This volume corresponds to the Arabic volume 15 and covers the exegesis of three complete chapters, al-Muʾminūn (Chapter 23), al-Nūr (Chapter 24) and al-Furqān (Chapter 25).
A key verse in Chapter 24 is the Verse of the Light:
- God is the light of the heavens and the earth; the likeness of His light is as a niche in which is a lamp, the lamp is in a glass, (and) the glass is as it were a brightly shining star, lit from a blessed olive-tree, neither eastern nor western, the oil whereof almost gives light though fire touch it not—light upon light—Allah guides to His light whom He will, and Allah sets forth parables for the people, and Allah is Knower of all things. (24:35)
The above verse presents a distinction between true believers and disbelievers. The believers are led by their righteous deeds to a light from their Lord, which results in their knowledge of God, and leads them to the best of rewards and graces from God on the day when veils will be lifted from their hearts and eyes. The disbelievers, on the contrary, have actions that only lead them to a mirage that has no reality. They are in layers of darkness, one above another. God has not given them light, and thus they have no light.
– Allamah Tabataba’i
The other discussions in this volume are: the effects of faith and its practical application in the light of verses 23:1-2. From this study issues a sociological and judicial discussion which covers the laws of Islam and their significance for human society. This is followed by a discussion on the meaning of God’s causation of things.
Translator: Tawus Raja
