The Qur’an is filled with many accounts of how Allah Almighty assisted the prophets and mankind at large with Nur. Nur is fundamental to how Allah helps His Creation, as that is the primary medium (and angels, which are beings of light) through which help, assistance, mercy and healing come.

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Zakariyya used the blessings and Nur of the prayer-niche of Maryam to supplicate to Allah Almighty, asking for a son and heir. He would witness the miracles and the Nur in such a blessed place, and harnessed it to seek from Allah Almighty. The Qur’an states:

 هُنَالِكَ دَعَا زَكَرِيَّا رَبَّهٗ‌ ‌ۚ قَالَ رَبِّ هَبۡ لِىۡ مِنۡ لَّدُنۡكَ ذُرِّيَّةً طَيِّبَةً‌ ‌ ۚ اِنَّكَ سَمِيۡعُ الدُّعَآءِ‏

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It is here that Zakariyya prayed to his Lord; he said, “My Lord! Give me from Yourself a righteous child; indeed, You only are the Listener Of Prayer.”

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  فَنَادَتۡهُ الۡمَلٰٓٮِٕكَةُ وَهُوَ قَآٮِٕمٌ يُّصَلِّىۡ فِى الۡمِحۡرَابِۙ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يُبَشِّرُكَ بِيَحۡيٰى مُصَدِّقًۢا بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَسَيِّدًا وَّحَصُوۡرًا وَّنَبِيًّا مِّنَ الصّٰلِحِيۡنَ‏

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And the angels called out to him while he was standing, offering prayer at his place of worship, “Indeed Allah gives you glad tidings of Yahya (John), who will confirm a Word (or sign) from Allah, - a leader, abstaining (from women), a Prophet from the righteous.”

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  قَالَ رَبِّ اَنّٰى يَكُوۡنُ لِىۡ غُلٰمٌ وَّقَدۡ بَلَغَنِىَ الۡكِبَرُ وَامۡرَاَتِىۡ عَاقِرٌ‌ؕ قَالَ كَذٰلِكَ اللّٰهُ يَفۡعَلُ مَا يَشَآءُ‏

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He said, “My Lord! How can I have a son when old age has reached me and my wife is barren?” He said, “This is how Allah brings about, whatever He wills.”
[Qur’an 3:38-40]

This is an example of a ‘place of Nur’.

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Maryam and sustenance

Allah Almighty provided sustenance for Maryam from the unseen. This is an immense manifestation of the light and mercy of Allah Almighty. Allah Almighty says:

فَتَقَبَّلَهَا رَبُّهَا بِقَبُولٍ حَسَنٍۢ وَأَنۢبَتَهَا نَبَاتًا حَسَنًۭا وَكَفَّلَهَا زَكَرِيَّا ۖ كُلَّمَا دَخَلَ عَلَيْهَا زَكَرِيَّا ٱلْمِحْرَابَ وَجَدَ عِندَهَا رِزْقًۭا ۖ قَالَ يَـٰمَرْيَمُ أَنَّىٰ لَكِ هَـٰذَا ۖ قَالَتْ هُوَ مِنْ عِندِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَرْزُقُ مَن يَشَآءُ بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ

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So her Lord accepted her graciously and blessed her with a pleasant upbringing—entrusting her to the care of Zachariah. Whenever Zachariah visited her in the sanctuary, he found her supplied with provisions. He exclaimed, “O Mary! Where did this come from?” She replied, “It is from Allah. Surely Allah provides for whoever He wills without limit.”

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[Qur’an 3:37]

Maryam was an absolute lady of light, constantly in the purified state of worship and obedience to Allah Almighty. Allah provided for her via the means of angels, beings of light. This sustenance was from Nur, and it was Nur for her. It was pure foods, often from out of season (i.e. she would eat the winter fruits in the summer and summer fruits in the winter) yet was pure and nourished her. She was provided for from the unseen, as a means of reinforcing her light of worship and certainty in Allah Almighty.

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