Hundred Questions - Light upon Light
Light upon Light
Q12 When one Imam succeeds another Imam, is there any difference in the soul of the following Imam, or is he a part of the light of Imamat? If it is accepted that the following Imam is different from the preceding Imam, is there any relation between the soul of the following Imam and the light of Imamat, or is his soul like the mu'min's soul?
A12 The answer to this question is mentioned in verse (24:35) in the language of wisdom. It is said in this verse that if we look at the light from an internal and spiritual point of view, it is the one and the same forever, and is sufficient for the entire world; and if we look at it from an external and physical point of view, it is light upon light, that is, there is an Imam after the preceding Imam. This shows that the spirit, i.e. the light of the present Imam continues to be shed on the succeeding Imam, just as one lamp is lit from another lamp, or as the moon receives light from the sun. Suppose that the moon, on reaching completion, becomes one with the sun as mentioned in the Qur'an (75:9), it is obvious that the sun and the moon of this world cannot become one, it is the present Imam and his successor who become one.
As for the reality of souls, they were one in azal and they will be one in abad also, as the Qur'an says: "Your first birth and your last resurrection is like one soul" (31:28). When the state of the unity of ordinary souls is such that they were one in the beginning and they will be one in the end, how is it possible for the souls of one Imam and another Imam to be different from each other? This shows that the light of all Imams is one and by the soul of the Imam is meant light.
This answer suffices the remaining portion of the question. Nonetheless, let us elaborate further that the bodies of Imams are different, but their light is one and the same. The body is not a part of the light, nonetheless, sometimes, because of the light the body is also called light and this sense is implied in "Light upon Light".
The relation of one Imam to another Imam is such that their light is one and the same. The soul of the Imam is not like that of a mu'min rather it is far more exalted. Yes, it is true that the soul of a mu'min, after ultimate progress merges in the light of the Imam and becomes like the Imam's soul.
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