سورة الرعد   


Surah Name: Ar-R'ad Meaning: The Thunder

  • Revealed at Makkah
  • It is a Makkan Sūrah and is a continuation of the evidence of Allah-SWT ’s Unity and the validity of the Prophethood discussed in the final Āyāt of Sūrah Yūsaf-AS. The Sūrah begins by introducing its contents as part of a unique book in Allah-SWT ’s Own Words and a great miracle in itself. It is beyond human power to produce anything remotely similar to it. All that is revealed in this Book can never ever be proved wrong by any human being. It explains matters pertaining to this temporal life as well as the Ākhirah and dwells at length on diverse topics such as birth, procreation, politics, morality and economics. Moreover, the prophecies it made about various events of the world proved to be right. There is absolutely no reason to ignore its injunctions pertaining to Divinity and the Ākhirah.
  • Total Number of Rukū / Sections 6
  • Total Number of Āyāt / Parts 43
  • Sūrah / Chapter number 13
  • Rukū / Section 2 contains Āyāt / Parts 11
  • Siparah/ Volume 13

bismillah

اللّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَحْمِلُ كُلُّ أُنثَى وَمَا تَغِيضُ الأَرْحَامُ وَمَا تَزْدَادُ وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ عِندَهُ بِمِقْدَارٍ

Allahu yaAAlamu ma tahmilu kullu ontha wama tagheedu alarhamu wama tazdadu wakullu shayin AAindahu bimiqdar(in)

Allah-SWT Knows what every female bears and what the wombs want and what they exceed, and with Him-SWT everything is in due measure.

(13:8)


عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ الْكَبِيرُ الْمُتَعَالِ

AAalimu alghaybi wa(al)shshahadati alkabeeru almutaAAal(i)

Knower of the hidden and the manifest! The Great! The Exalted!

(13:9)


سَوَاء مِّنكُم مَّنْ أَسَرَّ الْقَوْلَ وَمَن جَهَرَ بِهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍ بِاللَّيْلِ وَسَارِبٌ بِالنَّهَارِ

Sawaon minkum man asarra alqawla waman jahara bihi waman huwa mustakhfin bi(a)llayli wasaribun bi(al)nnahar(i)

Alike to him is he among you who hides the word and he who proclaims it, and he who hides himself in the night and he who goes about freely in the day.

(13:10)


لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِّن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنْفُسِهِمْ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلاَ مَرَدَّ لَهُ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَالٍ

Lahu muAAaqqibatun min bayni yadayhi wamin khalfihi yahfathoonahu min amri Allahi inna Allaha la yughayyiru ma biqawmin hatta yughayyiroo ma bianfusihim waitha arada Allahu biqawmin sooan fala maradda lahu wama lahum min doonihi min wal(in)

For each one are attendant angels, before him and behind him. They guard him with Allah-SWT ’s Command. Verily Allah-SWT alters not what is with a people, until they alter what is within them. And when Allah-SWT intends evil to a people, there is no turning back, nor is for them any patron, beside Him-SWT .

(13:11)

 


هُوَ الَّذِي يُرِيكُمُ الْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنْشِىءُ السَّحَابَ الثِّقَالَ

Huwa allathee yureekumu albarqa khawfan watamaAAan wayunshio a(l)ssahaba a(l)ththiqal(a)

He-SWT it is Who-SWT shows lightening to you for inspiring fear and hope, and brings up the heavy clouds.

(13:12)


وَيُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ مِنْ خِيفَتِهِ وَيُرْسِلُ الصَّوَاعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِهَا مَن يَشَاء وَهُمْ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي اللّهِ وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الْمِحَالِ

Wayusabbihu a(l)rraAAdu bihamdihi wa(a)lmalaikatu min kheefatihi wayursilu a(l)ssawaAAiqa fayuseebu biha man yashao wahum yujadiloona fee Allahi wahuwa shadeedu almihal(i)

And  the  thunder  hallows  His-SWT Glory, and so do the angels, in awe of Him-SWT , and He-SWT sends the thunderbolts and smites with them whomsoever He-SWT will. They dispute concerning Allah-SWT , and He-SWT is strong in prowess.

