The Damage Caused by Insincerity (Lack of Spiritual Light)

Another aspect of the spiritual impurity referred to in the verse quoted above is a lack of illumination in the faces of insincere people. This lack does not manifest itself in the same way in everyone. In some faces, it makes itself known through the absence of the lively, eager and honest expressions that appear on the faces of the faithful.

In others it appears as the impression of aimlessness and emptiness. In still others, it takes the form of a darkening that comes about with no obvious reason. All these indicate the darkness of spirit these people experience inside.

What is striking is that this darkness has nothing to do with physical beauty. In case of insincerity towards Allah, the most beautiful face, the most flawless skin or the best-shaped eyes cannot compensate for a lack of light in the facial expression.

That is because such light is a characteristic Allah grants only to those who believe with a sincere heart. Allah tells us this in a verse of the Qur'an:

Or they [the actions of those who do not believe] are like the darkness of a fathomless sea which is covered by waves above which are waves above which are clouds, layers of darkness, one upon the other. If he puts out his hand, he can scarcely see it. Those Allah gives no light to, they have no light. (Surat an-Nur: 40)

In the Qur'an, Allah draws attention to the impact of what the sincere and the insincere experience in their souls upon their bodies with the following comparison:

Those who do good will have the best and more! Neither dust nor debasement will darken their faces. They are the Companions of the Garden, remaining in it timelessly, for ever.

But as for those who have earned bad actions—a bad action will be repaid with one the like of it. Debasement will darken them. They will have no one to protect them from Allah. It is as if their faces were covered by dark patches of the night... (Surah Yunus: 26-27)