Darkness and light

Darkness and light are in many cases symbolic.

 

40. Darkness and light are in many cases symbolic for good and evil, knowledge and ignorance: In the Bahá’í Writings light and darkness are often used to symbolize term such as good and evil, knowledge and ignorance, spiritual life and spiritual death, love and hate, truth and falsehood etc…. This type of symbolism is also found in the writings of the bible, as well as the other faiths of God, when we search for it.

the greatest name-12pixBAHA’I FAITH: “You know which path to follow: you cannot be mistaken, for there’s a great distinction between God and evil, between Light and darkness, Truth and falsehood, Love and hatred, Generosity and meanness, Education and ignorance, Faith in God and superstition, good Laws and unjust laws.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 64)

The shrine-17pix BABI RELIGION: “This is the divinely-inscribed Book. This is the outspread Tablet. Say, this indeed is the Frequented Fane, the sweet-scented Leaf, the Tree of divine Revelation, the surging Ocean, the Utterance which lay concealed, the Light above every light… Indeed every light is generated by God through the power of His behest. He of a truth is the Light in the kingdom of heaven and earth and whatever is between them. Through the radiance of His light God imparteth illumination to your hearts and maketh firm your steps, that perchance ye may yield praise unto Him.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 153)

a. Good and evilJewish symbols star-8pix JUDAISM: 1 Samuel: 2:9 “The wicked shall be silent in darkness; Proverbs: 4:19 “The way of the wicked is as darkness:” Isaiah: 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness;” the cross-5pix CHRISTIANITY: Luke: 11:34 “The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.” Luke: 11:35 “Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.” John: 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John: 3:20 “For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” John: 3:21 “But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” Romans: 13:12 “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” 1 John: 1:5 “This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” 1 John: 1:6 “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth;” 1 John: 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

Islamic symbol-10 pix ISLAM: 257. “Allah (God) is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith the patrons are the Evil Ones: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein (for ever).”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   2)

Islamic symbol-5pix 1. “I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak From the evil of that which He created; From the evil of the darkness when it is intense, And from the evil of malignant.”

(The Qur’an (Pickthall tr), Sura 113 – The Daybreak)

Zoroastrian symbol-12pix ZOROASTRIANISM: 76. “The world of the wicked, into that world, made of darkness, the offspring of darkness, which is Darkness’ self.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Vendidad 17)

Ahura Mazda symbol-8pix 4. “That which is endowed with light in all things good.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 37)

Ahura Mazda symbol-8pix “This is the atonement, this is the penalty that he shall pay to atone for the deed that he has done.” “If he shall pay it, he makes himself a viaticum into the world of the holy ones; if he shall not pay it, he makes himself a viaticum into the world of the wicked, into that world, made of darkness, the offspring of darkness, which is Darkness self.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Vendidad 18)

Ahura Mazda symbol-8pix Denkard. Zoroaster, “Among all the good and evil people of this world, whosoever performs good actions, appertains to the Good Lord, and whosoever perpetrates evil, appertains to Darkness.”

Hindu symbol-10pix HINDUISM: “And, this thing thinking, all those ruined ones- Of little wit, dark-minded- give themselves To evil deeds, the curses of their kind.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 16)

Hindu symbol 5-pix “And there be evil doers; loose of heart, Low-minded, stubborn, fraudulent, remiss, Dull, slow, despondent- children of the dark.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 18)

Hindu symbol 5-pix “As a man, driving in a chariot, might look at the two wheels (without being touched by them), thus he will look at day and night, thus at good and evil deeds, and at all pairs (at all correlative things, such as light and darkness.)”

(Hindu, Upanishads vol. 1, Kaushitaki-Upanishad)

Buddhist wheel symbol-10 pix BUDDHISM: “The Law be your light, The Law be your refuge!” 6. “The wise man should abandon (the) dark state And cultivate the bright.” 6. “Leaving behind the path of darkness and following the path of light,” (Goodness). 13. “The one whose wrong actions are eradicated by good conduct lights up this world like the moon when freed from a cloud.”

