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 4 contains Āyāt / Parts 5
  • Siparah/ Volume 13

bismillah

وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ لَوْلاَ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِ قُلْ إِنَّ اللّهَ يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَاء وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ أَنَابَ

Wayaqoolu allatheena kafaroo lawla onzila AAalayhi ayatun min rabbihi qul inna Allaha yudillu man yashao wayahdee ilayhi man anab(a)

And those who disbelieve say: why is it that a Sign is not sent down to him from his Rabb-SWT ? Say you-SW  : verily Allaah-SWT sends astray whom He-SWT will, and guides to Himself-SWT whoever turns in penitence.

(13:27)

الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

Allatheena amanoo watatmainnu quloobuhum bithikri Allahi ala bithikri Allahi tatmainnu alquloob(u)

They are those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allaah-SWT . Lo! In the remembrance of Allaah-SWT hearts do find comfort.

(13:28)

الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ الصَّالِحَاتِ طُوبَى لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَآبٍ

Allatheena amanoo waAAamiloo a(l)ssalihati tooba lahum wahusnu maab(in)

Those who believe and work righteous works, for them is bliss and a happy resort.

(13:29)

كَذَلِكَ أَرْسَلْنَاكَ فِي أُمَّةٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهَا أُمَمٌ لِّتَتْلُوَ عَلَيْهِمُ الَّذِيَ أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَهُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ بِالرَّحْمَـنِ قُلْ هُوَ رَبِّي لا إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ مَتَابِ

Kathalika arsalnaka fee ommatin qad khalat min qabliha omamun litatluwa AAalayhimu allathee awhayna ilayka wahum yakfuroona bi(al)rrahmani qul huwa rabbee la ilaha illa huwa AAalayhi tawakkaltu wailayhi matab(i)

Thus We-SWT have sent you-SAAW  to a community before whom other communities have passed away, in order that you-SW  may recite to them what We-SWT have revealed to you-SW  ; yet they deny the Compassionate. Say you-SW  : He-SWT is my Rabb-SWT , there is no god but He-SWT; on Him-SWT I rely, and to Him-SWT is my return in penitence.

(13:30)

وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْآنًا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ الْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ الأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ الْمَوْتَى بَل لِّلّهِ الأَمْرُ جَمِيعًا أَفَلَمْ يَيْأَسِ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَن لَّوْ يَشَاء اللّهُ لَهَدَى النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَلاَ يَزَالُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ تُصِيبُهُم بِمَا صَنَعُواْ قَارِعَةٌ أَوْ تَحُلُّ قَرِيبًا مِّن دَارِهِمْ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ وَعْدُ اللّهِ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ

Walaw anna quranan suyyirat bihi aljibalu aw quttiAAat bihi alardu aw kullima bihi almawta bal lillahi alamru jameeAAan afalam yayasi allatheena amanoo an law yashao Allahu lahada a(l)nnasa jameeAAan wala yazalu allatheena kafaroo tuseebuhum bima sanaAAoo qariAAatun aw tahullu qareeban min darihim hattayatiya waAAdu Allahi inna Allaha la yukhlifu almeeAAad(a)

And if there were a Quran whereby mountains could be moved or the earth could be traversed or the dead could be spoken to, it would be in vain. Aye! The affair belongs to Allaah-SWT entirely. Have not then those who believe yet known that had Allaah-SWT willed, He-SWT would have guided all mankind. And a rattling adversity does not cease to befall those who disbelieve for what they have wrought or to alight near their dwelling, until Allaah-SWT ’s Promise comes; verily Allaah-SWT does not fail His-SWT appointment.

(13:30)
In The Name of Allah-SWT the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
SECRETS OF REVELATION:

It was indeed absurd of the infidels to demand why the desired miracles had not come about at Holy Prophet-SW ‘s hands and why his Rabb-SWT was not sending Signs of their choice unto him-SW ? The fact is that the entire life of the Holy Prophet-SW was itself a living miracle; the Qurān is another great miracle and there are countless others, beyond human calculation. When all these miracles carry no significance to them, what guarantee is there that they will embrace Islam upon the manifestation of yet another one. In fact their acceptance is not conditional to any miracle, rather Allah-SWT has denied them access to guidance because of their sins, and they have gone astray permanently. Allah-SWT guides those who turn to Him-SWT and atleast desire to be guided to the truth. Otherwise it would amount to imposing something upon them which would render reckoning meaningless. The least one can do is that through witnessing nature and listening to the devoted servants of Allah-SWT he can develop an urge to follow the truth. It is upon this desire that Allah-SWT makes some way for guidance and opens up avenues of wisdom and insight on mankind.

 

What Is Tranquillity Of Heart?

