in his heart, kindled from a blessed tree, which is sincere devotion to Allah alone. His likeness is that of a tree surrounded by other trees, green and luxuriant, untouched by the sun, neither when it rises nor when it sets. Such is the believer: he has guarded himself lest any of the trials touch him. He possesses four qualities: if he is given, he is grateful; if he is tested, he is patient; if he judges, he is just; and if he speaks, he speaks the truth. “Whose oil would almost shine”: that is, the believer’s heart would almost recognize the truth before it is made clear to him, because it accords with it—light upon light. Ubayy said: “He moves amidst five lights: his speech is light, his actions are light, his entrance is light, his departure is light, and his final destination on the Day of Resurrection is to the light.” (1)

Ibn Abbas said: “This is the parable of Allah’s light and guidance in the heart of the believer. Just as pure oil would almost shine before the fire touches it, then, when the fire touches it, its radiance increases upon its radiance, so too the believer’s heart would almost act upon guidance before knowledge comes to him; and when knowledge comes to him, he increases in guidance upon guidance and light upon light.” (2) Al-Kalbi said: “His saying, ‘light upon light,’ means the believer’s faith and his deeds.” Al-Suddi said: “The light of faith and the light of the Quran.” Al-Hasan and Ibn Zayd said: “This is a parable of the Quran: the lamp is the Quran, and just as one receives light from a lamp, one is guided by the Quran. The glass is the believer’s heart, the niche is his mouth and tongue, and the blessed tree is the tree of revelation. ‘Whose oil would almost shine’ means that the proof of the Quran would almost become clear even if it were not recited. ‘Light upon light’ means that the Quran is a light from Allah, Exalted is He, for His creation, together with the proofs and signs He had established for them before the Quran was sent down; thus, it increased them in light upon light.” (4)

His saying, Exalted is He: “Allah guides to His light whom He wills.” Ibn Abbas said: “That is, to the religion of Islam, which is the light of inner perception.” It was also said: “The Quran.” “And Allah sets forth parables for mankind”: Allah clarifies matters for people, bringing them within reach of understanding and making the means of comprehension easier. “And Allah is Knowing of all things.”

“In houses which Allah has commanded to be raised and in which His Name is mentioned; there He is glorified morning and evening.” (36)

His saying: “In houses which Allah has commanded”: that is, the lamp is in houses. It was also said: it is kindled in houses. The houses are the mosques. Sa‘id ibn Jubayr narrated from Ibn Abbas that he said: “The mosques are Allah’s houses on earth, and they shine ⦗41/b⦘ for the inhabitants of heaven just as the stars shine for the inhabitants of the earth.”