((The Eightfold Path), Buddha, Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 2 and 3))

Dharma wheel Buddhist symbols-5pix “Light signifies wisdom, and darkness signifies defilement.” (evil) (Buddha, Sixth Patriarch)

Mandaean symbol-15pix SABEANISM: “Thou hast shown us that which the eye of man hath not seen, and caused us to hear that which human ear has not heard. Thou hast freed us from death and united us with life, released us from darkness and united us with light, led us out of evil and joined us to good. Thou hast shown us the Way of Life and hast guided our feet into ways of truth and faith so that Life cometh and expelleth darkness and goodness (light) cometh and casteth out evil. (Like) the mingling of wine with water, so may Thy truth, thy righteousness and thy faith be added to those who love Thy name of Truth, And Life be praised.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 45)

Mandaean symbol1 “He sundered Light from darkness and sundered Good from Evil, He sundered Life from Death, And He brought out those who love His name of Truth From Darkness to Light and from Evil to Good And from Death to Life and set them On roads of Truth and Faith.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 75)

The shrine-17pix BABI RELIGION: “VOUCHSAFE unto me, O my God, the full measure of Thy love and Thy good-pleasure, and through the attractions of Thy resplendent light enrapture our hearts, O Thou Who art the Supreme Evidence and the All-Glorified.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 191)

The shrine10 pix “O PEOPLES of the earth! Verily the resplendent Light of God hath appeared in your midst, invested with this unerring Book, that ye may be guided aright to the ways of peace and, by the leave of God, step out of the darkness into the light and onto this far-extended Path of Truth.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 61)

The shrine10 pix “The hand of Omnipotence, however, was busily engaged, at a time when the host of evil-doers were darkly plotting against Him, in confounding their schemes and in nullifying their efforts.”

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 268)

the greatest name-12pixBAHA’I FAITH: “I hope that the darkness of evil suggestions shall be dispersed and that the veil of uncertainty shall be torn asunder; that the beauty of truth may become manifest with glory and the light of mercy become radiant.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha v1, p. 56)

the greatest name 8 pix“Man must sever himself from the influences of the world of matter, from the world of nature and its laws; for the material world is the world of corruption and death. It is the world of evil and darkness, of animalism and ferocity, bloodthirstiness, ambition and avarice, of self-worship, egotism and passion; it is the world of nature. Man must strip himself of all these imperfections, must sacrifice these tendencies which are peculiar to the outer and material world of existence.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 451)

b. Knowledge and ignoranceJewish symbols star-8pix JUDAISM: Psalms: 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalms: 119:130 “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” the cross-5pix CHRISTIANITY: John: 1:4 “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John: 1:5 “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” Ephesians: 4:18 “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:” 2 Corinthians: 4:6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

The shrine-17pix BABI RELIGION: “How many were those pure and kindly hearts which faithfully reflected the light of that eternal Sun! And how manifold the emanations of knowledge from that Ocean of Divine Wisdom which encompassed all beings!

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. l)

The shrine10 pix “He prayed in his behalf, supplicated the Almighty to illumine his heart with the light of Divine knowledge, and to unloose his tongue for the service and proclamation of His Cause.”

The Bab (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 219)

Islamic symbol-10 pix ISLAM: 11. “An Messenger, who rehearses to you the Signs of Allah (God) containing clear explanations, that he may lead forth those who believe and do righteous deeds from the depths of Darkness (ignorance) into Light. And those who believe in Allah and work righteousness, He will admit to Gardens beneath which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever: Allah has indeed granted for them a most excellent provision.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 65)

 Islamic symbol-5pixThe darkness of ignorance to shining knowledge, Since you have turned the fire of greed into bounty, And the vile thorns of malice into a rose-garden;”

(Islam, Mathnavi of Rumi (E.H. Whinfield tr), The Masnavi Vol 2)

Islamic symbol-5pix “We have Allah’s Apostle with us who recites the Holy Qur’án in the early morning time. He gave us guidance and light while we were blind and astray, so our hearts are sure that whatever he says, will certainly happen.”