The believers were also once part of the same infidel society. But the tranquillity of their hearts lies in Allah-SWT ’s Zikr, for it is certain that only through Zikr the Qulūb find peace. According to the Commentators Zikr here also denotes the Qurān to which the infidels paid no heed and demanded miracles of their own choice. However, it must be remembered that the revelation of the Qurān took twenty-three years but the blessings of Zikr and the tranquillity of heart started flowing from the moment the Holy Prophet-SW was raised. From the very first day of his Prophethood, whoever embraced Islam such as Hadhrat Khadijah–RAU was honoured with the exalted status of a Companion–RAU. And as declared by the Qurān, a distinctive feature of the Companions–RAU was that from the outer layer of their skin down to the deepest core of their hearts each and every particle of them stood illuminated with Allah-SWT ’s Zikr. This enlightenment was based on faith. Faith is in fact synonymous to cognisance of the Holy Prophet-SW and leads to an unwavering trust in him. This affinity with the Holy Prophet-SW invites the Barakah of Prophethood and in turn confers the honourable status of Companionship. Consequently, not only the heart but also the entire body is engrossed in Zikr, bringing in peace and opening the avenues of trust in Him-SWT .

 

It is typical of the human heart to be restive for personal needs and desires. For this purpose it sometimes leaps at means or yields before others in hope of some gain. However, once blessed with cognition of Allah-SWT it allows only Him-SWT to dwell inside it. His-SWT splendour illuminates it and it no longer needs to depend on any one else save Him-SWT . This is state of tranquillity of the heart the Companions-RAU directly acquire this state from Holy Prophet-SAAW. The Companions-RAU passed directly to Tab’ain and from them it went down to Tab’a Tab’ain. The attainment of Barakah is indeed the very fruit of company of an accomplished sheikh and this is what the Tawajjuh is which forms the basis of all Sufi orders those who remained deprived of this Tawajjuh but recited the Quran and paid due heed to worship did gain peace at heart , but it was not of the same level enjoyed by those blessed with the company of the accomplished.

 

The fruit of this tranquillity of heart is again a complete faith and a flawless trust in Allah-SWT , for faith indeed is the seed as well as the fruit. Faith begets Zikr and Zikr begets an excellence in faith which transform the deeds of a person in accordance with the teaching Holy Prophet-SW only then this can be termed as righteous, deserving glad tiding,  in eternal  success and bless abode. The rising of Holy prophet-SW is nothing enigmatic that the people should reject it in amazement .Rather many Prophets-AS as has been sent unto various nation afore. The infidels are well aware of their chronicles. Similar is the raising of Holy prophet-SW for this nation

 

Receipt And Dispensation Of Revelation Is A Prophetic Prerogative

The Holy Prophet-SW is called upon to convey to the people what is revealed to him-SW and also to explain its meanings .For without knowing the meanings, a mere recital does not achieve the desired goal. And only those meaning will be taken as valid which were explained by Holy Prophet-SW , grasped and practised by the companions-RAU, and this practise was duly approved by him-SW . It was a divine favour Who-SWT is indeed extremely merciful His-SWT favours are beyond count. The greatest of them include the raising of Holy Prophet-SW , the revelation of His-SWT word and the general invitation towards it. Yet the unfortunate folk do not hesitate to defy Him-SWT let alone believe in Him-SWT . The Holy Prophet-SW must tell them that hostility can in no way harm him-SW as he-SW is protected and fully provided for by Allah-SWT . And it is He-SWT alone Who-SWT worthy for worship.  The Holy Prophet-SW relies upon Him-SWT and turns to Him-SWT as evenly everyone will do.

 

The polytheists of Makkah assert that if the Quran is His-SWT Word and the Holy Prophet-SW His-SWT messenger, he-SW should ask Him-SWT (1) to shift the mountain farther away from Makkah to broaden valley. (2) To make them capable travelling with winds like Prophet Suleman-AS so that  they could go far off land for trade and (3) to bring the dead to life like prophet Isa-AS  did and especially Qusa bin kalab  so that they could ask him some questions.  Allah-SWT revealed that even if their demands were met they would still not accept the truth because the acceptance and refusal is by the His-SWT will. He-SWT has blessed man with intelligence, surrounded him with a glamorous and alluring world and made guidance conditional to the inner yearning which makes one bow only before Him-SWT .When the polytheists  lack the urge, how can miracle lead them to faith? According to Tafsir-e-Mazhari the splitting of the moon was far greater miracle than the shifting of the mountains, and the speaking of pebbles far superior to the conversation by the dead. Why then had they not accepted faith? This is because this has no effect by themselves and the real command rest with Allah-SWT .

 

Despite their absurd demands, why do the believers expect any good from them and also desire the miracle, hoping that these would convert the entire population of Makkah to Islam .For sure Allah-SWT is All Powerful and can do whatever pleases Him-SWT . Yet He-SWT decided not to impose the guidance on anyone. The believers must not, therefore, have high hopes of their reformation. Rather, they should observe the inflictions invoked upon them for their disbelief. Sometimes they are plagued by epidemics, at others they are devastated by the wars and fear perpetually haunts them whenever a settlement is stuck by calamity. Certainly Allah-SWT ’s promise will come true and Makkah will be conquered to become the cradle of Islam. Allah-SWT has promised this victory to His-SWT Prophet-SW and He-SWT never goes back on His-SWT words. He-SWT is not dependent on anyone for fulfillment of His-SWT promise nor is it conditional on the acceptance by theses non believers.  

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