(13:13)


لَهُ دَعْوَةُ الْحَقِّ وَالَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ لاَ يَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَيْءٍ إِلاَّ كَبَاسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى الْمَاء لِيَبْلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَالِغِهِ وَمَا دُعَاء الْكَافِرِينَ إِلاَّ فِي ضَلاَلٍ

Lahu daAAwatu alhaqqi wa(a)llatheena yadAAoona min doonihi la yastajeeboona lahum bishayin illa kabasiti kaffayhi ila almai liyablugha fahu wama huwa bibalighihi wama duAAao alkafireena illa fee dalal(in)

To Him-SWT Alone is the true call; and those whom they call upon beside Him-SWT answer them not at all, save as is answered one stretching out his palms to water that it may reach its mouth, while it reach it not. And the supplication of infidels goes only astray.

(13:14)


وَلِلّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَظِلالُهُم بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالآصَالِ

Walillahi yasjudu man fee a(l)ssamawati wa(a)lardtawAAan wakarhan wathilaluhum bi(a)lghuduwwi wa(a)lasal(i)

And to Allah-SWT bows whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and also their shadows in mornings and evenings.

(13:15)


قُلْ مَن رَّبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ قُلِ اللّهُ قُلْ أَفَاتَّخَذْتُم مِّن دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاء لاَ يَمْلِكُونَ لِأَنفُسِهِمْ نَفْعًا وَلاَ ضَرًّا قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الأَعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ أَمْ هَلْ تَسْتَوِي الظُّلُمَاتُ وَالنُّورُ أَمْ جَعَلُواْ لِلّهِ شُرَكَاء خَلَقُواْ كَخَلْقِهِ فَتَشَابَهَ الْخَلْقُ عَلَيْهِمْ قُلِ اللّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ

Qul man rabbu a(l)ssamawati wa(a)lardi quli Allahu qul afa(i)ttakhathtum min doonihi awliyaa la yamlikoona lianfusihim nafAAan wala darran qul hal yastawee alaAAmawa(a)lbaseeru am hal tastawee a(l)ththulumatu wa(al)nnooru am jaAAaloo lillahi shurakaa khalaqoo kakhalqihi fatashabaha alkhalqu AAalayhim quli Allahu khaliqu kulli shayin wahuwa alwahidu alqahhar(u)

Say you-SW  : who is the Rabb-SWT of the heavens and the earth? Say you-SW  : Allah-SWT . Say you-SW  : have you then taken beside Him-SWT patrons who own neither benefit nor hurt to themselves? Say you-SW  : are there the blind and the seeing alike or have they set up associates with Allah-SWT , who have created as He-SWT created, so that the creation has become dubious to them? Say you-SW  : Allah-SWT is the Creator of everything; and He-SWT is the One, the Subduer.

(13:16)


أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاء مَاء فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌ بِقَدَرِهَا فَاحْتَمَلَ السَّيْلُ زَبَدًا رَّابِيًا وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِي النَّارِ ابْتِغَاء حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَاعٍ زَبَدٌ مِّثْلُهُ كَذَلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللّهُ الْحَقَّ وَالْبَاطِلَ فَأَمَّا الزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَاء وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِي الأَرْضِ كَذَلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللّهُ الأَمْثَالَ

Anzala mina a(l)ssamai maan fasalat awdiyatun biqadariha fa(i)htamala a(l)ssaylu zabadan rabiyan wamimma yooqidoona AAalayhi fee a(l)nnari ibtighahilyatin aw mataAAin zabadun mithluhu kathalika yadribu Allahu alhaqqa wa(a)lbatila faammaa(l)zzabadu fayathhabu jufaan waamma ma yanfaAAu a(l)nnasa fayamkuthu fee alardi kathalika yadribu Allahu alamthal(a)

He-SWT sends down water from the heaven, so that the valleys flow according to their measure; then the torrent bears the scum on top; and from that over which they kindle a fire seeking ornaments or goods arises a scum like thereto: thus Allah-SWT propounds the truth and falsity. Then as for the scum,  it  departs, as  rubbish, and as for that which benefits mankind, it lasts on the earth: thus does Allah-SWT propound similitudes.

