Stem أَمْثَٰلَ - Quranic Morphology

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a lustrous niche, wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a glittering star. It is lit from a blessed tree — an olive — neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would well-nigh glow forth even though fire touched it not. Light upon light! Allah guides to His light whomsoever He will. And Allah sets forth parables to men, and Allah knows all things full well.

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

اللہ آسمانوں اور زمین کا نور ہے۔ اس کے نور کی مثال ایک طاق کی سی ہے جس میں ایک چراغ ہو۔ وہ چراغ شیشے کے شمع دان میں ہو۔ وہ شیشہ ایسا ہو گویا ایک چمکتا ہوا روشن ستارہ ہے۔ وہ (چراغ) زیتون کے ایسے مبارک درخت سے روشن کیا گیا ہو جو نہ مشرقی ہو اور نہ مغربی۔ اس (درخت) کا تیل ایسا ہے کہ قریب ہے کہ وہ از خود بھڑک کر روشن ہو جائے خواہ اسے آگ کا شعلہ نہ بھی چھوا ہو۔ یہ نور علیٰ نور ہے۔ اللہ اپنے نور کی طرف جسے چاہتا ہے ہدایت دیتا ہے اور اللہ لوگوں کے لئے مثالیں بیان کرتا ہے اور اللہ ہر چیز کا دائمی علم رکھنے والا ہے۔

French

Allāh est la Lumière des cieux et de la terre. Sa Lumière est pareille à une niche brillante dans laquelle se trouve une lampe. La lampe est à l’intérieur d’un verre. Le verre est comme si c’était une étoile étincelante. La lampe est allumée avec l’huile d’un arbre béni – un olivier – qui n’est ni de l’Est ni de l’Ouest, dont l’huile s’allumerait même si le feu ne la touchait pas. Lumière sur lumière ! Allāh dirige vers Sa lumière qui Il veut. Et Allāh relate des paraboles aux hommes, et Allāh connaît toutes les choses très bien.

German

Allah ist das Licht der Himmel und der Erde. Das Gleichnis Seines Lichts ist wie eine Nische, worin sich eine Lampe befindet. Die Lampe ist in einem Glas. Das Glas ist gleichsam ein glitzernder Stern – angezündet von einem gesegneten Baum, einem Ölbaum, weder vom Osten noch vom Westen, dessen Öl beinah leuchten würde, auch wenn das Feuer es nicht berührte. Licht über Licht. Allah leitet zu Seinem Licht, wen Er will. Und Allah prägt Gleichnisse für die Menschen, denn Allah kennt alle Dinge.

Chinese

安拉是天地的光。他的光好像一个光辉的壁龛, 其中有一盏明灯。那明灯是在玻璃罩里。那个玻璃罩好像是一颗光辉的星。这明灯是用吉庆的橄榄树的 (油) 点着的, 它不是东方的, 也不是西方的, 它的油即使没有燃烧, 也几乎发出光来。(这明灯好像) 许多光束的汇集! 安拉领导他愿意的人获得光明。安拉为人类叙述一切必需的事物, 他是完全知道万物的。

Italian

Allah è la Luce dei cieli e della terra. La Sua luce è come una nicchia splendente, in cui c'è una lampada. La lampada è dentro un cristallo. Il cristallo è simile a una stella lucente. La lampada arde grazie all'olio di un albero benedetto - un olivo - né orientale né occidentale, il cui olio quasi illuminerebbe anche se non lo toccasse il fuoco. Luce su luce! Allah guida alla Sua luce chiunque Gli piaccia. E Allah propone parabole agli uomini, e Allah conosce benissimo tutte le cose.

Spanish

Al‑lah es la Luz de los cielos y la tierra. Su luz es semejante a una hornacina brillante, en la que hay una lámpara. La lámpara está en un vaso. El vaso es como una estrella brillante. Se enciende con un árbol bendito -el olivo‑ que no está ni a Oriente ni a Occidente, cuyo aceite podría alumbrar aun cuando no lo tocara el fuego. ¡Luz sobre luz! Al‑lah guía a Su Luz a quien desea. Pues Al‑lah presenta parábolas a los hombres y Al‑lah sabe perfectamente todas las cosas.

