“There is therefore nothing to preclude understanding it in its apparent sense, namely, that it is the light of His Essence. For if it is possible for Him to manifest His Essence to them so that they see it, it is possible for Him to manifest His light to them so that they see it, since light is one of the attributes of His Essence. In this connection, the Most High says:

‘And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord.’ [al-Zumar 69]”

Elsewhere, he mentioned two views on this matter and regarded this one as the stronger view within the school. He said in his explanation of the Most Beautiful Names:

“As for His being described as Light, it has been said that this means He illuminates the heavens and the earth through the two luminaries, or illuminates the hearts of the inhabitants of the heavens and the earth through guidance and the granting of success. For He cannot be a luminous body, nor rays and radiance such as certain bodies possess; hence the meaning is what we have stated.”

He said: “Abū Bakr ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz related in the Book of Exegesis, from Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning the words of the Most High: ‘Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth’