What Is the Color of Allah? (Qur’an & science) Islamic spirituality explained
In Sufi poetry, we often hear that the color of divine love is white.
But what is white? Only the one who has truly experienced love can fully understand it.
Still, we try to understand this through the Qur'an and science.
What Does the Qur’an Say About
“Allah’s Color”?
Allah says:
— Surah Al-Baqarah 2:138
صِبْغَةَ اللَّهِ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللَّهِ صِبْغَةً
“(We are) the color of Allah, and who is better than Allah in coloring?”
This raises a deep question:
What is the color of Allah?
Allah Introduces Himself as Light
Allah says:
— Surah An-Nur 24:35
اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth”
So now the question becomes:
What is light?
Understanding Light (Science Perspective)
At night, stars appear in different colors (white, yellow, bluish, reddish)
In the day, the sun shines strongly
Because of this light, we can see all colors
Light reveals colors—it contains them
Rain, Purity & the Rainbow
After rain, we see a rainbow (7 colors).
Science says:
Air becomes clean
Water droplets remain in air
Light splits into colors
Reflection:
Rain removes dust
Air becomes pure
Light shows its true nature
This shows a process of purification
Human Creation from Clay
The Qur’an tells us humans are created from (clay).
Mix 7 colors in form of bigment → brown / dark brown = Clay color
Why do seven colors combine into a muddy color? The explanation will come later in this reflection.
But Yes, white paint exists.
Its source is also nature, like titanium dioxide (TiO₂) which is used most commonly today.
If it is not directly available, it is taken from things like sand or rocks and then processed in factories. After that it is turned into paint.
So basically, its origin is still nature, but we convert it into usable form through processing.
Now let’s come to how white light is formed:
Basic idea:
Isaac Newton used a prism to split sunlight into a spectrum of colors. Then he performed a reverse experiment by passing those separated colors through another prism (or a lens system) in the opposite direction, which combined them back into a single beam of white light. This showed that white light can be reconstructed from all the colors of the spectrum.
Modern engineering has made this concept even more advanced.
Black as Absorption
Black Absorbs all colors
Hides their existence
That’s why you never see light as black.
Black means the absence of light, and if there is any color, black will make it dim.
For Example
A Cloth is yellow
Black color falls on it → it becomes black
Yellow disappears
Can yellow come back by adding more yellow?
❌ No
What is required?
Remove black through bleaching
Then apply yellow again
⚠️ Risk:
Too much bleach can damage fabric
Requires careful treatment
Because Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said.
Arabic:
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ:
«إِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا أَخْطَأَ خَطِيئَةً نُكِتَتْ فِي قَلْبِهِ نُكْتَةٌ سَوْدَاءُ، فَإِذَا نَزَعَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ وَتَابَ صُقِلَ قَلْبُهُ، وَإِنْ عَادَ زِيدَ فِيهَا حَتَّى تَعْلُوَ قَلْبَهُ…»
“When a servant commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart. If he stops, seeks forgiveness, and repents, his heart is cleansed. But if he returns (to sin), it increases until it covers his heart…”
Reference:
Jamiʿ al-Tirmidhi (3334), Ibn Majah (4244) — graded Hasan.
Sin = black dot
Repeated sin = spreading darkness
Eventually it can cover the heart completely
But through Taqwa, the original purity can be restored.
but this purification is a careful process, otherwise you’ll end up tearing the fabric
Role of White (Purity & Protection)
White:
Reflects light
Does not hide colors
Allows all colors to exist
Spiritually:
White protects purity
Keeps your original nature safe
Does not suppress uniqueness
Like a rainbow:
Colors appear when environment is pure
When Allah’s mercy (rain) is present
Human Reality (Body & Noor)
Human body = clay (earthly form)
Inner reality = light (divine essence)
The body is like a garment
To protect light inside you and hides it
Why?
A human is a physical being, so each person carries a different light within. Allah never wants it to turn black—it is about acceptance, so that the light within you can meet and support others, forming a perfect rainbow. Then, together, all of us become a pure white light And that's the color of Allah.
But before that, we all need to know ourselve
Saying attributed to Imam Ali (A.S):
Arabic:
مَنْ عَرَفَ نَفْسَهُ فَقَدْ عَرَفَ رَبَّهُ
“Whoever knows himself, knows his Lord.”
And How to discover the color most dominant within you?
Read this article.
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