Translation:
Or ˹their deeds are˺ like the darkness in a deep sea, covered by waves upon waves,13 topped by ˹dark˺ clouds. Darkness upon darkness! If one stretches out their hand, they can hardly see it. And whoever Allah does not bless with light will have no light!
Or ˹their deeds are˺ like the darkness in a deep sea, covered by waves upon waves,13 topped by ˹dark˺ clouds. Darkness upon darkness! If one stretches out their hand, they can hardly see it. And whoever Allah does not bless with light will have no light!
Translation:
Or (the Unbelievers´ state) is like the depths of darkness in a vast deep ocean, overwhelmed with billow topped by billow, topped by (dark) clouds: 3013 depths of darkness, one 3014 above another: if a man stretches out his hands, he can hardly seest it! for any to whom Allah giveth not light, there is no light! 3015
Or (the Unbelievers´ state) is like the depths of darkness in a vast deep ocean, overwhelmed with billow topped by billow, topped by (dark) clouds: 3013 depths of darkness, one 3014 above another: if a man stretches out his hands, he can hardly seest it! for any to whom Allah giveth not light, there is no light! 3015
Commentary:
3013 What a graphic picture of darkness is the depths of the Ocean, wave upon wave, and on top of all, dense dark clouds! There is so little light even in ordinary depths of the Ocean that fishes which live there lose their eyes as useless organs. For lines 4-5, I am indebted to Gardiner's Translation of Ghazari's Mishkat
3014 A contrast to "Light upon Light" in 24:35 above.
3015 The true source of Light in the world of Reality is Allah, and anyone who cuts himself off from the Light is in utter darkness indeed, for it is the negation of the only true Light, and not merely relative darkness, like that which we see, say, in the shadows of moonlight.
Translation:
Or [else, their deeds are] 60 like the depths of darkness upon an abysmal sea, made yet more dark by wave billowing over wave, with [black] clouds above it all: depths of darkness, layer upon layer, 61 [so that] when one holds up his hand, he can hardly see it: for he to whom God gives no light, no light whatever has he!
Or [else, their deeds are] 60 like the depths of darkness upon an abysmal sea, made yet more dark by wave billowing over wave, with [black] clouds above it all: depths of darkness, layer upon layer, 61 [so that] when one holds up his hand, he can hardly see it: for he to whom God gives no light, no light whatever has he!
Commentary:
60 I.e., their bad deeds, as contrasted with their good deeds, which in the preceding verse have been likened to a mirage.
61 Lit., "one above another".
60 I.e., their bad deeds, as contrasted with their good deeds, which in the preceding verse have been likened to a mirage.
61 Lit., "one above another".
13 This is another scientific fact mentioned in the Quran: the existence of underwater waves, like layers.