Resolving the Apparent Contradiction of "Believer in Darkness and Disbeliever in Light": Analysis of Qur'anic Verse 2:257 Based on the Relativity of Qur'anic Concepts
1
Department of Quran and Hadith Sciences, Faculty of Theology, Yazd University, Yazd. Iran
2
PhD in Comparative Exegesis, Independent Researcher, Shiraz, Iran
10.22091/ptt.2026.15029.2576
Abstract
Verse 257 of Surah Al-Baqarah, by stating that believers emerge from darkness into light, while disbelievers emerge from light into darkness, creates an apparent contradiction. Contrary to expectation, the state of believers is depicted in darkness, and the state of disbelievers in light. Commentators have proposed various views to address this ambiguity. This research, using a descriptive-analytical method, after extracting and categorizing the commentators' opinions and critically examining the existing views, aims to resolve this ambiguity. The findings of this study indicate that the theory of "relativity of Quranic concepts" is the key to resolving the apparent contradiction in the verse. According to this theory, light and darkness are considered relative concepts that are hierarchical. In line with this theory, with changes in human conditions, the increase in light or descent into darkness is explained relative to the individual's prior state. The path of the believer is always toward greater luminosity. Therefore, their new state is considered brighter compared to their previous state, while their previous state appears darker in comparison to their current state. In contrast, since the direction of the disbeliever is tends toward darkness, their new state appears darker compared to their previous state, and their previous state appears brighter in comparison to their present state.
Baroomand, M., Joudavi, A., & Alavi, B. (2026). Resolving the Apparent Contradiction of "Believer in Darkness and Disbeliever in Light": Analysis of Qur'anic Verse 2:257 Based on the Relativity of Qur'anic Concepts. Comparative Interpretation Research, (), -. doi: 10.22091/ptt.2026.15029.2576
MLA
mohamadhosin Baroomand; Amir Joudavi; Batool Alavi. "Resolving the Apparent Contradiction of "Believer in Darkness and Disbeliever in Light": Analysis of Qur'anic Verse 2:257 Based on the Relativity of Qur'anic Concepts". Comparative Interpretation Research, , , 2026, -. doi: 10.22091/ptt.2026.15029.2576
HARVARD
Baroomand, M., Joudavi, A., Alavi, B. (2026). 'Resolving the Apparent Contradiction of "Believer in Darkness and Disbeliever in Light": Analysis of Qur'anic Verse 2:257 Based on the Relativity of Qur'anic Concepts', Comparative Interpretation Research, (), pp. -. doi: 10.22091/ptt.2026.15029.2576
VANCOUVER
Baroomand, M., Joudavi, A., Alavi, B. Resolving the Apparent Contradiction of "Believer in Darkness and Disbeliever in Light": Analysis of Qur'anic Verse 2:257 Based on the Relativity of Qur'anic Concepts. Comparative Interpretation Research, 2026; (): -. doi: 10.22091/ptt.2026.15029.2576
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