Reflect also on the mention, after this, of His setting off and their following Him, Glorified and Exalted. This opens a door to the deeper truths of monotheism, to understanding the Quran, and to appreciating how Allah, Glorified and Exalted, treats those who worshipped Him alone and associated nothing with Him. His treatment of them contrasts with His treatment of the polytheists: each nation went with the object of its worship, which set off with them, and they followed it into the Fire.

The true God set off, and His allies and worshippers followed Him. Glory be to Allah, Lord of the worlds! Those who worship Allah alone find delight in this world and the Hereafter. For His sake, they part company with people when they are most in need of them.

Another lesson is that the first parable conveys the onset of darkness—that is, misguidance and bewilderment, which guidance keeps at bay. The second conveys the onset of fear, whose opposite is security. Thus, they have neither security nor guidance:

“Those who believe and do not mix their faith with wrongdoing—it is they who will have security, and they are rightly guided.” 6:82

Ibn ‘Abbās and others among the early generations said: “Their hypocrisy is like the condition of a man who kindled a fire on a dark night in a wilderness. Its light enabled him to see his surroundings and guard against what he feared. While he was in that state, his fire suddenly went out, leaving him frightened and bewildered in the darkness. Likewise, by outwardly professing faith, the hypocrites secured protection for their wealth and children, intermarried with the believers, inherited from one another, and shared in the spoils. That was their light. When they die, however, they return to darkness and fear.”

Mujāhid said: “The light shining for them represents their turning towards the Muslims and guidance; the loss of their light represents their turning towards the polytheists and misguidance.”

This illumination and loss of light have been interpreted as occurring in this world, in the life of the grave, and on the Day of Resurrection. The correct view is that this is their condition in all three realms. Because this was their condition in this world, they are recompensed with its like in the life of the grave and at the Resurrection—a fitting recompense:

“And your Lord is never unjust to His servants.”

For at the Resurrection, what proceeded from the servant in this world returns to him. This is why it is called the Day of Recompense:

“Whoever is blind in this life will be blind in the Hereafter and even further astray.” 17:72

“And Allah increases in guidance those who are guided.” 19:76

And whoever is