al- Khazin in his Tafsir (5:63) Suyuti in al-Durr al-manthur (5:49), Zarqani in Sharh al-mawahib (3:171), al-Khafaji in Nasim al-riyad (1:110, 2:449). al-Nisaburi in Gharaib al-Quran (18:93) said: The Prophet is a light and a light-giving lamp. al-Qari in Sharh al-shifa said: The most apparent meaning is to say that what is meant by the light is Muhammad. Allah said: O Prophet! Truly We have sent you as a Witness, a Bearer of glad tidings, and a Warner, and as one who invites to Allah by His leave, and as a Lamp spreading Light. (33:45- 46) Qadi al-Baydawi said in his Tafsir: It is the sun due to His saying: We have made the sun a lamp; or, it could be a lamp. Ibn Kathir states in his Tafsir: His saying: and a light- giving lamp, that is: your status shows in the truth you have brought just as the sun shows in its rising and illuminating, which none denies except the obdurate. Raghib al-Asfahani in al-Mufradat (1:147) said: The word [lamp] is used for everything that illumines. al-Zarqani in Sharh al-mawahib (3:171) said: He was named lamp because from the one lamp take the many lamps, and its light is no wise diminished. `Abd Allah ibn Rawaha al-Ansari -- the great-grandson of the poet Imru al-Qays -- said of the Prophet: law lam takun fihi ayatun mubina lakana manzaruhu yunabbiuka bi al-khabari Even if there were not, concerning him, clear and evident signs, yet the sight of him would have told you the news.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 18:51:03 +0000
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