Overview - Surah 13: ar-Ra`d (The Thunder )
The basic theme of the Surah is divine guidance. Allah has created this whole universe. He knows what is in the wombs and every thing is under His knowledge. He sent His prophets and guides to all people for their guidance and now the Last Messenger has come.
Sections:
- Allah's signs in nature.
- Allah knows everything; the whole universe praises Him. Those who have eyes can see the truth. The truth has an abiding power.
- The faithful and unfaithful, their characters and their ends.
- The comfort of the hearts is in the remembrance of Allah. Those who deny Allah, no signs or miracles can help them.
- People in the past also denied Allah's Prophets and laughed at them, but what were their ends.
- Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. The witness is Allah and all those who have the knowledge of the Scriptures of Allah.
The word ar-Ra'd (thunder), which this Surah is named after, is used in the 13th Surah of the Qur'an, in the 13th Juzz and is the 13th Ayat.
This Surah has 43 Ayaat.
Overview
| Total Ayat | 43 |
| Total Words * | 853 |
| Root Words * | 251 |
| Makki / Madani | Madani |
| Chronological Order* | 96th (according to Ibn Abbas) |
| Year of Revelation* | 13th year of Prophethood |
| Events during/before this Surah*
, 2nd Pledge of Aqabah, 1st Pledge of Aqabah, Death of Abu Talib - Death of Khadijah - Stoning at Ta'if - al-Isra wal Mi'raj - Night Journey, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 3, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 2, Boycott of Banu Hashim Yr 1, 2nd Migration to Abyssinia, Physical beating and torture of some Muslims - 1st Migration of Muslims to Abyssinia, Public Invitation to Islam - Persecution of Muslims; antagonism - ridicule - derision - accusation - abuse and false propaganda., Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam , Revelation begins - Private Invitation to Islam
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| Events during/after still to occur*
Migration from Makkah to Madinah - Building of Masjid Nabi in Madinah - Treaty with Jews of Madinah - Marriage of Prophet to Aishah,Change of Qiblah from Jerusalem to Makkah - Battle of Badr,Battle of Uhud,,Battle of Ahzab - Expedition of Banu Quraydhah,Treaty of Hudaiybiyah - Letters to Kings and Rulers,,Conquest of Makkah - Battle of Hunain,Hajj led by Abu Bakr - Expedition of Tabuk,Farewell Hajj by Prophet - Death of Prophet - End of Divine Revelation
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| Names of Prophets Mentioned
No Prophets names are mentioned in this Surah
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| Surah Index
Adversity (patience during) , God (knows that beyond comprehension) , Angels, Astronomy (celestial mechanics) (solar and lunar orbits), Behaviour (each group given a law and way of life) , Botany, Botany (two sexes to every plant) , Charity, Commandments (general religious) , Disbelievers, Disbelievers (God’s promise to) , Earth, Earth (rotation of) , Hell, Hydrology (scum) , Knowledge (study nature to acquire) , Metallurgy (slag) , Pregnancy, Prophet (those who came before had wives and children) , Qur’an (revealed in Arabic) , Resurrection (of humans) , Revelation, Revelation (every age has had its own) , Weather (lightning) , Weather (lightning) (striking people), Weather (rain) , Weather (thunder)
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Theme: Strength and Power of the Truth
The first verse enunciates the main theme of this Surah that is The Message of Muhammad is the very Truth but it is the fault of the people that they are rejecting it. This is the pivot on which the whole Surah turns. This is why it has been shown over and over again in different ways that the basic components of the Message, Monotheism (Tawhid), Resurrection and Prophethood are a reality: therefore they should believe sincerely in these for their own moral and spiritual good. They have been warned that they shall incur their own ruin if they reject them for disbelief (Kufr) by itself is sheer folly and ignorance. Moreover the aim of the Surah is not merely to satisfy the minds but also to appeal to the hearts to accept the Faith. Therefore it does not merely put forward logical arguments in support of the truth of the Message and against the people’s wrong notions. But at appropriate intervals it makes frequent use of sympathetic and earnest appeals to win over their hearts by warning them of the consequences of disbelief and by holding out the happy rewards of Faith so that the foolish people should give up their stubbornness.
Besides this, the objections of the opponents have been answered without any mention of them and those doubts which are proving a hindrance in the way of the Message or were being created by the opponents have been removed. At the same time the Believers; who had been passing through a long and hard ordeal and were feeling tired and waiting anxiously for God’s assistance, have been comforted and filled with hope and courage.
- Interesting note that the word Ra'd (thunder) is used in the 13th Surah in the 13th Juzz and is the 13th Ayat.
Manuscripts / Inscriptions
- The word Ra'd (thunder) is used in the 13th Surah in the 13th Juzz and is the 13th Ayat.