(Islam, Hadith, Bukhari Vol 8, Book 73, # 172)

Zoroastrian symbol-12pix ZOROASTRIANISM: “If (darkness) did not really appertain to you there would have been no scope for the light of knowledge. All would have been mere dark ignorance.” (ZOROASTER, Hymns of Atharvan p. 592)

Ahura Mazda symbol-8pix 28. “Throw thou a veil of darkness over his mind; make thou his intellect (at once) a wreck!” “It is (dark) ignorance that ruins most people, those ill-informed; both amongst those who have died, and those who shall die.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 9 and Avesta

Ahura Mazda symbol-8pix Denkard. Zoroaster, “The wise man possesses the light of wisdom.”

Hindu symbol-10pix HINDUISM: “Darkness and dullness, sloth and stupor are, ‘Tis Ignorance hath caused them!” “The fruit Of Ignorance is deeper darkness.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 14)

Hindu symbol 5-pix “So they speak Darkened by ignorance; and so they fall- Tossed to and fro with projects, tricked, and bound In net of black delusion, lost in lusts- Down to foul Naraka. Conceited, fond, Stubborn and proud, dead-drunken with the wine Of wealth, and reckless, all their offerings.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 16)

Hindu symbol 5-pix 26. “Goodness is declared (to have the form of) knowledge, Darkness (of) ignorance, Activity (of) love and hatred; such is the nature of these (three) which is (all-) pervading and clings to everything created.”

(Hindu, Laws of Manu chapter 12)

Buddhist wheel symbol-10 pix BUDDHISM: 4. “The truly enlightened Buddha shines brightly with wisdom above the blinded crowd.” “the wise student of the truly enlightened Buddha shines brightly with wisdom above the blinded crowd.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 2 (tr. J. Richards))

Dharma wheel Buddhist symbols-5pix “Light signifies wisdom, and darkness signifies defilement.” (evil) (Buddha, Sixth Patriarch)

Mandaean symbol-15pix SABEANISM: “In the name of The Great Life (Haiyi/God)! May my thought, my knowledge and my understanding Enlighten me.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 78)

Mandaean symbol1 “We have uttered words of radiance And were absorbed in thoughts of light. Thou, my lord Manda-d-Hiia, art blessed and praised And thy praise is established (on high).” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 115)

The shrine-17pix BABI RELIGION:The darkness of ignorance is confirmed by us.”

(The Babi  and Baha’i Religions p. 217)

The shrine10 pix “The hand of Omnipotence has, in this day, separated truth from falsehood and divided the light of guidance from the darkness of error.”

The Bab: (Shoghi Effendi, The Dawn-Breakers, p. 543)

the greatest name-12pixBAHA’I FAITH: I pray God to kindle and light the lamp of knowledge in the glass of thy heart, so that it may shine upon all parts of the world.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha v1, p. 231)

the greatest name 8 pix“He brought the light of guidance to the world; He kindled the fire of love and revealed the great reality of the True Beloved…. Then was the door of the Kingdom set wide and the light of a new heaven on earth revealed unto seeing eyes.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 36)

the greatest name 8 pix“We ask thee to reflect upon that which hath been revealed, and to be fair and just in thy speech, that perchance the splendors of the daystar of truthfulness and sincerity may shine forth, and may deliver thee from the darkness of ignorance, and illumine the world with the light of knowledge.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 10)

c. Spiritual life and spiritual deathJewish symbols star-8pix JUDAISM: Psalms: 56:13 “For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.” Psalms: 143:3 “For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.” Job: 33:30 “Be enlightened with the light of the living.” the cross-5pix CHRISTIANITY: Luke: 1:78 “Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,” Luke: 1:79 “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.” John: 1:4 “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John: 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Ephesians: 5:14 “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Jude: 1:12 “Trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

The shrine-17pix BABI RELIGION: “I beseech Thee, O my Lord, by Thy most effulgent splendour, before whose brightness every soul humbly boweth down and prostrateth itself in adoration for Thy sake — a splendour before whose radiance fire is turned into light, the dead are brought to life and every difficulty is changed into ease.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 179)

Islamic symbol-10 pix ISLAM: 122. “Can he who was dead, to whom We gave life, and a Light whereby he can walk amongst men, be like him who is in the depths of darkness (death), from which he can never come out? Thus to those without faith their own deeds seem pleasing.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   6)

Islamic symbol-5pix “He is the sun of the spirit, not that of the sky, For from His light men and angels draw life.” “When the preacher has himself no light or life, How can his words yield leaves and fruit?

