“Thus We have revealed to you a spirit by Our command”—to the end of the verse. This encompasses both the Quran and faith.

It has been said that the pronoun in His words,

“We made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants,”

refers to faith. This view is attributed to Ibn Abbās. It has also been said that it refers to the Quran, which is the view of al-Suddī. It encompasses both, while grammatically the pronoun refers to the spirit that He revealed: the revelation that brought faith and the Quran.

It has thus become clear that both are light and guidance from Allah, originating with Him. One is apprehended by the heart through the observable evidences of faith, such as the evidences of divine lordship and prophethood; the other is heard with the ears. The faith granted to the believer is like what Allah promised in His words:

“We will show them Our signs on the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.”

That is, that the Quran is true. These signs come after the revelation of the Quran. They include His granting victory to His Messenger and the believers at Badr and on other occasions. These were observable signs confirming what the Quran had foretold. Yet the believers had already believed before this.

It has also been said: the revelation of most of the Quran, through which Allah strengthened His Prophet and the believers. Hence His words:

“Is it not sufficient that your Lord is a witness over all things?”

He testifies to the truthfulness of His Messenger through the signs demonstrating his prophethood. The believers believed in those signs; then He sent down Quranic revelation as a witness in his favour. Then He manifested signs they could see for themselves, making it clear to them that the Quran is true.