Abstract: The purpose of this meditation is to explore the profound Qur’anic exemplification of Allah's light as described in Sūrat al-Nūr (24:35) and to apply it in understanding the human body's cellular structure as a microcosm of divine unity (jamʿ) and cosmic multiplicity (farq). Drawing on the ontological and cosmological layers of the niche, lamp, glass, and luminous planet, we examine the cell as a manifestation of creation’s singular origin and differentiated reality. This analysis reveals the interconnectedness of all creation and the divine wisdom evident in every aspect of reality.

In verse 35 of Sūrat al-Nūr, the Qur’an uses four connected examples to describe Allah's light: a niche, a lamp, a glass, and a luminous planet, all lit by the blessed tree. Allah says:

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The exemplification of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp; the lamp is encapsulated within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly star lit from a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things.

These divine teachings inspire deeper reflection about the nature of creation. It tells us that all things originate from a single divine light yet manifest in many ways. The divine examples illustrate existence's fundamental oneness despite its apparent differentiation, providing a lens through which one can explore the mysteries of life and creation. This is also an invitation for believers to investigate how this divine truth can be applied to the human body, specifically the cell, as a microcosmic embodiment of the macro whole.

Allah’s Light and the Dual Nature of Creation

The Qur’anic exemplifications of Allah’s light highlight the simultaneous existence of singularity and differentiation in creation. While differentiation (farq)—the multiplicity of forms—is evident to human perception, its true concealed essence lies in the singular origin of all existence. Allah teaches us through the verse’s opening words, “Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth,” that the origin of multiplicity is a singular divine light, absolute and unchanging, from which all creation is projected into the mirror of existence.

Furthermore, the four elements of the example and their source can be understood as follows:

The Niche: The encompassing realm, the locus where the light’s manifestation is disclosed and witnessed.

The Lamp: The source of the luminous disclosure, representing the singular essence and infinite potential.

The Glass: The medium that refracts and shapes the light, allowing multiplicity and differentiation to be qualified.

The Luminous Planet: The all-encompassing visible and radiant manifestation of the divine light in its primordial state.

The Blessed Tree: The eternal, exalted, and transcendent source beyond the veil of exemplifications that fuels and sustains the divine luminous disclosure of being.

This structure provides a framework to analyze the manifestations of divine light within creation, particularly within the human body.

The Human Body as a Manifestation of Divine Light

As the pinnacle of creation and the vicegerent of God on earth, the human body offers a unique perspective on the example of Allah’s light. Indeed, the human is the microcosm, or the jamʿ of the cosmos, while the greater cosmos represents the cosmic differentiation (farq). At the foundation of the human body lies the cell, the fundamental building block of life. Interpreting the cell through the Qur’anic example reveals a microcosmic unit reflecting the divine light.

The Niche: The Human Body
The body serves as the encompassing realm where the collective manifestation of cellular activity occurs. It is the space where the light of life is observed in its full expression, integrating billions of individual luminous individuations in the form of cells into a unified organism.

The Lamp: The Nucleus
Within each cell, the nucleus functions as the lamp, the unchanging source of life and instructions. The nucleus contains the DNA, the blueprint that guides all cellular processes, representing the singular essence shared by all cells.

The Glass: The Cell Membrane and Cytoplasm
The cell membrane and cytoplasm together act as the glass, mediating and radiating the nucleus’s instructions. The membrane defines the cell’s boundary and regulates interaction with its environment, while the cytoplasm facilitates the transformation of genetic instructions into life-sustaining processes.

The Luminous Planet: The Zygote
The zygote, the first cell of life, embodies the luminous planet. It is the origin of all subsequent cells, containing within itself the complete potential of the human being. Every differentiated cell—despite its specialized function—is a projection of the zygote’s essence, revealing the unity within multiplicity.

The Blessed Tree: The Divine Source
The blessed tree represents the divine source—the spirit that sustains life. In the context of the cell, it signifies the unseen power that animates and unites all biological processes, linking them to the Creator.

While cells appear differentiated in form and function, their nuclei remain fundamentally identical. This reflects the Qur’anic principle that multiplicity is but a projection, a temporary and changing manifestation, while true existence belongs to the singular divine origin. The zygote—the luminous planet—illustrates this truth. It encapsulates the entirety of the human being within its singular form, demonstrating how differentiation emerges from unity. This mirrors the divine example of Allah’s light, where the infinite and undifferentiated lamp manifests the luminous disclosure through the glass to create visible sensory forms in the niche.

Concluding Reflections:

The Qur’anic example of Allah’s light offers deep insights into the unity and diversity of creation. By examining the human body, particularly the cell, we uncover a microcosmic reflection of this divine truth. The nucleus, cytoplasm, membrane, and zygote collectively embody the levels of Allah’s light, revealing the intricate interplay between singularity and multiplicity.

Yet, as we contemplate this luminous interplay, two questions arise to invite further reflection:

1. If the light of Allah is the source of all manifestations, what veils obscure us from perceiving its radiance in every moment of existence?

2. When multiplicity arises from unity, how do we reconcile the apparent separation within ourselves to return to the oneness that eternally is?

These questions call us to transcend the limits of physical observation and awaken to an unveiled spiritual witnessing of our connection to the singular source of all existence. The human body, as a manifestation of divine light, stands as a living testament to the unity underlying all forms of life—a unity that continually beckons us to unveil the divine presence within and beyond ourselves. Yet, being bound by the body without perceiving its spiritual, luminous origin leaves us in the realm of speculation. By embarking on the path of witnessing (mushāhada), however, we are drawn into the heart of the mystery where light meets form, and unity shines through multiplicity—a meeting that, as the wayfarer realizes through annihilating the lower self in the source of disclosure, has in truth never been apart.