knowledge for Himself and then came to know. Nor do we say that He once had no power until He created power for Himself; nor that He once had no light until He created light for Himself; nor that He once had no greatness until He created greatness for Himself. When we ascribed these attributes to Allah, the Jahmiyyah said to us, ‘If you assert “Allah and His light,” “Allah and His power,” and “Allah and His greatness,” then you have adopted the Christians’ doctrine, since you claim that Allah has always existed, that His light has always existed, and likewise His power.’ We replied, ‘We do not say, “Allah has always existed, and so has His power,” or, “He has always existed, and so has His light.” Rather, He has always existed with His power and His light, without specifying when or how He has power.’”

Thus, whatever belongs to Him is light in itself, for His illumination of others follows from His luminosity in Himself. Hence, the word “light” applies sometimes to luminous substances and at other times to the accidents inhering in things illuminated by them. Allah Most High says:

“And made the moon therein a light.” [Nūh 16]

He thus calls the moon itself light, though it is a self-subsisting substance. Its radiance and the radiance of the sun are also called light.