- Words derived from AYN-QA-BA (end, ultimate) appear 9 timers in Surah ar-Ra'd. The highest compared to any other Surah.
- Tranquility of the Heart resides in the remembrance of Allah. الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ "Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured." (13:28)
Total Word Count per Ayat (shows how many words per Ayat) = * | ||
The internal evidence (v. 27-31 and v. 34-48) shows that this Surah was revealed in the last stage of the Mission of the Prophet at Makkah and during the same period in which Surah 7: al-A’raf (The Elevations), Surah 10: Yunus (Jonah) and Surah 11: Hud (Hud) and were sent down.
On the one hand the Prophet’s opponents had been scheming different devices to defeat him and his Mission and on the other his followers had been expressing a desire that by showing a miracle the disbelievers might be brought to the Right Way. In answer, God impressed on the Believers that it is not His way to revert people by this method and that they should not lose heart if He is giving the enemies of the Truth a rope long enough to hang themselves. Otherwise, He is able to show such signs as may bring the dead out of their graves and make them speak (v. 31). But even then these obdurate people will invent an excuse to explain this away. All this decisive evidence clearly proves that this Surah was revealed during the last stage of the Prophet’s Mission at Makkah.
- The Qur’an is the Revelation of God.
- Trees, fruit, and vegetables are among the signs of Allah.
- The consequences shown of previous nations who denied the verses/signs of God.
- The importance of learning the Arabic language as it is the language of the Qur'an (13:37)
- Virtue of the people of intellect, their traits and the reward of those who use their Aql [intellect].
- The Sunnah [laws/patterns] of Allah in dealing with His Messengers.
- Allah never changes the condition of a people unless they are willing to change themselves.
- Those who do not respond to the call of Allah will have no way to escape from the fire of hell.
- It is the remembrance of Allah that provides tranquility to hearts (13:28)
- Messengers have no power to show any miracle except by the permission of Allah.
Tafsir Zone
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Sayyid Qutb Overview (Verses 14 - 15) A Call Without Response What is most amazing is that in the midst of this terrifying atmosphere of lightning, thunder and thunderbolts, and in the midst of glorification of God by thunder and by the angels, and the uproar of furious tempests, some human noises are raised to argue about the One who controls all these forces, giving them their natural characteristics which can easily drown all argument: “Yet they stubbornly argue about God. His might is both stern and wise.” (Verse 13) Their ineffective voices are thus lost in this great and awesome scene whereby prayer and supplication resound like thunder and thunderbolts. Furthermore, these phenomena confirm the presence of God, about whose existence they argue. They also confirm His oneness, and that to Him alone all praises and glorification should be addressed by even the greatest creature in the universe, and the angels who stand in awe of Him. What effect then could the faint voices of such human beings have in their argument about God, the Almighty, the Wise? As they argue about God, they attribute partners to Him and appeal to those alleged partners, when the prayer of truth belongs only to Him. Every other prayer is of no use, bringing only hardship to those who utter it: “To Him is due the prayer aiming at the Truth. Those whom people invoke beside God cannot respond to them in any way. They are just like a man who stretches his open hands towards water, [hoping] that it will come to his mouth; but it will never reach it. The prayer of those without faith is nothing but wandering in grievous error.” (Verse 14) The scene here is very much alive, vivid, expressing an eager appeal. It shows that only one prayer is a true prayer, and it is answered. It is the prayer which is addressed to God, expressing trust in Him and dependence on Him, seeking His help, mercy and guidance. All other prayers are false and futile. Do you not see what happens to those who address their prayers to false deities whom they claim to be God’s partners? Here is one of them, very thirsty, seeking water and stretching his hands towards it, with an open mouth which sends an earnest prayer, asking for the water to reach his mouth, but it never does in spite of his efforts. The same applies to the prayer of those who disbelieve in God’s oneness, and pray to alleged partners: “The prayer of those without faith is nothing but wandering in grievous error.” (Verse 14) But in what situation is this thirsty, earnestly appealing person deprived of even a drop of water? It is in an atmosphere charged with lightning, thunder and clouds heavy with rain. No wonder! These, like all other natural phenomena, operate according to God’s orders. At a time when such people associate partners with God, appealing to them for help, we see that everything in the universe submits to God’s will, operating in accordance with the laws He has set. Whoever of them believes in God willingly submits to Him in total obedience, and whoever disbelieves submits by force. No one is able to challenge God’s will, or to live outside the domain of the laws He has set in operation: “To God prostrate themselves, willingly or unwillingly, all those who are in the heavens and on earth, as do their very shadows, morning and evening.” (Verse 15) Because the general atmosphere here is one of prayer and supplication, the sūrah expresses