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

اللہ آسمانوں کا بھی نور [5]ہے اور زمین کا بھی۔ اس کے نور کی کیفیت[6] یہ ہے جیسے کہ ایک طاق ہو جس میں ایک دیا پڑا ہو (اور وہ) دیا ایک شیشے کے گلوب کے نیچے ہو (اور) وہ گلوب ایسا چمکدار ہو گویا وہ ایک چمکتا ہوا ستارہ ہے (اور) وہ (چراغ) ایک ایسے برکت والے درخت زیتون (کے تیل) سے جلایا جارہا ہو کہ وہ (درخت[7]) نہ شرقی ہو نہ غربی۔ قریب ہے کہ اس کا تیل خواہ اسے آگ نہ بھی چھوئی ہو بھڑک اٹھے (یہ چراغ) بہت سے نوروں کا مجموعہ (معلوم ہوتا) ہے اللہ اپنے نور کے لئے جن کو چاہتا ہے ہدایت دیتا ہے اور اللہ لوگوں کے لئے (تمام ضروری) باتیں بیان کرتا ہے۔ اور اللہ ہر ایک چیز کو خوب جانتا ہے۔

English - Short Commentary Translation

Allah is the Light[2046A] of the heavens and the earth. His light is as if there were a lustrous niche,[2046B] wherein is a lamp. The lamp is inside a glass-globe.[2046C] The globe is, as it were, a glittering star. The lamp is lit from the oil of a blessed tree—an olive— neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil well-nigh would shine forth even though fire touched it not. Light upon light! Allah guides to His light whomsoever He pleases. And Allah sets forth parables for men, and Allah knows all things full well.[2047]

English - Five Volume Translation

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a lustrous niche, wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a glittering star. It is lit from a blessed tree—an olive—neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would well-nigh glow forth even though fire touched it not. Light upon light! Allah guides to His light whomsoever He will. [a]And Allah sets forth parables to men, and Allah knows all things full well.[2618]

14:26.

Important Words:

نور (light) is noun-infinitive from أنار. They say أنار الشیء i.e. the thing became bright and beautiful and manifest. أنار البیتmeans, he lit the house. أنار المسئلة means, he made the question clear and plain. نور means, light; that which makes a thing clear; light as opposed to darkness. نور is more extensive and more penetrating as well as more lasting in its significance than ضیاء. It is also one of the names of God (Aqrab & Muhit). See also 10:6.

مشکٰوة (niche) is derived from شکو and الشکو is the opening of the small skin for water or milk called شکوة and showing what is in it. شکا فلان means, the nails of such a one split in several places. They say شکا الی اللّٰه i.e. he complained of his case to God or he told God the weakness of his condition. مشکٰوة means, a niche in a wall, i.e. a hole or hollow in a wall, not extending through, in which a lamp placed therein gives more light than it gives elsewhere; a pillar or the like upon the top or head of which the lamp is put; or the iron things by means of which a lamp is suspended (Lane & Aqrab).

مصباح (a lamp), is derived from أصبح which means, he entered upon the time of morning; he rose in the middle of the night. They say أصبح القوم i.e. he came to the people in the morning, أصبح المصباح mean, he lit the lamp. أصبح الحق means, the truth became manifest. مصباح means, a lamp; a big lance or arrow (Lane & Aqrab).

زجاجة (glass) is derived from زج they say زج حاجبه i.e. his eyebrow was or became narrow and long or arched; he made his eyebrow narrow and long or made it narrow and long and arched, or clipped the redundant portion of the hair thereof. زج الموضع means, he made even, and adjusted the place. زجاجه means, a glass, a globe of glass; crystal window-pane; tumbler; eye (Lane).

مبارکة (blessed) is passive participle from برک which means, it was or it became firm or steady. برک علیه means, he applied himself constantly to it. برکة (barakatun) which is infinitive-noun from this root means, increase; abundance or plenty; firmness, stability or perpetuity coupled with increase; abundant and perpetual good. مبارکة means, abundant; firm, stable; having perpetual good blessed, etc. (Lane & Aqrab). See also 6:156.