(13:17)


لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُواْ لِرَبِّهِمُ الْحُسْنَى وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُواْ لَهُ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُ مَعَهُ لاَفْتَدَوْاْ بِهِ أُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمْ سُوءُ الْحِسَابِ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ

Lillatheena istajaboo lirabbihimu alhusna wa(a)llatheena lam yastajeeboo lahu law anna lahum ma fee alardi jameeAAan wamithlahu maAAahu la(i)ftadaw bihi olaika lahum sooo alhisabi wamawahum jahannamu wabisa almihad(u)

For those who answer their Rabb-SWT is originated good. And as for those who do not answer their Rabb-SWT , if they had all that is in the earth together with its like, they would ransom themselves with that. These! For them shall be an evil reckoning; and their resort is Hell, a hapless bed!

(13:18)


In The Name of Allah-SWT the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
SECRETS OF REVELATION:

Allah-SWT is fully Aware of human needs. His-SWT Knowledge is so vast that He-SWT is even Aware of the constantly developing foetuses inside the wombs. Today, medical science has after much effort managed to approximate the sex of the unborn baby, still leaving the possibility of an error. And yet there are so many things unknown. Can the medical science tell what kind of a person the baby will be physically, mentally and intellectually and how long would it live? Indeed, the extensive knowledge of the numerous qualities associated with every newborn lies only with Allah-SWT . Besides, He-SWT is ever Aware of the changes going on in each and every cell right from conception to delivery. Not only is He-SWT Aware of them, but it is happening according to the schedule given by Him-SWT .

 

Allah-SWT ’s Knowledge is all encompassing, for He-SWT knows the secret and the hidden as well as the manifest. He-SWT is far exalted and above the precepts of human contemplation. Yet despite acknowledging His-SWT s Greatness, man associates such attributes with Him-SWT as are thoroughly human. For instance, the Jews and the Christians claim Him-SWT to have children, while the polytheists declare that angels are His-SWT daughters; conversely, the ignorant masses often associate such attributes to fellow beings, angels or Jinn as can only be ascribed to Allah-SWT . He-SWT is so Magnificent in Himself-SWT and in His-SWT Attributes that it is beyond human power to evaluate Him-SWT , and man has no choice but to admit his humility.

 

If anyone speaks in utter secrecy or in public or whether a person moves stealthily at night or in broad daylight, He-SWT Knows everything alike. Not only does He-SWT Know, but also appoints guardian angels who escort a person by His-SWT Command. These angels are assigned numerous tasks, right from conception of an embryo, to the development of a baby in the womb, to its birth and subsequent nourishment and growth, to the extent that the absorption of food in the body is also within their assignment. Moreover, to record each and every word and action said and done by the individual and also to protect accidents and mishaps due to his own negligence by surrounding him constantly, as well as protection against illness also fall within the sphere of their responsibility. Since they escort a person they know everything about him. So when the angels, being Allah-SWT ’s creation know so much, the superiority and vastness of His-SWT Knowledge may well be imagined. When a person is destined to fall ill or meet an accident due to his own follies, or as trial from Allah-SWT , the angels are withdrawn from his protection.

 

Protective Measures against Jinn


It is reported that had there been no guardian angels to protect humans, the Jinn alone would have made their life miserable. This means that people who are teased by the Jinn are to a certain extent, deprived of Divine Protection. The best treatment beside other things is repentance. Similarly the Guardian Angels also protect the person against the whispers of Satan and instil inclination to piety and repulsion to sin in his heart. Hence a sinner pulls himself away from their protection to commit sin. Allah-SWT is so kind that He-SWT never deprives any group or nation of this Divine Protection, unless they themselves renounce it by choice. So when a person opts for sin, Allah-SWT withdraws His-SWT Protection and leaves in lurch. He-SWT then takes to sinning and ultimately qualifies for Divine Punishment. And once Allah-SWT takes away His-SWT Protection from someone and condemns him to doom, there is no one who can help avert it; neither humans nor angels.

 

It is He-SWT , the Omnipotent, Who-SWT has gathered together water and fire, which means lightning in the clouds, which bring hope of a downpour and at the same time, dangers of thunderbolt and devastation also lurk. He-SWT is so Powerful that He-SWT fills the clouds with water and makes the wind carry them around. The thunder praises Him-SWT in submission to His-SWT Magnificence while angels quiver in awe before Him-SWT . He-SWT may send rainfall wherever it pleases Him-SWT , and may destroy by thunderbolts whatever He-SWT wishes. Man commonly comes across these Signs, yet he unfortunately doubts His-SWT Powers and Magnificence and argue over it which is a grave blasphemy. The punishment eventually strikes in the form of an afflicting doom.

