سُوْرَةُ النُّوْرِ
Surah An-Noor (24) — Ayah 40
أَوْ كَظُلُمَـٰتٍ فِى بَحْرٍ لُّجِّىٍّ يَغْشَىٰهُ مَوْجٌ مِّن فَوْقِهِۦ مَوْجٌ مِّن فَوْقِهِۦ سَحَابٌ ۚ ظُلُمَـٰتٌۢ بَعْضُهَا فَوْقَ بَعْضٍ إِذَآ أَخْرَجَ يَدَهُۥ لَمْ يَكَدْ يَرَىٰهَا ۗ وَمَن لَّمْ يَجْعَلِ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ نُورًا فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن نُّورٍ ﴿40﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Or [the state of a disbeliever] is like the darkness in a vast deep sea, overwhelmed with waves topped by waves, topped by dark clouds, (layers of) darkness upon darkness: if a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it! And he for whom Allâh has not appointed light, for him there is no light.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَوْ
aw
Or
كَظُلُمَـٰتٍۢ
kaẓulumātin
(is) like (the) darkness[es]
فِى
fī
in
بَحْرٍۢ
baḥrin
a sea
لُّجِّىٍّۢ
lujjiyyin
deep
يَغْشَىٰهُ
yaghshāhu
covers it
مَوْجٌۭ
mawjun
a wave
مِّن
min
on it
فَوْقِهِۦ
fawqihi
on it
مَوْجٌۭ
mawjun
a wave
مِّن
min
on it
فَوْقِهِۦ
fawqihi
on it
سَحَابٌۭ ۚ
saḥābun
a cloud
ظُلُمَـٰتٌۢ
ẓulumātun
darkness[es]
بَعْضُهَا
baʿḍuhā
some of it
فَوْقَ
fawqa
on
بَعْضٍ
baʿḍin
others
إِذَآ
idhā
When
أَخْرَجَ
akhraja
he puts out
يَدَهُۥ
yadahu
his hand
لَمْ
lam
hardly
يَكَدْ
yakad
hardly
يَرَىٰهَا ۗ
yarāhā
he (can) see it
وَمَن
waman
And (for) whom
لَّمْ
lam
not
يَجْعَلِ
yajʿali
Allah (has) made
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
Allah (has) made
لَهُۥ
lahu
for him
نُورًۭا
nūran
a light
فَمَا
famā
then not
لَهُۥ
lahu
for him
مِن
min
(is) any
نُّورٍ
nūrin
light
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
40. Or (the example of the disbelievers' deeds) is like darkness in a deep sea, covered by waves upon waves, with clouds above it—darkness upon darkness. If one stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it. And for whomever Allah does not grant light [67], there is no light for him (from anywhere).
[66] This is the example of those disbelievers who are firm and stubborn in their disbelief. They do not suffice with merely disobeying Allah and denying the messengers, but also inflict harm and suffering upon the messengers and the believers, and remain constantly active in hindering the way of Allah. In this way, the crime of their disbelief becomes even more severe, and layers upon layers of disbelief accumulate upon them. Their example is like that of a person traveling in the deep sea at night, with waves upon waves rising, and above them dense clouds are spread. In this way, several kinds of darkness combine to create such pitch-black darkness that if that person brings his hand before his eyes, he would not even be able to see his own hand. Can it be expected from such a person that he will be able to continue his journey on the straight path? Allah Almighty has always described disbelief as darkness or darknesses, and guidance as light. And as for this stubborn and obstinate person, such layers of darkness have covered him that how could he possibly attain the path of guidance?
[67] This subject began from ﴿اَللّٰهُ نُوْرُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ﴾ and this is the conclusion of that subject. The source of guidance and light is only the Being of Allah Almighty. Then, the person who does not turn towards Allah at all, but rather adopts a rebellious and antagonistic attitude towards Allah—how can he possibly attain the light of guidance?
[66] This is the example of those disbelievers who are firm and stubborn in their disbelief. They do not suffice with merely disobeying Allah and denying the messengers, but also inflict harm and suffering upon the messengers and the believers, and remain constantly active in hindering the way of Allah. In this way, the crime of their disbelief becomes even more severe, and layers upon layers of disbelief accumulate upon them. Their example is like that of a person traveling in the deep sea at night, with waves upon waves rising, and above them dense clouds are spread. In this way, several kinds of darkness combine to create such pitch-black darkness that if that person brings his hand before his eyes, he would not even be able to see his own hand. Can it be expected from such a person that he will be able to continue his journey on the straight path? Allah Almighty has always described disbelief as darkness or darknesses, and guidance as light. And as for this stubborn and obstinate person, such layers of darkness have covered him that how could he possibly attain the path of guidance?
[67] This subject began from ﴿اَللّٰهُ نُوْرُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ﴾ and this is the conclusion of that subject. The source of guidance and light is only the Being of Allah Almighty. Then, the person who does not turn towards Allah at all, but rather adopts a rebellious and antagonistic attitude towards Allah—how can he possibly attain the light of guidance?
