and the earth and all who are in them.”

This indicates that His being the Light of the heavens and the earth is distinct from His being their Lord and Sustainer. It is well known that setting them aright, guiding them, and making them radiant are included in His being their Lord and Sustainer. Thus, His being the Light of the heavens and the earth means something other than that.

Third, Allah says in His Mighty Book:

“And the Trumpet will be blown, and all who are in the heavens and all who are on the earth will be struck down, except those whom Allah wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once they will be standing, looking on. (68) And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord.” [al-Zumar 68–69]

He has thus stated that on the Day of Resurrection the earth will shine with His light. Imam Ahmad said in his refutation of the Jahmiyyah:

“We say that Allah has always been One who speaks whenever He wills. We do not say that He once did not speak until He created speech, nor do we say that He once did not know until He created