Commentary:

The verse is a beautiful metaphor. It speaks of three things––a lamp, a glass-globe (or chimney) and a niche. The divine light is stated to have been confined to these three things which combined together make its brightness and effulgence complete and perfect in every respect. المصباح (the lamp) is the very source of the light; الزجاجة is the globe of glass or chimney which is over the lamp and which protects its light from being extinguished by the puff of wind and increases its brightness; and المشکٰوة (the niche) preserves the light. The simile may aptly apply to an electric torch of which the constituent parts are the electric wires which give light, the bulb which protects the light and the reflector which spreads and diffuses the light and gives it direction. In spiritual terminology the three things, i.e. المصباح (the lamp), الزجاجة (the glass) and المشکٰوة (the niche), mentioned in the verse, may respectively stand for divine light, God’s Prophets who protect that light from being extinguished and add to its effulgence and brightness, and the Khalifahs or Successors of the Prophets who diffuse and disseminate the divine light and give it a direction and purpose for the guidance and illumination of the world. This interpretation is borne out and supported by the context inasmuch as towards its close the Surah speaks of the establishment of Khilafat among the Muslims.

The verse further states that the oil used to light the lamp is of the highest possible purity and is inflammable to a degree which makes it (the oil) burst out into a flame even without being ignited. It is extracted from a tree which belongs neither to the east nor to the west.

The verse may have another interpretation. The light mentioned in the verse may be taken to refer to the Holy Prophet because he has been spoken of as نور (light) in the Quran (5:16). المشکٰوة (the niche) in the case would signify the heart of the Holy Prophet and المصباح (the lamp) his most pure and unsullied nature which is endowed with the best and noblest attributes and qualities and الزجاجة (the glass) would signify that the divine light with his nature has been invested is as clear and bright as crystal. When the light of heavenly revelation descended upon the light of the Holy Prophet’s pure nature, it shone with a twofold effulgence which in the words of the Quran has been described as "lights upon lights." This light of Prophet was sustained by an oil which emanated from a blessed tree, which means that the Holy Prophet’s light was not only bright and brilliant but abundant and stable and perpetual (as word مبارکة signifies) and was intended to illumine both the east and the west i.e. the whole world. Further, the Prophet’s heart was so pure and his nature gifted with such noble qualities that he was almost fit to discharge the duties of his great mission even before the light of Divine revelation had descended upon him. This is the significance of the words, "whose oil would well-nigh be ablaze even though fire touched it not."

If نور be understood to mean the light of Islam, the metaphor would mean that the light of Islam is placed on so high a pillar of minaret (المشکٰوة) and is so resplendent as to illumine the whole world. It is, as it were, placed under a glass-globe which not only saves it from being put out by puffs of adverse winds but adds to its lustre and glory and its light will one day spread over both the east and the west and will enlighten the entire world. The words, "a tree neither of the east nor of the west," further signify a universal guidance which does not discriminate in favour of or against any people and which is equally meant for all of them. The explanation is supported by another verse of the Quran viz. "they desire to extinguish the light of Allah with the breath of their mouth; but Allah will perfect His light, however much the disbelievers might dislike it" (61:9).

The metaphor may have yet another explanation. المشکٰوة or the niche in the verse is the human body. The human body contains the spirit which makes itself manifest through the organs of the body. Like the niche the human body protects the light, namely, the spirit; and guides its expression i.e. the human body contains the مصباح or the lamp of the soul which illumines the human mind and brings it into touch with God. The lamp is contained in زجاجة (globe or glass) which protects it from harm or injury and enhances and reflects its light. This زجاجة is the human brain of which the mechanism is so perfect as to have led some philosophers to think that it is the ultimate source of divine light. The light is sustained by the oil from a blessed tree, namely from those basic and eternal truths which are not the exclusive possession of any people, of the east or of the west. These eternal truths are implanted in the very nature of man and would almost make themselves manifest even without the help of Divine revelation.

