The word as it is recited in the Quran: Mahmoud Khalil Al-Hussary, An-Nur 24:35.
Noor in Islam
The word nur occurs forty-three times in the Quran; Surah 24 is named after it and contains the Verse of Light: “Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth” (24:35). Al-Nur is also one of the names of Allah, and the Quran itself is called “a light” (4:174). Borne by a man or a woman, the name keeps the human sense of “light”.
Nur means “light”, the light that illuminates and lets one see, from the root n-w-r, which also gives munir (“luminous”). In the Quran, light also stands for guidance. A girl’s name in the Arab world, it is also given to boys in Turkey and South Asia, often in compounds (Nur Muhammad, Nuruddin).
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.
O People of the Scripture, there has come to you Our Messenger making clear to you much of what you used to conceal of the Scripture and overlooking much. There has come to you from Allāh a light and a clear Book [i.e., the Qur’ān]
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."
