The Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم is called a Shining Lamp in the Quran (33:46). But the Quran is precise, so the scholars asked: Why not call him a Shining Sun?, i.e. isnt that superior? Here are some of the wisdoms derived from that question: 1) A lamp comforts and illuminates, while the sun dazzles and blinds. The guidance of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is like that of a lamp - comforting, not blinding. 2) You can light your own lamp from a lamp that is already lit - you cannot light your lamp from the sun. This is an indication of how our religion is transmitted - from person to person, through personal interaction - not through books alone. One can light ones lamp from those who lit theirs from those who inherited the Prophetic light - and thus illumine the way ahead for others. 3) When one holds the lamp in the darkness, one has to hold it ahead of oneself. If one puts the lamp behind, it becomes difficult to see. Such is the Prophetic example: it illuminates the light ahead if one prioritizes its practice. 4) One cannot get close to the sun - it is unreachable and it burns. A lamp is easily at hand and it does not harm the one who approaches it. Of course, there is also the discussion of what is the lamp and why it is specified as shining. There is a lot of discussion, but the gist is: The lamp: the lamp is luminous itself - and it signifies that the Prophet is also luminous by his very nature. He embodies light by showing God, the path to Him, and how to pursue that path, in all of his states. As his wife Aisha (may God be pleased with her) said about him: The Messenger of God صلى الله عليه وسلم would be in remembrance of God in all his states. Shining: the lamp is not just luminous, it illuminates the way for others. This can be from disbelief to belief, from misguidance to guidance, from heedless of God to consciousness of Him, from distance from God to closeness to Him, etc. It also indicates that the lamp is sufficient, since some lamps might not give enough light. The adjective thus asserts that the Prophetic light illuminates the entirety of the path to God, in every situation - and that no other lamp is sufficient. [Compiled from talks by Shaykh Ninowy and Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, as well as the Maariful-Quran]
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 03:47:57 +0000
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