Skip to main content

Quran

Read and explore the Quran online with translations, Tafsir and Islamic resources at Quran.org.in – your trusted guide to Islam

3736668544917597669

Quran 2:17

Quran 2:17

 

Arabic Text and Translation

مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ

Transliteration: Mathaluhum ka mathalil-ladhī stawqada nāran, falammā aḍā'at mā ḥawlahū dhahaballāhu binūrihim wa tarakahum fī ẓulumātil lā yubṣirūn
Easy Translation: "Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see."

Easy Word-by-Word Meaning

This verse presents a powerful parable to describe the condition of the hypocrites. It explains their temporary appearance of faith and their ultimate end.

  1. مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا (Mathaluhum ka mathalil-ladhī stawqada nāran): "Their example is that of one who kindled a fire..."

    • This is the setup. A person lights a fire in a dark place.

  2. فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُۥ (falammā aḍā'at mā ḥawlahū): "...but when it illuminated what was around him..."

    • For a moment, the fire provides light and warmth. The person can see clearly and feels safe.

    • This represents the hypocrites when they are with the believers. They enjoy the benefits of the Muslim community: safety, brotherhood, and social order. Their outward show of faith ("We believe") gives them a temporary "light" of acceptance and protection.

  3. ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ (dhahaballāhu binūrihim): "...Allah took away their light..."

    • Suddenly, the light is extinguished by Allah. It wasn't a natural death of the fire; it was taken away.

    • This is the key moment. The "light" was never truly theirs. It was a borrowed light from the community of believers. When Allah decides, He removes this facade, exposing their inner darkness.

  4. وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ (wa tarakahum fī ẓulumātil lā yubṣirūn): "...and left them in darkness [so] they could not see."

    • The result is not just darkness, but multiple layers of darkness (ẓulumāt):

      • The darkness of disbelief in their hearts.

      • The darkness of confusion and doubt.

      • The darkness of being lost in this world.

      • The darkness of the Hereafter.

    • They are spiritually blind and cannot find the right path, even if they wanted to.

Relevance in the Past, Present, and Future

1. Past Relevance: The Hypocrites in Medina

For the early Muslims, this parable perfectly described people like Abdullah ibn Ubayy and his followers.

  • They joined the Muslim community in Medina and enjoyed its protection and unity (the "light").

  • However, in moments of crisis (like before the Battle of Uhud), their true nature was exposed. Their "light" of faith vanished, and they showed their cowardice and betrayal, leaving the believers and returning to their old alliances (the "darkness").

  • This verse helped the believers understand that the hypocrites' faith was never real; it was just a temporary, useful glow that would inevitably be taken away.

2. Present Relevance: The Borrowed Light of Modern Hypocrisy

This parable is incredibly relevant to our modern condition, both individually and collectively.

  • The "Social Media" Muslim: A person may have the "light" of a Muslim image online—posting Quranic verses, mosque pictures, and Islamic reminders—gaining respect and followers. But if their heart is empty of true faith and they only seek validation, that light is borrowed. A personal crisis or temptation can easily extinguish it, leaving them in the darkness of sin and doubt.

  • Cultural and Community Muslims: Many people are born into Muslim families and enjoy the cultural identity, celebrations, and community support (the "light"). But if they have not internalized the faith through personal belief and practice, this light is not their own. When faced with a intellectual challenge or a worldly temptation, their "faith" disappears, leaving them confused and lost.

  • A Warning for Every Believer: This is also a personal warning. Our faith must be our own, built on personal conviction and connection with Allah. If we rely only on the faith of our parents, our spouse, or our community, we are living by a borrowed light that can be taken away. We must constantly fuel our own inner fire through prayer, Quran, and sincere devotion.

3. Future Relevance: The Final Extinguishing

The ultimate fulfillment of this parable is in the Hereafter.

  • On the Day of Judgment: The believers will cross the Sirat (the bridge over Hellfire) by the light of their faith. The hypocrites, whose light was taken away, will be left in total darkness. They will cry out to the believers, "Wait for us, that we may acquire some of your light!" but it will be too late (Quran 57:13).

  • The Eternal Darkness: Their final abode will be the deepest darkness of Hell, a physical and spiritual reality of the state they chose for themselves in this world.

  • A Call to Nurture Our Own Light: This verse is a urgent call to build a genuine, personal relationship with Allah. We must strive to kindle our own fire of Iman (faith) through good deeds and knowledge, so that its light remains with us in this life and becomes our guide in the next.

Conclusion

Quran 2:17 is a profound parable of true and false faith.

It teaches us that:

  1. Outward appearance without inner belief is a borrowed light that Allah can take away at any moment.

  2. The benefits of being in a Muslim community are not a substitute for personal faith.

  3. The end of those who rely on this facade is a profound and multi-layered darkness in this world and the next.

This verse calls us to be sincere, to nurture the true light of Iman in our own hearts, and to ensure that our faith is a personal fire that we own, not just a reflection of the light around us.