Jaʿfar, from al-Rabīʿ ibn Anas, from Abū al-ʿĀliyah, from Ubayy ibn Kaʿb, concerning Allah Most High’s words:

“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.” [al-Nūr 35]

He said that Allah began by mentioning His own light, then mentioned the light of the believers, saying: “The likeness of his light,” meaning the likeness of the believer’s light. He said that this was why Ubayy used to recite it as: “The likeness of the believer’s light.” He explained that this is when faith and the Quran are placed in his breast.

Regarding “the niche,” he said that it is his breast, “containing a lamp”—the lamp being the Quran and faith placed in his breast. He said: “The lamp is within glass”—the glass is his heart. He said: “The glass is like a brilliant star”—his heart, illuminated by the Quran and faith, is like a brilliant star, meaning that it shines.

“Lit from a tree