Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 32–36

24. An-Noor · The Light

Madinan64 verses

وَأَنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْأَيَٰمَىٰ مِنكُمْ وَٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَآئِكُمْ ۚ إِن يَكُونُوا۟ فُقَرَآءَ يُغْنِهِمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ

24:32Marry off those who are single among you, and the upright among your male and female slaves. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them out of His grace, and Allah is all-bounteous, all-knowing.1

وَلْيَسْتَعْفِفِ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَجِدُونَ نِكَاحًا حَتَّىٰ يُغْنِيَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَبْتَغُونَ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ مِمَّا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُكُمْ فَكَاتِبُوهُمْ إِنْ عَلِمْتُمْ فِيهِمْ خَيْرًۭا ۖ وَءَاتُوهُم مِّن مَّالِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ ءَاتَىٰكُمْ ۚ وَلَا تُكْرِهُوا۟ فَتَيَٰتِكُمْ عَلَى ٱلْبِغَآءِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَ تَحَصُّنًۭا لِّتَبْتَغُوا۟ عَرَضَ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۚ وَمَن يُكْرِههُّنَّ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ إِكْرَٰهِهِنَّ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ

24:33Those who cannot afford marriage should be continent until Allah enriches them out of His grace. As for those who seek an emancipation deal from among your slaves, make such a deal with them if you know any good in them, and give them out of the wealth of Allah which He has given you. Do not compel your female slaves to prostitution when they desire to be chaste, seeking the transitory wares of the life of this world. Should anyone compel them, Allah will be forgiving and merciful to them following their compulsion.23

وَلَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ ءَايَٰتٍۢ مُّبَيِّنَٰتٍۢ وَمَثَلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ خَلَوْا۟ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمَوْعِظَةًۭ لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ

24:34Certainly We have sent down to you manifest signs and a description of those who passed before you, and an advice for the Godwary.

۞ ٱللَّهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِۦ كَمِشْكَوٰةٍۢ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ۖ ٱلْمِصْبَاحُ فِى زُجَاجَةٍ ۖ ٱلزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌۭ دُرِّىٌّۭ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍۢ مُّبَٰرَكَةٍۢ زَيْتُونَةٍۢ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍۢ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍۢ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِىٓءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌۭ ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍۢ ۗ يَهْدِى ٱللَّهُ لِنُورِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَيَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَٰلَ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۭ

24:35Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is a niche wherein is a lamp—the lamp is in a glass, the glass as it were a glittering star—lit from a blessed olive tree, neither eastern nor western, whose oil almost lights up, though fire should not touch it. Light upon light. Allah guides to His Light whomever He wishes. Allah draws parables for mankind, and Allah has knowledge of all things.

فِى بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ ٱللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا ٱسْمُهُۥ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ فِيهَا بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْءَاصَالِ

24:36In houses Allah has allowed to be raised and wherein His Name is celebrated; He is glorified therein, morning and evening,4

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

Verse 35

1.After giving the orders of safeguarding the chastity Islam invited the responsible people to arrange the marriage of those who are unmarried so that it would not create disturbance in the society but a few steps worthy of consideration 3re mentioned here (a) Elder persons are addressed so that modesty and sense of honour remain safe and the young people benefit from their experience (b) The Holy Quran has mentioned about the virtuous male and female slaves. Good character and suitability should be considered in marriage and not wealth and poverty. Allah is the Provider. It is not a business. On the other hand people have become habitual of the custom of society. They see wealth, and that which comes to view and do not see the good deeds.

2.Of course we can find Allah’s existence in each and every particle of the Earth. Wherever we observe, we find His grace and mercy. Allah has explained about His light by giving example in detail and announced the truth along with His bright light. His light is neither dependent on east nor west and His light is His glory and more elevated than the east and the west and its brilliance is equally useful and profitable for the entire earth.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. Benefit

    The purpose of addressing the society directly is that it should bear the responsibility of preserving chastity. The youngsters should.take the benefits of the experience of their elders otherwise the whole society shall be guilty.

  2. 1

    Ayami - is the plural of Ayyam - meaning single individuals; whether unmarried or they had been previously married but are now single. Ama - is the plural of Amata. That is slave girls.

  3. 2

    Aqde Makatibat is an agreement between master and the slave or slave girl that after repaying a particular amount he or she will be emancipated.

  4. 3

    Baghaa - Adultery. Tahsun - chastity. All the conditions are based on nature, that a woman is by nature chaste and it is not that if she is desirous of fornication that you can force her. Because in this way force shall be unnecessary.

  5. 4

    Apparently these houses denote Masjids. According to the report of Durre Manthur it denotes the houses of prophets. And the house of Ali and Fatima (a.s.) is also included in them. Rather it is the most superior among them.

  6. Benefit

    By calling Himself ‘Nur’ the Almighty has indicated that ‘Nur’ is the most subtle and most beautiful thing. It is the fastest thing. It makes everything visible. It is the means of survival of all living things. The different colours arc derived from light - That is why Islam is referred to as ‘Nur’, the Holy Quran, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.), the Purified Imams, belief, guidance, knowledge and religion. It has compared belief to a lamp for a person, the heart is a chandelier the chest is a niche and the divine revelation is the oil.