(Islam, Mathnavi of Rumi (E.H. Whinfield tr), The Masnavi Vol 1 and 5)

Zoroastrian symbol-12pix ZOROASTRIANISM: 6. “And mayest thou grant me, O Fire, Ahura Mazda’s (Gods) Son! that whereby instructors may be (given) me, now and for evermore, (giving light to me of Heaven) the best life.”

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 62)

Ahura Mazda symbol-8pix Denkard. Zoroaster, “Be it known that the soul is benefited by the light, the active influence of angelic powers) which discloses (to the soul) to an unbounded extent, faith in immortality, (eternal life) cheerfulness, light, love, deliberation and deeds of piety and merit. Through (spiritual) darkness the immortal soul suffers harm in (the shape of) fear and terror and dread of blindness, and setting (i.e. dying).”

Hindu symbol-10pix HINDUISM: “Lead me from darkness to light, darkness is verily death, light immortality. He therefore says, ‘Lead me from death to immortality, make me immortal.’ ‘Immortal spirit (prana’ life)…. is only light.”’

(Hindu, Upanishads vol. 2, Brihadaranyaka-Upanishad Part 1 and 3)

Hindu symbol 5-pix “Darkness seizes on him whose fire in the pan is extinguished, darkness is death; a black garment, a black heifer are the sacrificial fees; verily with darkness, he smites away the darkness which is death.”

(Hindu, Vedas, Yajur Veda – Kanda V)

Buddhist wheel symbol-10 pix BUDDHISM: 6. “Those whose minds are thoroughly practices in the factors of enlightenment, (life) who find delight in freedom from attachment in the renunciation of clinging, free from the inflow of thoughts, they are like shining lights, having reached final liberation in the world.” “Why do you not seek a light, you who are shrouded in (death) darkness?

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 and 2 (tr. J. Richards))

Mandaean symbol-15pix “Thou hast shown us that which the eye of man hath not seen, and caused us to hear that which human ear has not heard. Thou hast freed us from death and united us with life, released us from darkness and united us with light.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 45)

Mandaean symbol1 “He sundered Light from darkness and sundered Good from Evil, He sundered Life from Death, And He brought out those who love His name of Truth From Darkness to Light and from Evil to Good And from Death to Life and set them On roads of Truth and Faith.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 75)

the greatest name-12pixBAHA’I FAITH: “Do not associate with the wicked, because the company of the wicked changeth the light of life into the fire of remorse.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Section, p. 434)

the greatest name 8 pix“If new light does not come, the darkness of death will envelop the earth.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 279)

d. Love and enmityJewish symbols star-8pix JUDAISM: Isaiah: 60:19 “The LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light.” (God is light and God is love) 1 John: “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” Sirach: “Giving him the light of his love doth not forsake him.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha) Sirach: “Love is kindled as a fire.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha) the cross-5pix CHRISTIANITY: 1 John: 4:8 “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 2 Corinthians: 4:6 “For God, hath shined in our hearts,” 1 John: 1:5 “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John: 2:8 “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.” 1 John: 2:9 “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness (enmity) even until now.” 1 John: 2:10 “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.” 1 John: 4:16 “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” Since God is both light and love then love is light because God is both light and love. Therefore, enmity would be darkness, or the absence of love.

Islamic symbol-10 pix ISLAM: 256. “Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error; whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah (God) hath grasped the most trustworthy handhold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.” “love casts its own light up to heaven.” “Through love burning fire is pleasing light,” 257. “Allah is the Protector of those who have faith: from the depths of darkness He will lead them forth into light. Of those who reject faith the patrons are the Evil Ones: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein (for ever).”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 2 and Masnavi Vol 1)

Islamic symbol-5pix 20. “Those Nearest (to Allah). Truly the Righteous will be in Bliss: On Thrones (of Dignity) will they command a sight (of all things):  Thou wilt recognize in their Faces the beaming (loving) brightness of Bliss.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah 83)

Islamic symbol-5pix “But the torch of love is not like that torch, Tis light, light in the midst of light, Tis the reverse of torches of fire, It appears to be fire, but is all sweetness. Love generates love. If ye love God, God will love you.” “Principles Of light and great price to be gained by love of God.”