the notion of submission to God’s will by the act of prostration, which is the clearest symbol of submission. It says that all creatures in the heavens and the earth prostrate themselves before God, but it adds that their shadows also do the same. They submit in the morning and also at the setting of the day when rays are broken and shadows are at their tallest. Thus the person and the shadow share in the prostration, submission and obedience. That is a fact, because shadows do what the persons themselves do. This fact adds its own connotations to the image painted. In effect, we see a double prostration, of both people and shadows. In fact the whole universe with all creatures and their shadows kneel down in submission before God, either willingly through faith or unwillingly. Yet those who are dumb still ascribe partners to God. How strange! Overview (Verses 14 - 15) A Call Without Response What is most amazing is that in the midst of this terrifying atmosphere of lightning, thunder and thunderbolts, and in the midst of glorification of God by thunder and by the angels, and the uproar of furious tempests, some human noises are raised to argue about the One who controls all these forces, giving them their natural characteristics which can easily drown all argument: “Yet they stubbornly argue about God. His might is both stern and wise.” (Verse 13) Their ineffective voices are thus lost in this great and awesome scene whereby prayer and supplication resound like thunder and thunderbolts. Furthermore, these phenomena confirm the presence of God, about whose existence they argue. They also confirm His oneness, and that to Him alone all praises and glorification should be addressed by even the greatest creature in the universe, and the angels who stand in awe of Him. What effect then could the faint voices of such human beings have in their argument about God, the Almighty, the Wise? As they argue about God, they attribute partners to Him and appeal to those alleged partners, when the prayer of truth belongs only to Him. Every other prayer is of no use, bringing only hardship to those who utter it: “To Him is due the prayer aiming at the Truth. Those whom people invoke beside God cannot respond to them in any way. They are just like a man who stretches his open hands towards water, [hoping] that it will come to his mouth; but it will never reach it. The prayer of those without faith is nothing but wandering in grievous error.” (Verse 14) The scene here is very much alive, vivid, expressing an eager appeal. It shows that only one prayer is a true prayer, and it is answered. It is the prayer which is addressed to God, expressing trust in Him and dependence on Him, seeking His help, mercy and guidance. All other prayers are false and futile. Do you not see what happens to those who address their prayers to false deities whom they claim to be God’s partners? Here is one of them, very thirsty, seeking water and stretching his hands towards it, with an open mouth which sends an earnest prayer, asking for the water to reach his mouth, but it never does in spite of his efforts. The same applies to the prayer of those who disbelieve in God’s oneness, and pray to alleged partners: “The prayer of those without faith is nothing but wandering in grievous error.” (Verse 14) But in what situation is this thirsty, earnestly appealing person deprived of even a drop of water? It is in an atmosphere charged with lightning, thunder and clouds heavy with rain. No wonder! These, like all other natural phenomena, operate according to God’s orders. At a time when such people associate partners with God, appealing to them for help, we see that everything in the universe submits to God’s will, operating in accordance with the laws He has set. Whoever of them believes in God willingly submits to Him in total obedience, and whoever disbelieves submits by force. No one is able to challenge God’s will, or to live outside the domain of the laws He has set in operation: “To God prostrate themselves, willingly or unwillingly, all those who are in the heavens and on earth, as do their very shadows, morning and evening.” (Verse 15) Because the general atmosphere here is one of prayer and supplication, the sūrah expresses the notion of submission to God’s will by the act of prostration, which is the clearest symbol of submission. It says that all creatures in the heavens and the earth prostrate themselves before God, but it adds that their shadows also do the same. They submit in the morning and also at the setting of the day when rays are broken and shadows are at their tallest. Thus the person and the shadow share in the prostration, submission and obedience. That is a fact, because shadows do what the persons themselves do. This fact adds its own connotations to the image painted. In effect, we see a double prostration, of both people and shadows. In fact the whole universe with all creatures and their shadows kneel down in submission before God, either willingly through faith or unwillingly. Yet those who are dumb still ascribe partners to God. How strange! |
Ibn Kathir (English)
Sayyid Qutb
Sha'rawi
Al Jalalain
الطبري - جامع البيان
ابن كثير - تفسير القرآن العظيم
القرطبي - الجامع لأحكام
البغوي - معالم التنزيل
ابن أبي حاتم الرازي - تفسير القرآن
ابن عاشور - التحرير والتنوير
ابن القيم - تفسير ابن قيّم
السيوطي - الدر المنثور
الشنقيطي - أضواء البيان
ابن الجوزي - زاد المسير
الآلوسي - روح المعاني
ابن عطية - المحرر الوجيز
الرازي - مفاتيح الغيب
أبو السعود - إرشاد العقل السليم
الزمخشري - الكشاف
البقاعي - نظم الدرر
الهداية إلى بلوغ النهاية — مكي ابن أبي طالب
القاسمي - محاسن التأويل
الماوردي - النكت والعيون
السعدي - تيسير الكريم الرحمن
