Thursday, December 30, 2010

The Meaning of Light (Nur) in the Islamic Traditions


http://www.mountainoflight.co.uk/

Nur is the Arabic word for light, An Nur (the light) is one of the many names for Allah.  This name Allah has no gender nor has it a plural form. Allah is not used to refer to anything or anyone but, The Lord and sustainer of the Universe.  Anwar is the Arabic plural of Nur meaning lights.

                    Nuri has been referred to "The light of Muhammad"      



     Light is that which is evident or manifest in it's self and makes other things evident.  In every seeking soul there is a portion, be it small or great, of the light of God.  Darkness is simply an expression for the lack of light.  Light is divided into light of itself and in its self and light of it's self but in another.  When the commanding light departs from the human fortress it is darkened and desirous of darkness.  Wicked states become fixed in it and it is drawn to the brute fortresses of other animals and darkness beckons to it.

     No one finds salvation unless his greatest desire is for the afterlife and most of his thoughts are directed toward the world of light.

     Every person is in need of God at every instant of life.  From the air we breathe, to food we eat, from the ability to use our hands to the faculty of speech, from being sheltered to being in a joyful spirit, we live completely in need of what God creates and grants us.

     In The Glorious Quran Allah has revealed that the unbelievers will constantly revert to various means and mobilize all their forces to prevent people from believing in Him, adhering to His path and remembering Him.  Those who disbelieve spend their wealth barring access to the way Allah.

Al-Anfal

Lo! Those who disbelieve spend their wealth in order that they may debar (men) from the way of Allah.  They will spend it, then it will become anguish for them, then they will be conquered.  And those who disbelieve will be gathered unto hell, (36)

This labor of opposition may sometimes be carried out using open methods and means and at other times by use of secret tactics.  Yet the objective is always the same; to prevent the remembrance of the name of Allah and thus turn people away from religious moral values.

The deeper secrets and laws of our being are self protected; to learn them requires an adaptation of character and purpose.  It requires humility of mind and spirit inconsistent with those displayed by the perverse or merely curious enquirer.  Allah has revealed in detail the kind of moral values people should have and the kind of lives they should lead, if they choose not to follow this divine "Light of Guidance", they will be in darkness.  The Qur'an, contains all the previous revelations sent to man, the books of Abraham, Moses, David, Jesus and Lastly Muhammad (May God's peace and blessings be on them all)


Al-Noor

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 setteth forth for mankind similitudes, for Allah is Knower of all things. (35)

Status

I sit in my prayer room, contemplating on the mercy of my Lord. I am in awe of His gifts and previsions to our family.  While much sadness has hit us recently, Allah has always followed it with some type of Joy, Alhumdullilah.  We are but travelers in this world of illusions , passing through this life to our finale destination in the next life, of this i have no doubt. I pray that all who read these words have a blessed day and also contemplate the many gifts God has bestowed upon them and give thanks, Ameen. 

"Which of the favors of my Lord will ye dare deny" 
non of the favors of my Lord will I deny, for thee is all Praise