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 |
| Unique Root Words * | 4 |
| 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
18th Century
18th Century
13th Century AH
13th Century AH
8th Century AH
8th Century AH
19th Century
19th Century
10th Century
10th Century
9th/15th-10th/16th century
9th/15th-10th/16th century
4th/10th Century
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
- 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) = 4* | ||
| # | Root Word | Frequency in Surah | Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | أ ل ه | 35 | 2851 |
| 2. | ٱلَّذِى | 27 | 1464 |
| 3. | ق و ل | 16 | 1722 |
| 4. | ر ب ب | 13 | 980 |
| 5. | ك ف ر | 11 | 525 |
| 6. | ك ل ل | 10 | 377 |
| 7. | أ ر ض | 10 | 461 |
| 8. | إِلَىٰ | 9 | 742 |
| 9. | ع ق ب | 9 | 80 |
| 10. | ع ل م | 8 | 854 |
| Root Word | Frequency in Surah |
Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|
| أ ل ه | 35 | 2851 |
| ٱلَّذِى | 27 | 1464 |
| ق و ل | 16 | 1722 |
| ر ب ب | 13 | 980 |
| ك ف ر | 11 | 525 |
| ك ل ل | 10 | 377 |
| أ ر ض | 10 | 461 |
| إِلَىٰ | 9 | 742 |
| ع ق ب | 9 | 80 |
| ع ل م | 8 | 854 |
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 19 - 21) Great scenes drawn from the vast universe and the world beyond, as well as the depths of the human soul were presented in the first half of the sūrah. Now, this second half adds a fine rationality that deals with the great issues of revelation and the divine message, God’s oneness, the unbelievers’ attributing partners to Him, as well as their demand for miracles and their hastening of God’s punishment. This new phase opens with a demonstration of the natures of belief and denial of the truth. The former is evidence of true knowledge, while the latter is blindness. Another touch delineates the nature of believers and unbelievers, and the distinctive qualities of both. This is followed by a scene of the Day of Judgement and the bliss it brings to the former and suffering to the latter. We then have a description of plentiful and stinted provisions as determined by God. Then follows an image of believing hearts gaining reassurance through remembrance of God. Then we move to a description of the Qur’ān which almost makes mountains move, or the earth split apart, or the dead speak. A further image touches on the calamities that befall unbelievers or which strike a short distance from their quarters. This is followed by a sarcastic remark directed at the unbelievers’ false gods. Mention is then made of the doom of past communities so as to rid the earth of them time after time. The closing part contains a stern warning to those who deny the message of the Prophet Muĥammad (peace be upon him), threatening to leave them to their inevitable doom. All this shows that the strong beat we encountered in the first half of the sūrah now prepares us for a close look at the issues raised. Our minds are open to receive these issues and accept the message of the sūrah. The two parts are mutually complementary, although each has its special effects, all of which serve one issue and promote the same goal. Qualities of the Righteous The first question addressed in this part of the sūrah was already raised in the first half. Here, however, it is presented rather differently: “Is, then, he who knows that what has been revealed to you by your Lord is the Truth like one who is blind? Only those who are endowed with understanding keep this in mind.” (Verse 19) This verse states clearly that the opposite of a person who knows that the revelation received by the Prophet from his Lord is the truth is not one who does not have that knowledge, but one who is blind. This is a unique way of expressing that which touches hearts and magnifies differences. At the same time it states the truth without any exaggeration, addition or distortion. This is a great, clear and readily apparent fact that remains unnoticed only by he who is blind. People, then, belong to one of two groups: those who keep their eyes open, so they know it, and those who are blind, so they do not. Real blindness is that which shuts minds, intelligence and learning faculties. It is a blindness which switches off the source of spiritual knowledge. “Only those who are endowed with understanding keep this in mind.” (Verse 19) Those are the ones who have open minds and active faculties of understanding. When those are reminded of the truth, they keep it in mind, and when they are alerted to its indications, they appreciate them. The sūrah outlines a few qualities of those who are endowed with understanding: “Those who are true to their bond with God and never break their covenant.” (Verse 20) God’s bond and covenant are referred to here as being absolute. This includes every bond and covenant made with all people. The greatest bond which provides a basis for all others is faith. The most important covenant which embraces all others is that which binds people to fulfil the requirements of faith. The bond of faith is both old and new. It is as old as human nature which conforms to the law that governs all existence. Human nature is endowed with a direct understanding that there is a single power which has brought the universe into existence, and that this power belongs to the Creator who is the One to be worshipped. It also includes the covenant made with all human generations before they are born, as we interpret the relevant Qur’ānic verse: “Your Lord brought forth their offspring from the loins of the children of Adam, and called them to bear witness about themselves. [He said]: Am I not your Lord?’ They replied: ‘Yes, indeed, we bear witness to that.” (7: 172) At the same time, it is a new bond, renewed with the messengers whom God has sent to re-establish the faith, remind people of it and provide its details. They do not initiate the bond of faith, but they outline its requirements of submission to God alone to the exclusion of all others. This bond also requires good action, proper behaviour, and turning always to God alone who is the other party to the old covenant. On the basis of the bond and covenant with God, all bonds and covenants with human beings are established, whether with God’s Messenger or with people, relatives or strangers, individuals or communities. A person who remains true to the first bond will remain true to all bonds because this is a duty. When one fulfils the duties required by the original covenant, one will fulfil all that is required towards other people, because this is a stipulation of the original covenant. Thus, in these few words the sūrah outlines the basic rule upon which the whole structure of human life is built. “And who keep together what God has bidden to be joined; who fear their Lord and dread the terrors of the reckoning.” (Verse 21) The first of these qualities is expressed in general terms, referring to everything that should remain united or joined together. Hence it means total obedience, following the established rules and the code God has laid down, without deviation. If the details were provided here about everything that should remain joined, it would be a very long list. There is no need to provide such details here. For it is enough to impress on us the need to remain constant, ready to obey, and maintain our bond with God. The last part of the verse implicitly describes the feelings that accompany such complete obedience: “who fear their Lord and dread the terrors of the reckoning.” Conscious of God, they dread the reckoning. But as they are endowed with understanding, they prepare for that reckoning before it is due, so that they will have an easy one. |
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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- 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
