An-Nur 24:40
The Light · Medinan · Juz 18 · Page 355
Darkness upon Darkness
أَوۡ كَظُلُمَٰتࣲ فِي بَحۡرࣲ لُّجِّيࣲّ يَغۡشَىٰهُ مَوۡجࣱ مِّن فَوۡقِهِۦ مَوۡجࣱ مِّن فَوۡقِهِۦ سَحَابࣱۚ ظُلُمَٰتُۢ بَعۡضُهَا فَوۡقَ بَعۡضٍ إِذَآ أَخۡرَجَ يَدَهُۥ لَمۡ يَكَدۡ يَرَىٰهَاۗ وَمَن لَّمۡ يَجۡعَلِ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ نُورࣰا فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن نُّورٍ ٤٠
Or as darkness on a vast, abysmal sea. There covereth him a wave, above which is a wave, above which is a cloud. Layer upon layer of darkness. When he holdeth out his hand he scarce can see it. And he for whom Allah hath not appointed light, for him there is no light.
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
Or like darknesses in a deep sea; when one puts out his hand, he can hardly see it.
Insight
According to Elmalılı, this is darkness upon darkness, the very opposite of “light upon light.”
Reflect
Invite Allah’s light into your life.
This short note is based on Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s Turkish commentary and has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.
Elmalılı’s commentary
An English translation of Elmalılı’s full commentary is coming soon. Read the original Turkish ›