By: Samsul Nizar
Professor & Head of STAIN Bengkalis
Who does not know the lantern or lamp? Various languages are used to refer to it, according to the language of the human community. Starting from the traditional form to the modern and sophisticated. However, its substance and function remain the same as a lightweight tool when night or darkness falls. However, the variant is sometimes intended not only as lighting but also to beautify the atmosphere when night approaches.
Although humans are familiar with and cannot escape the function of lanterns, not many “have the time” to learn from lanterns. When humans have the remaining time to learn from lanterns, humans will be ashamed to say their “arrogance” with lanterns or lamps.
A lantern or lamp symbolizes a lot of advice and words of wisdom. Choices used by ancestors that cannot be devoid of meaning. Some variants of advice that use the word lantern or lamp include:
“Thought is the lamp of the heart.” It means using reason and considering everything makes a person wiser. Sage every word used. Lanterns as lights portray wise humans who use reason before saying or doing an action. Only humans who use reason give birth to wise self-products. They were an instructor. Their advice was conditioning. Their behavior was an example. Their decisions were just, and their policies produced virtues.
It is different when humans act without thinking first. They said lipstick sometimes hurt, their advice could not be followed, or their decisions were self-serving.
“Like lighting a lamp at midday.” Explaining anything that no longer needs to be explained. Many interpretations of this advice. It can be understood that not explaining obvious things or stupid people who explain to those who are wise will not benefit from what is explained and will even show hidden stupidity. Everything is useless and not profitable.
“Fear cannot drive out the darkness; only the light of a lantern can do that.” A problem can only be solved by people who have a reason. Without someone who solves problems without reason, it will only worsen matters. Here you can see what the prophet Muhammad stated: “If an affair is handed over to someone who is not an expert, then wait for the moment of its destruction” (Hadith by Bukhari). It is because they cannot complete the tasks given because of the inability of the mind to work on solving these matters.
Even though humans can create lantern variants, they cannot learn lessons from lanterns.
There are several lessons from lanterns that can be taken in looking at life, including:
First, the lantern illuminates people so they do not go astray. Light bursts out to illuminate human life, even though it is burning with heat. However, this philosophy should be able to illuminate others without burning oneself. Like the shining sun, it lightens the entire universe without burning itself. But unfortunately, amid the light of the lantern (with sacrifices), it is as if humans live in the dark and choose to walk without a guide so that they choose to go astray rather than looking for a glimmer of a lantern. When lanterns illuminate the path so that humans do not get lost in darkness, humans who are not wise to learn from lanterns instead get lost in the middle of the lantern’s light. It is not the lanterns that are to be blamed, but the darkness of the human heart that is unable to accept the light of the lanterns, let alone the light of Allah, nauzubillahi min dzaalik.
Second, even though it is never praised and wants to be praised, the lantern always gives light of goodness to illuminate beings’ lives. Lantern is always sincere in carrying out its duties and functions. It never protests when humans put it anywhere. It is only doing its job of illuminating. While humans always want to be praised even amidst the light of the hypocrisy that is presented to cover up the failure of the duties and functions carried out. Humans always protest when their position is not as expected. This condition results in arrogance (like the devil’s arrogance) and reluctance to carry out their duties. When placed in a particular position, greed begins to emerge to dominate the environment with the light of what little ability one has. Finally, the greed that derailed him without the slightest hint of light was cast upon the surroundings.
Third, modern-era lanterns have a wide variety of colors. Although its original color was white, the color of the clothes it was wearing made its color match its clothes. Indeed, the true spirit of all human beings is the same. Only worldly clothes change the original color to the world’s interests for a moment. Sometimes it can be green, yellow, red, white, or black. The pure white color of the original lantern is a symbol of natural reason. However, when worldly clothes cannot maintain the original color, which is always subject to Allah, then the original color will be lost and lost by the clothes of “worldly desires” which cover the mind.
Indeed a lantern can be a mirror of life. However, the lantern’s reflection can only be caught by those with light. For those who do not have light within, then it will not be able to reflect with a lantern. The light of the lantern will be dimmed by the thicker darkness within. If the light of the lantern cannot provide light, how can it reach the light of the Owner of the Light? Learn from the lantern, and use the light to illuminate yourself towards the Supreme light source.
No one knows how small it feels to be yourself in front of the lantern light. How about when you are accountable for the light you have enjoyed so far on the Owner of Light? Only humble humans can understand. However, for an arrogant man, he will be drowned by the darkness amidst the light radiating from the lantern.
Wa Allahua’lam bi al-Shawwab
Translated by: Ruzaini, M.Pd (Alumni of English Education Study Program of STAIN Bengkalis)