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

اللہ آسمانوں اور زمین کا نور ہے (کائنات میں) اس کے نور کی مثال ایسی ہے جیسے ایک طاق میں چراغ رکھا ہوا ہو، چراغ ایک فانوس میں ہو، فانوس کا حال یہ ہو کہ جیسے موتی کی طرح چمکتا ہوا تارا، اور وہ چراغ زیتون کے ایک ایسے مبارک درخت کے تیل سے روشن کیا جاتا ہو جو شرقی ہو نہ غربی، جس کا تیل آپ ہی آپ بھڑکا پڑتا ہو چاہے آگ اس کو نہ لگے، (اِس طرح) روشنی پر روشنی (بڑھنے کے تمام اسباب جمع ہو گئے ہوں) اللہ اپنے نور کی طرف جس کی چاہتا ہے رہنمائی فرماتا ہے، وہ لوگوں کو مثالوں سے بات سمجھاتا ہے، وہ ہر چیز سے خوب واقف ہے

English - Sahih

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things.

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

الله آسمانوں اور زمین کا نور ہے اس کے نور کی مثال ایسی ہے جیسے طاق میں چراغ ہو چراغ شیشے کی قندیل میں ہے قندیل گویا کہ موتی کی طرح چمکتا ہوا ستارا ہے زیتون کے مبارک درخت سے روشن کیا جاتا ہے نہ مشرق کی طرف ہے اور نہ مغرب کی طرف اس کا تیل قریب ہے کہ روشن ہوجائے اگرچہ اسے آگ نے نہ چھوا ہو روشنی ہے الله جسے چاہتا ہے اپنی روشنی کی راہ دکھاتا ہے اور الله کے لیے مثالیں بیان فرماتا ہے اور الله ہر چیز کا جاننے والا ہے

English - Talal Itani

Allah (is the) Light (of) the heavens and the earth. (The) example (of) His Light (is) like a niche in it (is) a lamp; the lamp (is) in a glass, the glass as if it were a star brilliant (which) is lit from a tree blessed - an olive, not (of the) east and not (of the) west, would almost its oil glow, even if not touched it fire. Light upon Light. Allah guides to His Light whom He wills. And Allah sets forth the examples for the mankind. And Allah of every thing (is) All-Knower.

Chinese Commentary ^*

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

5

یعنی سب برکت دنیا میں خداتعالیٰ کے تعلق سے پیدا ہوتی ہے۔

6

یعنی جو تعلیم اس کی طرف سے آتی ہے اس کا مقابلہ دوسری تعلیموں سے ایسا ہی ہے جیسا کہ ایک مٹی کے دِیے کا ایک ریفلیکٹر رکھنے والے لیمپ سے۔

7

مشرق و مغرب سے تعلق نہ رکھنے والے درخت سے مراد ایسی تعلیم ہے جس میں نہ مشرقیوں کا لحاظ رکھا گیا ہے اور نہ مغربیوں کا۔ اور یہ تعلیم صرف قرآن مجید کی ہے۔ رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم فرماتے ہیں۔ لَافَضْلَ لِلْعَرَبِیِّ عَلَی الْاَعْجَمِیِّ (مسند احمد بن حنبل۔ جلد ۵ صفحہ ۴۱۱ مطبوعہ بیروت)

English - Arberry

God is the Light of the heavens and the earth; 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; (God guides to His Light whom He will.) (And God strikes similitudes for men, and God has knowledge of everything.)

English - Maududi

Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth: His light (in the universe) may be likened (to the light of) a lamp in a niche: the lamp is in a glass shade: the glass shade is like a glittering star and lamp is lit with the olive oil of a blessed tree which is neither eastern nor western: its oil is (so fine) as if it were going to shine forth by itself though no fire touched it (as though all the means of increasing) light upon light (were provided); Allah guides to His light whomever He wills. He cites parables to make the Message clear to the people; He has perfect knowledge of everything.

English - Ahmed Ali

God is the light of the heavens and the earth. The semblance of His light is that of a niche in which is a lamp, the flame within a glass, the glass a glittering star as it were, lit with the oil of a blessed tree, the olive, neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil appears to light up even though fire touches it not, -- light upon light. God guides to His light whom He will. So does God advance precepts of wisdom for men, for God has knowledge of everything.

English - Yusuf Ali

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah doth guide whom He will to His Light: Allah doth set forth Parables for men: and Allah doth know all things.

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

a

14:26.