(Mathnavi of Rumi (E.H. Whinfield tr), The Masnavi Vols 3 and 5)

Zoroastrian symbol-12pix ZOROASTRIANISM: “Do Thou give us zeal, O Fire of The Lord, and approach us, and with the loving blessing of the most friendly, wherefore Thine is the most potent of all names (for grace), O Fire of the Lord! (light of the Lord) And therefore we would approach Thee, (O Ahura/God!) with the help of Thy Good Mind which Thou dost implant within us, with Thy good Righteousness, and with the actions and the words inculcated by Thy good wisdom!

(Zoroaster, The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 36)

Ahura Mazda symbol-8pix “Show love to the righteous…….. Through this holy Spirit, Mazda Ahura, and through the Fire.” (Light of love through the Holy Spirit)

(The Zend-Avesta, Avesta – Yasna 47)

Hindu symbol-10pix HINDUISM:Child of light and love and sweetness whom thy hapless mother bore, Soft thine eye as budding lotus, sweet and gentle was thy face.”

(Hindu, Mababharata (R. Dutt, abridged tr))

Hindu symbol 5-pix “Beam thou strength upon us; combine thou for our good all kinds of glory and light us every day with loving kindness.” “In thy eyes of limpid luster dwells a light of love divine.”

(Hindu, Ramayana (R. Dutt, abridged tr and Vedas, Rig Veda – Book 3)

Buddhist wheel symbol-10 pix BUDDHISM: “Undisturbed shall our mind remain, no evil words shall escape our lips; friendly and full of sympathy shall we remain, with heart full of love, and free from any hidden malice (enmity); and that person shall we penetrate with loving thoughts, wide, deep, boundless, freed from anger and hatred.” “free from torpor and dullness; loving the light, with watchful mind, with clear consciousness, he cleanses his mind from torpor and dullness.”

((The Eightfold Path), Buddha, the Word (The Eightfold Path))

Mandaean symbol-15pix SABEANISM: “He sundered Light from darkness and sundered Good from Evil, He sundered Life from Death, And He brought out those who love His name of Truth From Darkness to Light and from Evil to Good And from Death to Life and set them On roads of Truth and Faith.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 75)

The shrine-17pix BABI RELIGION: “VOUCHSAFE unto me, O my God, the full measure of Thy love and Thy good-pleasure, and through the attractions of Thy resplendent light enrapture our hearts, O Thou Who art the Supreme Evidence and the All-Glorified. Send down upon me, as a token of Thy grace, Thy vitalizing breezes, throughout the day-time and in the night season, O Lord of bounty.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 191)

the greatest name-12pixBAHA’I FAITH: Love is light in whatsoever house it may shine and enmity is darkness in whatsoever abode it dwell.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Baha’i World Faith – Abdu’l-Baha Section)

the greatest name 8 pixThat light is the Love of God,”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Tablets of Abdu’l-Baha v3, p. 653)

e. Truth and falsehoodJewish symbols star-8pix JUDAISM: Psalms: 43:3 “O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles.” Wisdom: 5:6 “Therefore have we erred from the way of truth, and the light.” (Deuterocanonical Apocrypha,) “Thou art the true Light gleaming above all light(s), the Living Life, infinite mighty Power. To Thee, the spiritual powers give honour and praise. Thou workest on the race of men the abundance of Thy mercy.” (Other Apocrypha, The Books of Adam and Eve) the cross-5pix CHRISTIANITY: 1 John: 1:6 “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John: 2:8 “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.” John: 1:9 “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” Ephesians: 5:8 “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 5:9 For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.”

