Darkness is of 3 types

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

In his Tafseer, Shaikh al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿يُخْرِجُهُمْ مِنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى النُّورِ﴾

{He brings them out from darkness into light.} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 257]

“Al-Noor” (light) has been mentioned in singular form because (the path towards the truth) is only one path. Whereas “al-Dhulumaat” (darkness) has been mentioned in plural form because of its many types; it could be darkness of ignorance or darkness of Kufr or darkness of disobedience.

As for darkness of ignorance: the similitude of an ignorant person is that of a blind man, bewildered, don’t know where to go as Allaah تعالى said:

﴿أَوَمن كان ميتاً فأحييناه وجعلنا له نوراً يمشي به في الناس﴾

{Is he who was dead (without Faith by ignorance) and We gave him life (by knowledge and Faith) and set for him a light (of Belief) whereby he can walk amongst men} [Surah al-An`aam (6): 122]

This was the similitude of the person who has `Ilm.

﴿كمن مثله في الظلمات ليس بخارج منها﴾

{like him who is in the darkness from which he can never come out?} [Surah al-An`aam (6): 122]

This was the similitude of an ignorant person.

As for the darkness of Kufr, (then know) that Imaan is light, with which the people are guided, illuminating their hearts and faces and its opposite is Kufr.

As for the darkness of disobedience, then this is partial darkness; increasing and decreasing depending upon the number of sins the person has committed. The evidence for it is that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had informed us that when a person commits a sin, a black dot is marked on his heart,* and this black (spot) is darkness (dhulm). The spot is removed through repentance, and it increases due to persistently committing sins.

So Darkness is of three types: darkness of ignorance, Kufr and disobedience; and opposite of it is the Light of `Ilm, Imaan and steadfastness (upon the deen).

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*The complete Hadeeth:

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “When someone commits a sin, a black dot is marked on his heart. When he abandons it and seeks forgiveness and repents, his heart is cleaned (and spotless), but if he persists and returns (to the sin), then the dots are added till blackness covers his heart as Allaah has said: {By no means! But on their hearts is the stain of the (ill) which they do!}” [Surah al-Mutaffifeen (83): 14]