2618

Important Words:

نور (light) is noun-infinitive from أنار. They say أنار الشیء i.e. the thing became bright and beautiful and manifest. أنار البیتmeans, he lit the house. أنار المسئلة means, he made the question clear and plain. نور means, light; that which makes a thing clear; light as opposed to darkness. نور is more extensive and more penetrating as well as more lasting in its significance than ضیاء. It is also one of the names of God (Aqrab & Muhit). See also 10:6.

مشکٰوة (niche) is derived from شکو and الشکو is the opening of the small skin for water or milk called شکوة and showing what is in it. شکا فلان means, the nails of such a one split in several places. They say شکا الی اللّٰه i.e. he complained of his case to God or he told God the weakness of his condition. مشکٰوة means, a niche in a wall, i.e. a hole or hollow in a wall, not extending through, in which a lamp placed therein gives more light than it gives elsewhere; a pillar or the like upon the top or head of which the lamp is put; or the iron things by means of which a lamp is suspended (Lane & Aqrab).

مصباح (a lamp), is derived from أصبح which means, he entered upon the time of morning; he rose in the middle of the night. They say أصبح القوم i.e. he came to the people in the morning, أصبح المصباح mean, he lit the lamp. أصبح الحق means, the truth became manifest. مصباح means, a lamp; a big lance or arrow (Lane & Aqrab).

زجاجة (glass) is derived from زج they say زج حاجبه i.e. his eyebrow was or became narrow and long or arched; he made his eyebrow narrow and long or made it narrow and long and arched, or clipped the redundant portion of the hair thereof. زج الموضع means, he made even, and adjusted the place. زجاجه means, a glass, a globe of glass; crystal window-pane; tumbler; eye (Lane).

مبارکة (blessed) is passive participle from برک which means, it was or it became firm or steady. برک علیه means, he applied himself constantly to it. برکة (barakatun) which is infinitive-noun from this root means, increase; abundance or plenty; firmness, stability or perpetuity coupled with increase; abundant and perpetual good. مبارکة means, abundant; firm, stable; having perpetual good blessed, etc. (Lane & Aqrab). See also 6:156.

Commentary:

The verse is a beautiful metaphor. It speaks of three things––a lamp, a glass-globe (or chimney) and a niche. The divine light is stated to have been confined to these three things which combined together make its brightness and effulgence complete and perfect in every respect. المصباح (the lamp) is the very source of the light; الزجاجة is the globe of glass or chimney which is over the lamp and which protects its light from being extinguished by the puff of wind and increases its brightness; and المشکٰوة (the niche) preserves the light. The simile may aptly apply to an electric torch of which the constituent parts are the electric wires which give light, the bulb which protects the light and the reflector which spreads and diffuses the light and gives it direction. In spiritual terminology the three things, i.e. المصباح (the lamp), الزجاجة (the glass) and المشکٰوة (the niche), mentioned in the verse, may respectively stand for divine light, God’s Prophets who protect that light from being extinguished and add to its effulgence and brightness, and the Khalifahs or Successors of the Prophets who diffuse and disseminate the divine light and give it a direction and purpose for the guidance and illumination of the world. This interpretation is borne out and supported by the context inasmuch as towards its close the Surah speaks of the establishment of Khilafat among the Muslims.

The verse further states that the oil used to light the lamp is of the highest possible purity and is inflammable to a degree which makes it (the oil) burst out into a flame even without being ignited. It is extracted from a tree which belongs neither to the east nor to the west.

The verse may have another interpretation. The light mentioned in the verse may be taken to refer to the Holy Prophet because he has been spoken of as نور (light) in the Quran (5:16). المشکٰوة (the niche) in the case would signify the heart of the Holy Prophet and المصباح (the lamp) his most pure and unsullied nature which is endowed with the best and noblest attributes and qualities and الزجاجة (the glass) would signify that the divine light with his nature has been invested is as clear and bright as crystal. When the light of heavenly revelation descended upon the light of the Holy Prophet’s pure nature, it shone with a twofold effulgence which in the words of the Quran has been described as "lights upon lights." This light of Prophet was sustained by an oil which emanated from a blessed tree, which means that the Holy Prophet’s light was not only bright and brilliant but abundant and stable and perpetual (as word مبارکة signifies) and was intended to illumine both the east and the west i.e. the whole world. Further, the Prophet’s heart was so pure and his nature gifted with such noble qualities that he was almost fit to discharge the duties of his great mission even before the light of Divine revelation had descended upon him. This is the significance of the words, "whose oil would well-nigh be ablaze even though fire touched it not."

