—exalted is He:

“Is one who was dead, whom We brought to life and gave a light by which to walk among people, like one who is in darkness, never to emerge from it?”

This describes the believer: he was dead in the darkness of ignorance, then Allah brought him to life through the spirit of the message and the light of faith, and gave him a light by which to walk among people. The disbeliever, however, is dead at heart, dwelling in darkness.

Allah Most High called His message a spirit; when the spirit is absent, life is lost. Allah Most High says:

“And thus We have revealed to you a spirit by Our command. You did not know what the Book was, nor faith, but We made it a light by which We guide whom We will of Our servants.”

Here He mentions the two foundations: spirit and light. The spirit is life, and the light is light. Likewise, Allah illustrates the revelation He sent down as life and light for hearts through the examples of water, which He sends down from the sky to give life to the earth, and fire, which produces light. This is expressed in His words, exalted is He:

“He sends down water from the sky, and valleys flow according to their capacity, while the torrent carries swelling foam. A similar foam comes from what they heat in the fire to make ornaments or useful objects. Thus Allah illustrates truth and falsehood. As for the foam, it is cast away, while what benefits people remains in the earth. Thus Allah sets forth examples.”

He thus likens knowledge to water sent down from the sky, for it gives life to hearts, just as