People Who Cannot Receive God’s Light
Various supplications or Du’as are recommended for Muslims to recite in pre-dawns during the blessed month of Ramadan. One of them is Du’a al-Sahar also known as Du’a al-Baha.
In one section of this supplication, we read: “O Allah, I beseech You to give me from Your light at its utmost luminosity, and all Your Light is luminous. O Allah, I beseech You by all Your Light.”
The concept of light is almost clear to us and it is usually defined by scholars as an evident truth that reveals other truths.
Describing the meaning of light, Allameh Tabatabei says: “the deeds that we carry out have an appearance and we cannot consider this appearance as light, however, one can say that every deed has influence on human’s heart and spirit and this influence is described as light.”
Accordingly, different people may carry out the same deed but the effect of these deeds on their hearts may differ which leads to the creation of light in their hearts.
According to verse 257 of Surah al-Baqarah, some people move away from light towards darkness due to their sins.
According to Allameh Tabatabaei, God’s light is inclusive. Meanwhile, He has a special light that bestows on believers; this light guides them toward conducting good deeds and understanding the truth. This is the light of knowledge.
How can one gain and use this light? “Allah guides to His Light whom He will,” reads verse 35 of Surah An-Nur. But aren’t there any criteria for this mercy?
Not possible to receive light by preparing its ground
We should first prepare the ground for receiving divine light. For a lamp to turn on, it needs to be connected to a power source but the lamp itself should also be intact.
One who is just after world positions and wealth and sacrifices everything on this path cannot use the divine light because of having issues from inside. One who has accustomed to cheating and lying has a dark spirit and cannot become luminous even after reading the Quran 1,000 times.
Cleaning oneself from bad traits sets the stage for receiving God’s light. Without this, no prayer can bring about positive results.
This article was derived from a lecture by seminary teacher Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Soroosh Mahallati.