If نور be understood to mean the light of Islam, the metaphor would mean that the light of Islam is placed on so high a pillar of minaret (المشکٰوة) and is so resplendent as to illumine the whole world. It is, as it were, placed under a glass-globe which not only saves it from being put out by puffs of adverse winds but adds to its lustre and glory and its light will one day spread over both the east and the west and will enlighten the entire world. The words, "a tree neither of the east nor of the west," further signify a universal guidance which does not discriminate in favour of or against any people and which is equally meant for all of them. The explanation is supported by another verse of the Quran viz. "they desire to extinguish the light of Allah with the breath of their mouth; but Allah will perfect His light, however much the disbelievers might dislike it" (61:9).

The metaphor may have yet another explanation. المشکٰوة or the niche in the verse is the human body. The human body contains the spirit which makes itself manifest through the organs of the body. Like the niche the human body protects the light, namely, the spirit; and guides its expression i.e. the human body contains the مصباح or the lamp of the soul which illumines the human mind and brings it into touch with God. The lamp is contained in زجاجة (globe or glass) which protects it from harm or injury and enhances and reflects its light. This زجاجة is the human brain of which the mechanism is so perfect as to have led some philosophers to think that it is the ultimate source of divine light. The light is sustained by the oil from a blessed tree, namely from those basic and eternal truths which are not the exclusive possession of any people, of the east or of the west. These eternal truths are implanted in the very nature of man and would almost make themselves manifest even without the help of Divine revelation.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

2046A

Nur means, light as opposed to darkness. It is more extensive and more penetrating as well as more lasting in its significance than Diya’ (Lane).

2046B

Mishkat means, a niche in a wall, i.e. a hole or hollow in a wall, not extending through, in which a lamp placed gives more light than it gives elsewhere; a pillar on the top of which the lamp is put (Lane).

2046C

Zujajah means a glass; a globe of glass (Lane).

2047

The verse is a beautiful metaphor. It speaks of three things—a lamp, a glass-globe and a niche. The Divine Light is stated to have been confined to these three things which combined together make its brightness and effulgence complete and perfect. 'The lamp' is the very source of the light; the 'glass-globe' which is over the lamp protects its light from being extinguished by the puffs of wind and increases its brightness; and 'the niche' preserves the light. The simile may aptly apply to an electric torch of which the constituent parts are the electric wires which give light, the bulb which protects the light and the reflector which spreads and diffuses the light and gives it direction. In spiritual terminology, the three things—'the lamp,' 'the glass-globe' and 'the niche'—may respectively stand for Divine Light, God’s Prophets who protect that light from being extinguished and add to its effulgence and brightness, and the Khalifahs or Successors of the Prophets who diffuse and disseminate

English - Pickthall

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as a niche wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star. (This lamp is) kindled from a blessed tree, an olive neither of the East nor of the West, whose oil would almost glow forth (of itself) though no fire touched it. Light upon light. Allah guideth unto His light whom He will. And Allah speaketh to mankind in allegories, for Allah is Knower of all things.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth. A likeness of His light is as a pillar on which is a lamp -- the lamp is in a glass, the glass is as it were a brightly shining star -- lit from a blessed olive-tree, neither eastern nor western, the oil whereof gives light, though fire touch it not -- light upon light. Allah hides to His light whom He pleases. And Allah sets forth parables for men, and Allah is Knower of all things --

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

Allah is the Light of the heavens and of the earth. His light is as if there were a lustrous niche, wherein is a lamp contained in a crystal globe, the globe as bright as a glittering star. The lamp is lit with the oil of a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east nor of the west. The oil would well-nigh glow forth even though no fire were to touch it. Light upon light! Allah guides to His light whomsoever He wills. Allah sets forth all that is needful for mankind. Allah knows all things well.

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