True Believers Not Remaining Silent against Oppression
In a series of sessions, seminary teacher Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Soroosh Mahallati provides insights from Du’a al-Sahar, also known as Du’a al-Baha. Muslims have been advised to read the supplication in pre-dawns during the blessed month of Ramadan.
Here he elaborates on one section of the supplication which reads: “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 issue of divine light has been mentioned in many narrations. The light mentioned in this supplication points to the inclusiveness of divine light; this means that one can see this light in every creature and thing.
Justice is light and oppression is darkness
Oppression and darkness accompany each other; wherever there is oppression, there is darkness and wherever there is darkness, there is oppression.
The literature that calls on us to approach light is actually urging us to eliminate oppression and establish light (justice) instead.
Verse 69 of Surah Az-Zumar reads: “The earth will shine with the Light of its Lord, and the Book (of deeds) will be set (in place). The Prophets and witnesses shall be brought and the matter will be justly decided between them, and they will not be wronged.”
The light here does not refer to light that we see with our eyes. According to philosopher and mystic Mohsen Fayz Kashani, the shining of light on earth will happen when justice is established here. God has named justice as light. When all cities are decorated with justice and people’s rights are respected, communities become more luminous.
