All praise is due to Allah, and may blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
“Al-Nur” is one of Allah’s Most Beautiful Names according to the majority of scholars. Light is also an attribute of Allah established in the Quran and Sunnah. As for the expression “The Light of the heavens and the earth,” the statements of many leading scholars indicate that the name within it is “Al-Nur,” while the addition of “the heavens and the earth” explains the perfection of His light and its effects upon His creation.
Allah Most High says:
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The likeness of His light is that of a niche in which there is a lamp.”
[Al-Nur: 35]
It is authentically reported from Ibn ‘Abbas—may Allah be pleased with them both—that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would say during the night prayer:
“O Allah, to You belongs all praise. You are the Light of the heavens and the earth…”
[Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Allah Most High also says:
“And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord.”
[Al-Zumar: 69]
These texts are among the evidence scholars relied upon to affirm light as an attribute of Allah.
The majority of the scholars mentioned in this fatwa affirmed “Al-Nur” as a name of Allah. They include Ibn Mandah, al-Bayhaqi, Ibn al-‘Arabi, al-Qurtubi, Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn Hajar, al-Sa‘di, and others.
Ibn al-Qayyim—may Allah have mercy on him—said:
“Light is also among His names and His attributes.”
Thus, “Al-Nur” is affirmed as a name of Allah, and light is also affirmed as an attribute of His.
Ibn al-Qayyim explained that the texts express this in several ways: the Lord is called Light; He has light; He is the Light of the heavens and the earth; and His veil is light.
The approach taken by a number of leading scholars indicates that the name is:
“Al-Nur,”
rather than the entire compound expression, “The Light of the heavens and the earth.”
When Imam al-Nasa’i discussed Allah’s names, he used “Al-Nur” as a chapter heading, then cited the hadith:
“You are the Light of the heavens and the earth.”
Likewise, Ibn Mandah said:
“Among the names of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, is Al-Nur.”
He then cited Allah’s words:
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.”
[Al-Nur: 35]
Ibn Hajar likewise counted “Al-Nur” among Allah’s names that occur in the Quran in a genitive construction, just as other names appear in the revealed texts connected to the words that follow them.
It is therefore more precise to say:
“Al-Nur” is one of Allah’s names, and He has described Himself as “The Light of the heavens and the earth.”
This description encompasses profound meanings. Among them is that Allah illuminates the heavens and the earth, and that all light and guidance within them come from Him.
Ibn al-Qayyim explained that light is attributed to Allah in more than one sense: it is attributed to Him as His own attribute, and it is also attributed to Him as light that He has created and brought into existence.
The verse should therefore not be restricted to a single meaning in a way that excludes the other meanings established by the texts affirming light as an attribute of Allah.
No.
The existence of created things called light does not mean that the light attributed to Allah resembles the light of created things.
Allah Most High says:
“There is nothing like Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”
[Al-Shura: 11]
Ibn Khuzaymah—may Allah have mercy on him—explained that some names may be applied both to Allah and to some of His creatures. However, sharing a name does not mean sharing the same reality or manner of being.
Allah’s attributes befit His perfection and majesty, while the attributes of created beings correspond to their weakness and dependence.
The texts indicate a distinction between Allah’s light, which is one of His attributes, and created light, which Allah brought into existence.
For this reason, Ibn al-Qayyim stated that light is sometimes attributed to Allah as an attribute is attributed to the one possessing it, and at other times as something He has created and brought into existence.
This prevents confusing Allah’s attribute with created lights, such as sunlight, moonlight, and others.
“Al-Nur” is one of Allah’s Most Beautiful Names according to the majority of the scholars mentioned in this fatwa. Light is also one of His attributes established in the Quran and Sunnah.
Allah Most High says:
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth.”
[Al-Nur: 35]
Regarding the name itself, it is more precise to say that “Al-Nur” is one of Allah’s names. “The Light of the heavens and the earth” is the expression in which that name occurs in a genitive construction in the Quran and Sunnah.
Light is affirmed for Allah in a manner befitting His majesty, without likening it to the light of created things. Sharing names does not mean that attributes and realities are identical.
And Allah knows best.