Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
The light mentioned in this hadith is the light that is an attribute of Allah, Exalted be He, and not a created light separate from Him. Nor does the phrase “He cast upon them from His light” imply that the attribute separates from Allah or becomes divided. An attribute subsists in the One described by it, while creation receives its effect and what results from it of guidance and illumination.
The hadith was narrated by ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr, may Allah be pleased with them both, and it states:
“Indeed, Allah, Mighty and Majestic, created His creation in darkness, then He cast upon them from His light. Whoever was touched by that light was guided, and whoever missed it went astray. Therefore I say: the Pen has dried according to Allah’s knowledge.”
Narrated by Ahmad, al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Hibban. Al-Tirmidhi graded it hasan, and al-Albani authenticated it in Sahih al-Tirmidhi.
The light in the hadith is attributed to Allah, and what is meant is the light of the attribute, as Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, explained. He stated that “light” is sometimes used in reference to Allah Himself, and at other times it is attributed to Him as one of His attributes, just as life, hearing, sight, might, power, and knowledge are attributed to Him.
Accordingly, the meaning is not that Allah cast upon creation some created thing called “His light” that then became separated from Him. Rather, what is meant is the effect of this light upon creation, including illumination and guidance.
The word “from” may be examined from the perspective of its linguistic indication, but it is not correct to understand partiality here as meaning that Allah’s attribute became divided or that a part of it separated from Him, Glorified be He.
Even if it is said that “from” is partitive, partiality here does not mean that the attribute itself is divisible or that it separates from the One described by it.
This is an important principle regarding Allah’s attributes, because the attributes that subsist in Allah are not understood in the manner of created attributes that may be subject to separation and division.
The hadith informs us that Allah illuminated His creation and that the effect of His light reached them. Whoever received that light was guided, and whoever did not receive it went astray.
It is necessary to distinguish between two types of light:
First: Light that is an attribute of Allah, and it is uncreated.
This is indicated by the revealed texts concerning Allah’s light, including His saying:
“And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, the Record will be placed, the prophets and witnesses will be brought, and judgment will be passed between them in truth, and they will not be wronged.”
[Al-Zumar 39:69]
Likewise, it is stated in the hadith: “His veil is light.”
Second: Created light, such as the light of the sun, moon, stars, fire, and electricity. This is created by Allah.
Allah says:
“He is the One who made the sun a shining light and the moon a light.”
[Yunus 10:5]
And He says:
“And We made a blazing lamp.”
[Al-Naba’ 78:13]
Therefore, one must not confuse the light that is an attribute of Allah, which is uncreated, with physical lights that Allah has created.
No, it does not.
An attribute may have an effect upon something other than the one described by it without the attribute departing from the one described by it.
The meaning may be approximated by an example from created things, while emphasizing that Allah’s attributes are not like the attributes of His creation: the sun has light associated with it, yet the people of the earth benefit from its light and things are illuminated by it. This does not mean that the essence of the sun or its attribute of light has moved to the earth.
Thus, what is intended in the hadith is the occurrence of the effect of the light and illumination, not the transfer of the very attribute itself or its separation from Allah, Exalted be He.
Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, stated that Light is among the names and descriptions of Allah. He explained that light attributed to Allah may refer to an attribute subsisting in Him, and not to a created light separate from Him.
Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him, likewise distinguished between the two types. He explained that there is created light, such as the light of the sun, moon, fire, and electricity, and there is uncreated light, which is among Allah’s attributes, such as the light of His Face, Glorified be He.
Accordingly, what has been established in the revealed texts regarding the attribute of light for Allah must be affirmed, without likening it to creation, without asking how, and without imagining that the attribute separates from Allah, Glorified be He.
The correct view is that the light mentioned in the hadith of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr, may Allah be pleased with them both, is the light that is an attribute of Allah, Exalted be He, and not a created light separate from Him.
His saying: “He cast upon them from His light” does not mean that the attribute of light separated from Allah or became divided. Rather, it refers to the occurrence of illumination and the effect of the light upon creation.
As for created light, such as the light of the sun, moon, fire, and electricity, that is something else and is among Allah’s creations.
Accordingly, understanding “from” as partitive does not at all necessitate saying that a portion of Allah’s attribute separated from Him. This is a false implication that is neither indicated by the hadith nor required by its wording.
And Allah knows best.