the early generations and the imams, despite his brilliance and acumen in his field. In his al-Irshād, as cited by its commentator al-Ansārī, he said:

“Among the matters inquired about are the words of the Most High: ‘Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.’ Ibn ‘Abbās said: ‘The Guide of the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth.’”

He said: “No one professing Islam would deem it permissible to say that the light of the heavens is Allah. Allah, Most High, says: ‘Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allah, who created them.’”

He said: “The purpose of using this expression is to set forth parables; such, in general terms, is its import. This is explicitly conveyed by