The shrine-17pix BABI RELIGION: “O PEOPLES of the earth! Verily the resplendent Light of God hath appeared in your midst, invested with this unerring Book, that ye may be guided aright to the ways of peace and, by the leave of God, step out of the darkness into the light and onto this far-extended Path of Truth.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 61)

Islamic symbol-10 pix ISLAM: “You have changed so much that you have not only lost the sense of sympathy for your cousin but you have also lost the sense of honesty and virtue. Your present behaviour indicates that you have never been sincere, as if your participating in jihad (the Holy Wars) was not in the cause of Allah and as if the true light of religion had never illuminated the dark recesses of your mind.”

(Ali b. Abi Taalib, Letters from Nahjul Balaagh)

Islamic symbol-5pix 159. “Of the people of Moses there is a section who guide and do justice in the light of truth.”

(The Qur’an (Yusuf Ali tr), Surah   7)

Islamic symbol-5pix “And that his efforts shall at last be seen in their true light:”

(The Qur’an (Rodwell tr), Sura 53 – The Star)

Zoroastrian symbol-12pix ZOROASTRIANISM: 7. “We sacrifice unto Mithra, the lord of wide pastures, who is truth-speaking. For his brightness and glory, I will offer him a sacrifice worth being heard….” The truth is light and glory.

(The Zend-Avesta, Khorda Avesta – Book of Common Prayer pt. 1)

Hindu symbol-10pix HINDUISM: “Mankind errs here By folly, darkening knowledge. But, for whom That darkness of the soul is chased by light, Splendid and clear shines manifest the Truth As if a Sun of Wisdom sprang to shed Its beams of dawn.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 5)

Hindu symbol 5-pix “There is false Knowledge,…. Deprived of light, narrow, and dull, and dark.”

(Hindu, Bhagavad Gita (Edwin Arnold tr) chapter 18)

Hindu symbol 5-pix 12. “Firm is this new-wrought hymn of praise, and meet to be told forth, O Gods. The flowing of the floods is Law, Truth is the Sun’s extended light.”

(Hindu, Vedas, Rig Veda – Book 1)

Buddhist wheel symbol-10 pix BUDDHISM: “Those who follow the principles of the well-taught Truth…..they are like shining lights.”

(Buddhist, Dhammapada – Sayings of the Buddha 1 (tr. J. Richards))

Mandaean symbol-15pix SABEANISM:He sundered Light from darkness and sundered Good from Evil, He sundered Life from Death, And He brought out those who love His name of Truth From Darkness to Light and from Evil to Good And from Death to Life and set them On roads of Truth and Faith.” (Sabeanism, Ginza Rba- chapter 75)

The shrine-17pix BABI RELIGION: “ALL praise be to God Who hath, through the power of Truth, sent down this Book unto His servant, that it may serve as a shining light for all mankind… Verily this is none other than the sovereign Truth; it is the Path which God hath laid out for all that are in heaven and on earth.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 39)

The shrine10 pix “Their hearts are deprived of the power of true insight, and thus they cannot see, while those endowed with the eyes of the spirit circle like moths round the Light of Truth until they are consumed. It is for this reason that the Day of Resurrection is said to be the greatest of all days, yet it is like unto any other day.”

(The Bab, Selections from the Writings of the Bab, p. 79)

the greatest name-12pixBAHA’I FAITH: “Today the light of Truth is shining upon the world in its abundance; the breezes of the heavenly garden are blowing throughout all regions; the call of the Kingdom is heard in all lands, and the breath of the Holy Spirit is felt in all hearts that are faithful.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Abdu’l-Baha, Abdu’l-Baha in London, p. 19)

the greatest name 8 pix “The Sun of Truth shineth resplendently, at the bidding of the Lord of the kingdom of utterance, and the King of the heaven of knowledge, above the horizon of the prison-city of ‘Akká.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, Epistle to the Son of the Wolf, p. 119)

the greatest name 8 pix “Peace be upon him whom the light of truth guideth unto all truth and who, in the name of God, standeth in the path of His Cause, upon the shore of true understanding.”

(Bahá’í Faith, Baha’u’llah, The Kitab-i-Iqan, p. 43)

These are just a few examples of what is the cause of light and darkness in the world of humanity according to the manifestations of God. For more one just needs to read the scriptures looking for the symbolisms found within the scriptures.