Surah 24. An-Nur

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Verses [Section]: 1-10[1], 11-20 [2], 21-26 [3], 27-34 [4], 35-40 [5], 41-50 [6], 51-57 [7], 58-61 [8], 62-64 [9]

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Quran Text of Verse 35-40اَللّٰهُAllahنُوْرُ(is the) Lightالسَّمٰوٰتِ(of) the heavensوَ الْاَرْضِ ؕand the earthمَثَلُ(The) exampleنُوْرِهٖ(of) His Lightكَمِشْكٰوةٍ(is) like a nicheفِیْهَاin itمِصْبَاحٌ ؕ(is) a lampاَلْمِصْبَاحُthe lampفِیْ(is) inزُجَاجَةٍ ؕa glassاَلزُّجَاجَةُthe glassكَاَنَّهَاas if it wereكَوْكَبٌa starدُرِّیٌّbrilliantیُّوْقَدُ(which) is litمِنْfromشَجَرَةٍa treeمُّبٰرَكَةٍblessedزَیْتُوْنَةٍan oliveلَّاnotشَرْقِیَّةٍ(of the) eastوَّ لَاand notغَرْبِیَّةٍ ۙ(of the) westیَّكَادُwould almostزَیْتُهَاits oilیُضِیْٓءُglowوَ لَوْeven ifلَمْnotتَمْسَسْهُtouched itنَارٌ ؕfireنُوْرٌLightعَلٰیuponنُوْرٍ ؕLightیَهْدِیAllah guidesاللّٰهُAllah guidesلِنُوْرِهٖto His Lightمَنْwhomیَّشَآءُ ؕHe willsوَ یَضْرِبُAnd Allah sets forthاللّٰهُAnd Allah sets forthالْاَمْثَالَthe examplesلِلنَّاسِ ؕfor the mankindوَ اللّٰهُAnd Allahبِكُلِّof everyشَیْءٍthingعَلِیْمٌۙ(is) All-Knower فِیْInبُیُوْتٍhousesاَذِنَ(which) Allah orderedاللّٰهُ(which) Allah orderedاَنْthatتُرْفَعَthey be raisedوَ یُذْكَرَand be mentionedفِیْهَاin themاسْمُهٗ ۙHis nameیُسَبِّحُGlorifyلَهٗ[to] Himفِیْهَاin themبِالْغُدُوِّin the morningsوَ الْاٰصَالِۙand (in) the evenings 24. An-Nur Page 355رِجَالٌ ۙMenلَّاnotتُلْهِیْهِمْdistracts themتِجَارَةٌtradeوَّ لَاand notبَیْعٌsaleعَنْfromذِكْرِ(the) remembrance of Allahاللّٰهِ(the) remembrance of Allahوَ اِقَامِand (from) establishingالصَّلٰوةِthe prayerوَ اِیْتَآءِand givingالزَّكٰوةِ ۪ۙzakahیَخَافُوْنَThey fearیَوْمًاa Dayتَتَقَلَّبُwill turn aboutفِیْهِthereinالْقُلُوْبُthe heartsوَ الْاَبْصَارُۗۙand the eyes لِیَجْزِیَهُمُThat Allah may reward themاللّٰهُThat Allah may reward themاَحْسَنَ(with the) bestمَا(of) whatعَمِلُوْاthey didوَ یَزِیْدَهُمْand increase themمِّنْfromفَضْلِهٖ ؕHis Bountyوَ اللّٰهُAnd AllahیَرْزُقُprovidesمَنْwhomیَّشَآءُHe willsبِغَیْرِwithoutحِسَابٍ measure وَ الَّذِیْنَBut those whoكَفَرُوْۤاdisbelieveاَعْمَالُهُمْtheir deedsكَسَرَابٍۭ(are) like a mirageبِقِیْعَةٍin a lowlandیَّحْسَبُهُthinks itالظَّمْاٰنُthe thirsty oneمَآءً ؕ(to be) waterحَتّٰۤیuntilاِذَاwhenجَآءَهٗhe comes to itلَمْnotیَجِدْهُhe finds itشَیْـًٔا(to be) anythingوَّ وَجَدَbut he findsاللّٰهَAllahعِنْدَهٗbefore himفَوَفّٰىهُHe will pay him in fullحِسَابَهٗ ؕhis dueوَ اللّٰهُAnd Allahسَرِیْعُ(is) swiftالْحِسَابِۙ(in) the account اَوْOrكَظُلُمٰتٍ(is) like (the) darkness[es]فِیْinبَحْرٍa seaلُّجِّیٍّdeepیَّغْشٰىهُcovers itمَوْجٌa waveمِّنْon itفَوْقِهٖon itمَوْجٌa waveمِّنْon itفَوْقِهٖon itسَحَابٌ ؕa cloudظُلُمٰتٌۢdarkness[es]بَعْضُهَاsome of itفَوْقَonبَعْضٍ ؕothersاِذَاۤWhenاَخْرَجَhe puts outیَدَهٗhis handلَمْhardlyیَكَدْhardlyیَرٰىهَا ؕhe (can) see itوَ مَنْAnd (for) whomلَّمْnotیَجْعَلِAllah (has) madeاللّٰهُAllah (has) madeلَهٗfor himنُوْرًاa lightفَمَاthen notلَهٗfor himمِنْ(is) anyنُّوْرٍ۠light

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Translation of Verse 35-40

35. Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. His light ⁷¹¹ is like a niche in which there is a lamp, the lamp is in a crystal, the crystal is like a shining star, lit from ˹the oil of˺ a blessed olive tree, ˹located˺ neither to the east nor the west, ⁷¹² whose oil would almost glow, even without being touched by fire. Light upon light! Allah guides whoever He wills to His light. And Allah sets forth parables for humanity. For Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all things.

36. ˹That light shines˺ through houses ˹of worship˺ which Allah has ordered to be raised, and where His Name is mentioned. He is glorified there morning and evening

37. by men ⁷¹³ who are not distracted-either by buying or selling-from Allah's remembrance, or performing prayer, or paying alms-tax. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will tremble,

38. ˹hoping˺ that Allah may reward them according to the best of their deeds, and increase them out of His grace. And Allah provides for whoever He wills without limit.

39. As for the disbelievers, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert, which the thirsty perceive as water, but when they approach it, they find it to be nothing. Instead, they find Allah there ˹in the Hereafter, ready˺ to settle their account. And Allah is swift in reckoning.

40. Or ˹their deeds are˺ like the darkness in a deep sea, covered by waves upon waves, ⁷¹⁴ topped by ˹dark˺ clouds. Darkness upon darkness! If one stretches out their hand, they can hardly see it. And whoever Allah does not bless with light will have no light!

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Commentary

711. This is a metaphor for the light of guidance in the heart of the believer.

712. Meaning, the olive tree is wholesome because it is located in a central place, so it is hit by sunrays all day-long, and, therefore, the oil is of a premium quality.

713. See footnote for 7:46.

714. This is another scientific fact mentioned in the Quran: the existence of underwater waves, like layers.