Nur Surah Ayat 35

Allâhu nûrus semâvâti vel ard(ardı), meselu nûrihî ke mişkâtin fîhâ mısbâh(mısbâhun), el mısbâhu fî zucâceh(zucâcetin), ez zucâcetu ke ennehâ kevkebun durrîyyun, yûkadu min şeceratin mubâraketin zeytûnetin lâ şarkîyetin ve lâ garbiyyetin, yekâdu zeytuhâ yudîu ve lev lem temseshu nâr(nârun), nûrun alâ nûr(nûrin), yehdîllâhu li nûrihî men yeşâu, ve yadribullâhul emsâle lin nâs(nâsi), vallâhu bi kulli şey’in alîm(alîmun).

Allah is “nur” of the skies and the Earth. The representation of His “nur” is as follows: a cell in a wall, in it a candle, candle itself is in a bell glass. The bell glass is as if it is a star that twinkles immensely. It is ignited on a blessed tree, olive tree which belongs neither to the East nor to the West. The oil of this tree enlightens almost without a touch of fire. İt is “nur” above “nur.” Allah delivers the person that He sees to fit to His “nur.” Allah gives instances for the mankind. Allah is who that knows everything with absolute truth.

According to Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s interpretations:

“35- Allah is the illumination of the skies and the Earth. The representation of His illumination is a candle in which is a lamp. This lamp is in a crystal; this crystal itself is as if it is a star that suggests a pearl, it is ignited by oil gathered from a tree that is unique neither to the East nor the West. This is such a tree that its oil almost ignites even when fire does not touch it. This light is “nur” above “nur.” Allah leads whom he sees fit to the right way with His “nur.” This is how Allah gives instances to mankind; Allah knows everything.

Like a lamp cell meaning a circular or polygonal window which cannot be penetrated.

MISBAH: Lamp that enlightens like morning, pleasant and strong. Although the Sun is called “sirac” in Qur’an, the fact that it is called “misbah” above suggests that the Sun is merely a candle compared to Allah’s “nur.”  The crystal which contains the lamp is like a star that looks like a pearl. So beautiful, so clear a glass that it bears all the beauty of the skies as well as the Earth’s. “Mişkat” is the lamp that is in this glass, from a blessed tree, ignited by such a olive that belongs neither to the East nor the West.

Such an olive that its oil almost ignites even without a touch of fire. Like electricity ready to ignite in a moment, and just as pure and bright. In brief, Allah’s “nur” is “nur” above “nur.” Not as thought: limited five levels, neither one of them nor all; limitlessly above all “nur” by long odds, a “nur” that cannot be limited or comprehended.

Why does God give us another example instead of Sun, the brightest object seen in the sky by the unaided human eye? Sun has been the strongest source of light known by mankind for ten thousands of years. If God gives an example for Himself, this example must be the strongest example possible. This example must be unreachable. The given example must be even more powerful than Sun as it is the most powerful light source in the universe.

This description suggests a lighthouse. In fact, a lighthouse-like light source is mentioned in the ayat, which also states that this light source is like a very bright “kevkeb.”

The word “kevkeb” means star group or galaxy.

The example of Allah’s “nur” suggests the light of a star group or a galaxy which acts as a lighthouse.

Given below are some illustrations of lighthouses.

A cell in a wall and, within it, a candle.

A typical lighthouse lamp

The light source of a lighthouse

There is a glass in another glass. The source of light is an ampoule. Its oil, meaning its source of energy is electricity. It ignites in a moment without a touch of fire. It belongs neither to the East nor to the West. There are certain galaxies in space, each composed of billions of stars, that shine immensely like lighthouses. These galaxies are in fact the strongest sources of light in the known universe. They are at least two trillion times brighter than our sun. Such galaxies are called Quasars.

The word Quasar comes from Latin, meaning “a source of light beams resembling a star.” This ayah states “absolutely, this is what resembles a shining star,” because “kevkeb” means “what resembles a star” as well as “star group.” Moreover, the word “durriyyun” corresponds to “radio source” as in “quasi-stellar radio source.” Radio, derived from the Latin word radius, means spoke of a wheel, beam of light, ray.

Early stars which were formed in deep Space are, just like black holes, composed of matter jammed in a very small volume. Their structure is the same as galaxies. They are the strongest light source in Space, fueled by electromagnetic energy. Since their gravitational field is weaker than that of black holes, light does not get swallowed but instead remains stationary on the surface. That is why they have blindingly strong brightness. Through light year calculations it is estimated that the Quasars we observe today reveal their appearances they actually had ten billion years ago. They are the deadliest body in Space, as well as the hardest to miss. Quasars, like Pulsars, emit light continuously; yet we can observe only periodic electromagnetic emissions from Earth. This phenomenon is called the Lighthouse Effect.

Given below are Quasar-galaxy illustrations

Quasars are reference points in Space just like lighthouses.  The International Celestial Reference System (ICRS) is based on hundreds of extra-galactic radio sources, mostly quasars, distributed around the entire sky. God’s “nur,” Qur’an, is the enlightenment which guides; it is like a shining Quasar which resembles a lighthouse.

If we re-translate this ayah with our recent knowledge:

Allah is the guide, the light for the skies and the earth. Description of His light is as follows: It is like the light of Quasar which resembles a lighthouse and fueled by electromagnetic energy that belongs neither to the East or the West. It is enlightenment above enlightenment. Allah leads whom He sees fit to his enlightenment. Allah gives instances for people. Allah is the knower of everything to its absolute truth.

This ayah compares God’s enlightenment to Quasars, brightest sources of light.

Qur’an was bestowed approximately 1400 years ago. It is clear that the one who bestowed the Qur’an has deep knowledge on Quasars.

What is even more fascinating is that the one who bestowed Qur’an 1400 years ago knows all of these: Someday mankind would invent electricity; Edison would invent ampoule, which would be used in lighthouses. Mankind, then, would begin to explore Space. NASA’s Hubble would render the brightest bodies in the universe, Quasars, visible.

Else, why would God put such descriptions in His book?

Now, this is what I understand from omniscience.

O God, truly I bear witness to your unity and to the guidance of Muhammad, your prophet.

You are, as you know yourself; omniscient, omnipotent, worthy of praise, almighty.

In brief, the best of the names belong to you.