عبد الرحمن الثعالبي - الجواهر الحسان
السمرقندي - بحر العلوم
أبو إسحاق الثعلبي - الكشف والبيان
الشوكاني - فتح القدير
النيسابوري - التفسير البسيط
أبو حيان - البحر المحيط
البيضاوي - أنوار التنزيل
النسفي - مدارك التنزيل
ابن جُزَيّ - التسهيل لعلوم التنزيل
علي الواحدي النيسابوري - الوجيز
السيوطي - تفسير الجلالين
المختصر في التفسير — مركز تفسير
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Overview (Verses 14 - 15) A Call Without Response What is most amazing is that in the midst of this terrifying atmosphere of lightning, thunder and thunderbolts, and in the midst of glorification of God by thunder and by the angels, and the uproar of furious tempests, some human noises are raised to argue about the One who controls all these forces, giving them their natural characteristics which can easily drown all argument: “Yet they stubbornly argue about God. His might is both stern and wise.” (Verse 13) Their ineffective voices are thus lost in this great and awesome scene whereby prayer and supplication resound like thunder and thunderbolts. Furthermore, these phenomena confirm the presence of God, about whose existence they argue. They also confirm His oneness, and that to Him alone all praises and glorification should be addressed by even the greatest creature in the universe, and the angels who stand in awe of Him. What effect then could the faint voices of such human beings have in their argument about God, the Almighty, the Wise? As they argue about God, they attribute partners to Him and appeal to those alleged partners, when the prayer of truth belongs only to Him. Every other prayer is of no use, bringing only hardship to those who utter it: “To Him is due the prayer aiming at the Truth. Those whom people invoke beside God cannot respond to them in any way. They are just like a man who stretches his open hands towards water, [hoping] that it will come to his mouth; but it will never reach it. The prayer of those without faith is nothing but wandering in grievous error.” (Verse 14) The scene here is very much alive, vivid, expressing an eager appeal. It shows that only one prayer is a true prayer, and it is answered. It is the prayer which is addressed to God, expressing trust in Him and dependence on Him, seeking His help, mercy and guidance. All other prayers are false and futile. Do you not see what happens to those who address their prayers to false deities whom they claim to be God’s partners? Here is one of them, very thirsty, seeking water and stretching his hands towards it, with an open mouth which sends an earnest prayer, asking for the water to reach his mouth, but it never does in spite of his efforts. The same applies to the prayer of those who disbelieve in God’s oneness, and pray to alleged partners: “The prayer of those without faith is nothing but wandering in grievous error.” (Verse 14) But in what situation is this thirsty, earnestly appealing person deprived of even a drop of water? It is in an atmosphere charged with lightning, thunder and clouds heavy with rain. No wonder! These, like all other natural phenomena, operate according to God’s orders. At a time when such people associate partners with God, appealing to them for help, we see that everything in the universe submits to God’s will, operating in accordance with the laws He has set. Whoever of them believes in God willingly submits to Him in total obedience, and whoever disbelieves submits by force. No one is able to challenge God’s will, or to live outside the domain of the laws He has set in operation: “To God prostrate themselves, willingly or unwillingly, all those who are in the heavens and on earth, as do their very shadows, morning and evening.” (Verse 15) Because the general atmosphere here is one of prayer and supplication, the sūrah expresses the notion of submission to God’s will by the act of prostration, which is the clearest symbol of submission. It says that all creatures in the heavens and the earth prostrate themselves before God, but it adds that their shadows also do the same. They submit in the morning and also at the setting of the day when rays are broken and shadows are at their tallest. Thus the person and the shadow share in the prostration, submission and obedience. That is a fact, because shadows do what the persons themselves do. This fact adds its own connotations to the image painted. In effect, we see a double prostration, of both people and shadows. In fact the whole universe with all creatures and their shadows kneel down in submission before God, either willingly through faith or unwillingly. Yet those who are dumb still ascribe partners to God. How strange! |
- Surah 13. Ar-Ra'd - Saad al Ghamidi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UalAv_P_A84&list=PLhM2xiAUdw2cAqW_o3zZkbhJNw0bnaBZN&index=13
- Surah 13. Ar-Ra'd Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWkT1zeGtGk&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM&index=13
- Surah 13. Ar-Ra'd Muhammad Al Luhaydan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh4wCMHP3Ho&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZe&index=13
- Surah Ar-Ra'd Idris Akbar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxzEEvalXQU
- Surah 13.Ar-Ra'd muhammad Minshawi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V30R2Aqwu8&index=13&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG
- Dr Israr Ahmed Tafsir Surah Ra'd (34) to Surah Al Hijr1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roa5zvw4PkA&index=59&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
- Surah Ra'd (34) to Surah Al Hijr2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMg52JQcE5c&index=60&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
