Surah 24. An-Nur

'That light shines' through houses 'of worship' which Allah has ordered to be raised, and where His Name is mentioned. He is glorified there morning and evening

  - Mustafa Khattab

(Lit is such a light) in houses which Allah hath permitted to be raised to honor; for the celebration in them of His name: in them is He glorified in the mornings and in the evenings (again and again) ^{3004 3005 3006}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The punctuation of the Arabic text makes it necessary to carry back the adverbial clause "in houses", to something in the last verse, say "Lit from a blessed Tree",-the intervening clauses being treated as parenthetical.

That is, in all places of pure worship; but some Commentators understand special Mosques, such as the Ka'ba in Makkah or Mosques in Madinah or Jerusalem; for these are specially held in honour.

In the evenings: the Arabic word is Asal, a plural of a plural, to imply emphasis: I have rendered that shade of meaning by adding the words "again and again".

by men¹ who are not distracted- either by buying or selling- from Allah's remembrance, or performing prayer, or paying alms-tax. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will tremble,

  - Mustafa Khattab

 See footnote for 7:46.

By men whom neither traffic nor merchandise can divert from the Remembrance of Allah nor from regular Prayer nor from the practice of regular Charity: their (only) fear is for the Day when hearts and eyes will be transformed (in a world wholly new) ^{3007 3008}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

"Remembrance of Allah" is wider than Prayer: it includes silent contemplation, and active service of Allah and His creatures. The regular Prayers and regular Charity are the social acts performed through the organised community.

Some renderings suggest the effects of terror on the Day of Judgment. But here we are considering the case of the righteous, whose "fear" of Allah is akin to love and reverence and who (as the next verse shows) hope for the best reward from Allah. But the world they will meet will be a wholly changed world.

'hoping' that Allah may reward them according to the best of their deeds, and increase them out of His grace. And Allah provides for whoever He wills without limit.

  - Mustafa Khattab

That Allah may reward them according to the best of their deeds and add even more for them out of His Grace: for Allah doth provide for those whom He will without measure. ³⁰⁰⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The best of the righteous do not deserve the reward that they get: all their faults are forgiven, and only their best actions are considered in the reward that they get. Nay, more! Out of the unbounded Grace of Allah even more is added to them. For in giving rewards, Allah's bounty is boundless.

As for the disbelievers, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert, which the thirsty perceive as water, but when they approach it, they find it to be nothing. Instead, they find Allah there 'in the Hereafter, ready' to settle their account. And Allah is swift in reckoning.

  - Mustafa Khattab

But the Unbelievers their deeds are like a mirage in sandy deserts which the man parched with thirst mistakes for water; until when he comes up to it he finds it to be nothing: but he finds Allah (ever) with him and Allah will pay him his account: and Allah is swift in taking account. ^{3010 3011 3012}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

We have had various metaphors to give us an idea of the beneficent Light of Allah. Now we have contrasted metaphors to enable us to see those who deny or refuse that Light, and are overwhelmed in utter darkness. The Light (of Allah) is an absolute Reality, and is mentioned first, and the souls that follow that Light are a reflected reality and are mentioned after the Light. On the other hand the Darkness is not a reality in itself, but a negation of reality; the reflected existences that refuse the Light are mentioned, and then their state, which is Unreality. Two metaphors are given: a mirage, in this verse, and the depths of darkness in the sea, in the next,

The mirage, of which I have seen several instances in the Arabian deserts and in Egypt, is a strange phenomenon of illusion. It is a trick of our vision. In the language of our Parable, it rejects the Light which shows us the Truth, and deceives us with Falsehood. A lonely traveller in a desert, nearly dying of thirst, sees a broad sheet of water. He goes in that direction, lured on and on, but finds nothing at all. He dies in protracted agony.

The rebel against Allah finds himself like the man deluded by a mirage. The Truth which he rejected is always with him. The mirage which he accepted leads to his destruction.

Or 'their deeds are' like the darkness in a deep sea, covered by waves upon waves,¹ topped by 'dark' clouds. Darkness upon darkness! If one stretches out their hand, they can hardly see it. And whoever Allah does not bless with light will have no light!

  - Mustafa Khattab

 This is another scientific fact mentioned in the Quran: the existence of underwater waves, like layers.

Or (the Unbelievers' state) is like the depths of darkness in a vast deep ocean overwhelmed with billow topped by billow topped by (dark) clouds: depths of darkness one above another: if a man stretches out his hand he can hardly see it! for any to whom Allah giveth not light there is no light! ^{3013 3014 3015}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

What a graphic picture of darkness in the depths of the Ocean, wave upon wave, and on top of all, dense dark clouds! There is so little light even in ordinary depths of the Ocean that fishes which live there lose their eyes as useless organs.

A contrast to "Light upon Light" in xxiv. 35 above.

The true source of Light in the world of Reatity is Allah, and anyone who cuts himself off from that Light is in utter darkness indeed, for it is the negation of the only true light, and not merely relative darkness, like that which we see, say, in the shadows of moonlight.

Do you not see that Allah is glorified by all those in the heavens and the earth, even the birds as they soar? Each 'instinctively' knows their manner of prayer and glorification. And Allah has 'perfect' knowledge of all they do.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Seest thou not that it is Allah Whose praises all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise. And Allah knows well all that they do. ^{3016 3017}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxi. 19-20.