 

Only Allah-SWT deserves to be called out for help or in worship as it is His-SWT Attribute to fulfil the needs of everyone. All those who turn to others than Him-SWT for help, such idols, goddesses, unseen forces, angels or people, commit a gross mistake. Everyone save Allah-SWT is a creation itself dependant upon Him-SWT for its existence and sustenance and cannot possibly answer the cry of the needy. This is like thirsty supplication begging a river to quench his thirst by extending the water to his mouth. Obviously a river is incapable of answering such a call even if it is over flowing being itself a creation assigned a particular task. It can never go beyond its given responsibility and can only quench the thirst within the rules Allah-SWT has laid down for it. Similarly the worship, the supplications and the practices of the non believers are futile efforts, based on their personal choice. They do not follow the code of life laid down by Allah-SWT and whatever rituals they practise, fabricated according to their personal whims, can never be accepted by Allah-SWT .

 

Every creation does Sajdah before Allah-SWT , whether voluntarily or otherwise. It has no option but to bow down before Him-SWT and is helplessly subservient to His-SWT Will in matters of birth, growth, colour, health, sickness and death. No one can dare deviate from His-SWT Command in these matters, which is the same as prostrating before Him-SWT . Watch the shadows of objects, how they change from morning to evening and come back to their origin in testimony to the utter insignificance of creation. Verily to Allah-SWT can be attributed all Magnificence, Who-SWT is the Creator of universe.

 

The infidels may be asked as to who is the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth? The heavenly creatures are themselves dependant upon Him-SWT for their stay in the heavens, while those inhabiting the earth. The infidels must be told that Allah-SWT Alone is the Creator, the Sustainer and the Preserver of the heavens and the earth and there is no point associating hopes with the creation instead of the Magnificent Creator. The creation by itself has no control over its fate. This indeed is blindness as they fail to see the Greatness of Creator reflected in everything. Of course, the blind and the seeing can never be alike. Nor can darkness equal light, as the later denotes cognition of Allah-SWT while the former is indicative of ignorance. Still the ignorant attach expectations with others than Allah-SWT . Have their self-proclaimed gods also created something that they expect from them? They must be told that Allah-SWT Alone is the Creator of everything, rest all are His-SWT Creation. He-SWT is Singular in His-SWT Being as well as Attributes and is the Most Powerful.

 

His-SWT s Omnipotence causes the rain to pour down, making rivers and streams to over flow. The water carries hay and silt with it and also the foam similar to the scum which gathers atop melted to make ornaments. This is the similitude of truth and falsehood given by Allah-SWT , whereby falsehood is represented by the scum and silt, a creation of the stormy upheavals of circumstances; nevertheless the scum perishes soon. But truth is like the water, which when above the surface of land benefits Allah-SWT ’s creation and when absorbed in the soil gives life and fertility to it. Moreover, the scum over the melting metals fades away leaving it clean and pure, ready to be crafted into jewellery. These ornaments add glamour and glitter to the human life. This is how Allah-SWT explains the subject through similitudes, that when a reasonable person does not prefer foam and silt over water, or scum over a precious metal, how can the preference of falsehood over truth be deemed as wise?

 

Welfare, in its most comprehensive sense, awaits only those who admit and submit to the Magnificence of their Rabb-SWT . And as for the unfortunate ones who defy Allah-SWT and ascribe partners to Him-SWT , even if they manage to amass double the treasures of the whole world, and try to offer them in ransom on the Day of Judgement, it will not be accepted. And it is impossible for any one person to own the entire possessions of this world. However, if it is supposed and the wealth is doubled, even then such a person is at great loss, for he had earned it at the cost of annoying Allah-SWT . It is, of course, in the pursuit of temporal pleasures that people disobey Allah-SWT , but the Day of Reckoning will indeed be woeful for them. They will be interrogated sternly and as a result condemned to Hell, which is an abode where not a single moment of comfort or ease can ever be imagined.

previousnext