“Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth. The likeness of His light is as a lantern wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a shining star, lit from a blessed tree, the olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil glows forth of itself, though fire did not touch it, light upon light. Allah guides unto His light whomever He wills and Allah sets forth parables for people. Allah is aware of all things”
Jabir bin Abdullah Al-Ansari reports that I entered the mosque of Kufa and saw that Ameerul Momeneen (as) was writing something with his finger. He had a smile on his face.
O Ameerul Momeneen (as)! What makes you smile?, I asked.
I find it strange (that some people) read this verse but do not reflect on it, he replied.
O Ameerul Momeneen (as)! To which verse are you referring? I asked.
The Ameerul Momeneen (as) replied, “Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth. The likeness of His light is as a lantern.” Mohammed is the “lantern.”
“Wherein is a lamp.” The “lamp” refers to me.
“The lamp is in a glass.” Hasan and Husain (as) are the “glass.”
“The glass is as it were a shining star.” Ali bin Husain (as) is the “shining star.”
“Lit from a blessed tree.” Mohammed bin Ali (as) is the “blessed tree.”
“The olive” Jafar bin Mohammed (as) is “the olive.”
“Neither of the east” refers to Musa bin Jafar (as)
“Nor of the west” refers to Ali bin Musa (as)
“Whose oil glows forth of itself” refers to Mohammed bin Ali (as)
“Though fire did not touch it” refers to Ali bin Mohammed (as)
“Light upon light” refers to Hasan bin Ali (as)
“Allah guides unto His light whomever He wills” The Qaem (as) is “His light”
And “Allah sets forth parables for people. Allah is aware of all things.” (Tafseer Al Burhan volume 5 page 392)