Himself is the view of the Jahmiyyah and the Muʿtazilah, and that both affirmed that He is light. They and their leading followers established this position—how much more so the scholars of hadith and the imams of the Sunnah! Foremost among these believers in Allah and His names and attributes is the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, answered this very question raised by the objector when he said:

“His veil is light. Were He to remove it, the splendour of His Face would burn everything in His creation that His sight reaches.”

He thus explained that He is screened from created beings by His veil of light, so that the splendour of His Face does not reach them. Were He to remove that veil, the splendour of His Face would burn everything in His creation that His sight reaches. This veil, which prevents that splendour from burning them, clarifies the issue raised here.

As for what he cited from Ibn ʿAbbās in the other narration, it refers to certain forms of perceptible light. What he cited from the words of those who know Allah concerns some aspects of His guidance of His servants. These are simply particular examples, presented according to the needs of those being addressed. As we have mentioned, it was the practice of the early generations to explain such matters by mentioning particular instances as illustrations suited to their audience’s needs, not as exhaustive or restrictive definitions.

It has thus become clear that all the statements he cited come back to two meanings of His being the Light of the heavens and the earth. None of this indicates that He is not light in Himself.