Tafseer of The Ranks · As-Saff · 61:8
They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The Exalted, whose mention is exalted, says: These speakers who say about Muḥammad ﷺ, "This is a manifest sorcerer," desire (to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths). He says: They wish to nullify the truth that Allah has sent down through Muḥammad ﷺ with their mouths, that is, with their claim that he is a sorcerer and that what he has brought is sorcery. (And Allah perfects His light). He says: Allah proclaims the truth, makes His religion manifest, and aids Muḥammad — peace and blessings be upon him — against whoever is hostile to him. That is the perfecting of His light. By "the light" in this place is meant Islam.
Ibn Zayd used to say: By it is meant the Qurʾān.
Yūnus related to me, he said: Ibn Wahb informed us, he said: Ibn Zayd said concerning His word (to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths): The light of the Qurʾān.
The reciters differed over the reading of His word, the Exalted: (And Allah perfects His light). The general reciters of Medina and Basra and some of the Kūfans recited it ( mutimmun nūrahu ) in the accusative. And some of the reciters of Mecca and the general reciters of Kūfa recited it ( mutimmu ) without nunation, with "nūrihi" in the genitive. They are two well-known readings with closely corresponding meaning. With whichever of the two the reciter recites, he is correct in our view.
And His word (even though the unbelievers detest it). He says: And Allah makes His religion manifest and aids His Messenger, even though those who disbelieve (kāfir) in Allah detest it.