All denizens of the heavens, such as angels, all denizens of the earth (including the waters) such as man, animals, insects, fishes, etc., and all denizens of the air, such as birds, celebrate the praises of Allah. Each has his own mode of prayer and praise. It is not necessarily with words, for language (as we know it) is peculiar to man. But actions and other modes of self-expression recognise and declare the Glory of Allah.

To Allah 'alone' belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. And to Allah is the final return.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Yea to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; and to Allah is the final goal (of all). ³⁰¹⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

To Him we belong; and to Him we shall return. Not only we, but all Creation, proclaims this in the whole world.

Do you not see that Allah gently drives the clouds, then joins them together, piling them up into masses, from which you see raindrops come forth? And He sends down from the sky mountains 'of clouds' loaded with hail, pouring it on whoever He wills and averting it from whoever He wills. The flash of the clouds' lightning nearly takes away eyesight.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Seest thou not that Allah makes the clouds move gently then joins them together then makes them into a heap? then wilt thou see rain issue forth from their midst. And He sends down from the sky mountain masses (of clouds) wherein is hail: He strikes therewith whom He pleases and He turns it away fro whom He pleases. The vivid flash of His lightning well-nigh blinds the sight. ³⁰¹⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Artists, or lovers of nature, or observers of clouds will appreciate this description of cloud effects-thin clouds floating about in fantastic shapes, joining together and taking body and substance, then emerging as heavy clouds heaped up, which condense and pour forth their rain. Then the heavy dark clouds in the upper regions, that bring hail,-how distinct and yet how similar! They are truly like mountain masses! And when the hailstones fall, how local their area! It hits some localities and leaves free others almost interlaced! And the lightning-how blinding flashes come from thunderous clouds! In this Book of Nature can we not see the hand of the powerful and beneficent Allah?

Allah alternates the day and night. Surely in this is a lesson for people of insight.

  - Mustafa Khattab

It is Allah Who alternates the Night and the Day: verily in these things is an instructive example for those who have vision! ³⁰²⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

His power, wisdom, and goodness are shown no less in the regular phenomena of nature like the succession of Day and Night, than in the seasonal or seemingly irregular movements of clouds and rain and hail and lightning. Those who have the spiritual vision can read this Book of Allah with delight and instruction.

And Allah has created from water every living creature. Some of them crawl on their bellies, some walk on two legs, and some walk on four. Allah creates whatever He wills. Surely Allah is Most Capable of everything.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And Allah has created every animal from water: of them there are some that creep on their bellies; some that walk on two legs; and some that walk on four. Allah creates what He wills: for verily Allah has power over all things. ^{3021 3022 3023}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. xxi. 30, n. 2691. Protoplasm is the basis of all living matter, and "the vital power of protoplasm seems to depend on the constant presence of water".

The creeping things include worms and lowly forms of animal life as well as reptiles (like snakes), centipedes, spiders, and insects. Where these have legs they are small, and the description of creeping or crawling is more applicable to them than that of walking. Fishes and sea-animals generally cannot be said to walk: their swimming is like "creeping on their bellies". Two-legged animals include birds and man. Most of the mammals walk on four legs. This includes the whole of the animal world.

In Allah's Will and Plan, the variety of forms and habits among animals is adapted to their various modes of life and stages of biological development.

We have indeed sent down revelations clarifying 'the truth'. But Allah 'only' guides whoever He wills to the Straight Path.

  - Mustafa Khattab

We have indeed sent down Signs that make things manifest: and Allah guides whom He wills to a way that is straight.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And the hypocrites say, 'We believe in Allah and the Messenger, and we obey.' Then a group of them turns away soon after that. These are not 'true' believers.

  - Mustafa Khattab

They say "We believe in Allah and in the Apostle and we obey": but even after that some of them turn away: they are not (really) Believers. ³⁰²⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Hypocrites, far from profiting from Allah's Light and Revelation, or declaring their open hostility, play fast and loose according to their selfish worldly aims.

And as soon as they are called to Allah and His Messenger so he may judge between them, a group of them¹ turns away.

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Those at fault.

When they are summoned to Allah and His Apostle in order that He may judge between them behold some of them decline (to come).

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But if the truth is in their favour, they come to him, fully submitting.

  - Mustafa Khattab

But if the right is on their side they come to him with all submission. ³⁰²⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Hypocrites only wanted to go to the judge who they thought was likely to give judgment in their favour. If their case was incontestable, and justice was on their side, they readily came to the Prophet, knowing that he was just and would judge in their favour, even against his own adherents. But if they had done wrong, an impartial judge was not to their taste. They would rather go to some one who would tip the balance in their favour! This form of selfishness and iniquity was not confined to the Hypocrites of Madinah. It is common in all ages, and should be suppressed.

Is there a sickness in their hearts? Or are they in doubt? Or do they fear that Allah and His Messenger will be unjust to them? In fact, it is they who are the 'true' wrongdoers.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Is it that there is a disease in their hearts? Or do they doubt or are they in fear that Allah and His Apostle will deal unjustly with them? Nay it is they themselves who do wrong. ³⁰²⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The real fact is that their conscience smites them. They know their own iniquity, and do not wish to go before a just judge who would be open to no influence and would be sure to give a righteous decree.