The word anwar is not in the Quran, but its root recurs often: “Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth… light upon light” (24:35), and the believers will say on the Last Day: “Our Lord, perfect our light for us” (66:8).
Meaning of the name Anwar
Anwar is a comparative of the root n-w-r of light (nur): “more luminous, more radiant”, hence “with a shining face”. The same word is also the plural of nawr, “flowers” (anwar with a long a is the plural of nur). The name is Anouar in the Maghreb and Enver in Turkey and the Balkans.
Allāh is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp; the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] 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. Allāh guides to His light whom He wills. And Allāh presents examples for the people, and Allāh is Knowing of all things.
And the earth will shine with the light of its Lord, and the record [of deeds] will be placed, and the prophets and the witnesses will be brought, and it will be judged between them in truth, and they will not be wronged.
O you who have believed, repent to Allāh with sincere repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow [on] the Day when Allāh will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believed with him. Their light will proceed before them and on their right; they will say, "Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent."
