Ar-Ra'd (ٱلرَّعْد)

Surah Ar-Ra'd (English meaning: The Thunder) is the 13th chapter of the Qur'an. Its name is derived from the mention of thunder in verse 13:13: "And the thunder exalts [Allah] with praise of Him – and the angels [as well] from fear of Him." Surah Ar-Ra'd is situated in the 13th Parah/Juz of the Qur'an and consists of 43 verses (ayat) divided into 6 Ruku (sections). It is placed after Surah Yusuf and before Surah Ibrahim. While there is some disagreement between the schools of thought, most scholars collectively consider the Surah to be a Makki Surah.

Surah Ar-Ra'd was revealed in the late Makkan Period during a period of time when the Prophet (ﷺ) and his followers faced extreme opposition and persecution from the Quraish tribe. One notable incident related to the revelation of this Surah involves the Quraysh leaders challenging the Prophet to bring a miracle or a sign to prove his prophethood. In response, Surah Ar-Ra'd highlights the miracles and signs already present in the natural world, such as the thunder and lightning, as evidence of God's power and the truth of His revelation.

The Surah mainly focuses on the Omnipotence of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) through natural phenomena with clear and vivid descriptions of thunder and lightning which are seen as signs of Allah's powers and a stark reminder of His presence and control over the universe. Thunder symbolizes God's awe-inspiring power and serves as a natural phenomenon that evokes fear and respect and reminds humans of God's might and power as well as the reality of the Day of Judgment. The Surah also defends the authenticity of the Quran and reaffirms the divine origin of the revelation while challenging the disbelievers to produce something similar. 

١٣ - ٱلرَّعْد

13 - Ar-Ra'd

الۗمّۗرٰ۝۰ۣ تِلْكَ اٰيٰتُ الْكِتٰبِ۝۰ۭ وَالَّذِيْۗ اُنْزِلَ اِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَّبِّكَ الْحَقُّ وَلٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ۝۱
Aliflammeemra tilka ayatu alkitabi waallathee onzila ilayka min rabbika alhaqqu walakinna akthara alnnasi la yuminoona

English

Ahmed Ali

ALIF LAM MIM RA. These are the verses of the Scripture. Whatsoever is sent down to you from your Lord is the truth; but most men do not believe.

1

اَللہُ الَّذِيْ رَفَعَ السَّمٰوٰتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَہَا ثُمَّ اسْتَوٰى عَلَي الْعَرْشِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ۝۰ۭ كُلٌّ يَّجْرِيْ لِاَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى۝۰ۭ يُدَبِّرُ الْاَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ الْاٰيٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ بِلِقَاۗءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوْقِنُوْنَ۝۲
Allahu allathee rafaAAa alssamawati bighayri AAamadin tarawnaha thumma istawa AAala alAAarshi wasakhkhara alshshamsa waalqamara kullun yajree liajalin musamman yudabbiru alamra yufassilu alayati laAAallakum biliqai rabbikum tooqinoona

English

Ahmed Ali

It is God who raised the skies without support, as you can see, then assumed His throne, and enthralled the sun and the moon (so that) each runs to a predetermined course. He disposes all affairs, distinctly explaining every sign that you may be certain of the meeting with your Lord.

2

وَہُوَالَّذِيْ مَدَّ الْاَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ فِيْہَا رَوَاسِيَ وَاَنْہٰرًا۝۰ۭ وَمِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرٰتِ جَعَلَ فِيْہَا زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ يُغْشِي الَّيْلَ النَّہَارَ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَّتَفَكَّرُوْنَ۝۳
Wahuwa allathee madda alarda wajaAAala feeha rawasiya waanharan wamin kulli alththamarati jaAAala feeha zawjayni ithnayni yughshee allayla alnnahara inna fee thalika laayatin liqawmin yatafakkaroona

English

Ahmed Ali

It is He who stretched the earth and placed upon it stabilisers and rivers; and made two of a pair of every fruit; (and) He covers up the day with the night. In these are signs for those who reflect.

3

وَفِي الْاَرْضِ قِطَعٌ مُّتَجٰوِرٰتٌ وَّجَنّٰتٌ مِّنْ اَعْنَابٍ وَّزَرْعٌ وَّنَخِيْلٌ صِنْوَانٌ وَّغَيْرُ صِنْوَانٍ يُّسْقٰى بِمَاۗءٍ وَّاحِدٍ۝۰ۣ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَہَا عَلٰي بَعْضٍ فِي الْاُكُلِ۝۰ۭ اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَّعْقِلُوْنَ۝۴
Wafee alardi qitaAAun mutajawiratun wajannatun min aAAnabin wazarAAun wanakheelun sinwanun waghayru sinwanin yusqa bimain wahidin wanufaddilu baAAdaha AAala baAAdin fee alokuli inna fee thalika laayatin liqawmin yaAAqiloona

English

Ahmed Ali

On the earth are tracts adjoining one another, and vineyards, fields of corn and date-palm trees, some forked, some with single trunks, yet all irrigated by the self-same water, though We make some more excellent than the others in fruit. There are surely signs in them for those who understand.

4

وَاِنْ تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌ قَوْلُہُمْ ءَ اِذَا كُنَّا تُرٰبًا ءَ اِنَّا لَفِيْ خَلْقٍ جَدِيْدٍ۝۰ۥۭ اُولٰۗىِٕكَ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا بِرَبِّہِمْ۝۰ۚ وَاُولٰۗىِٕكَ الْاَغْلٰلُ فِيْۗ اَعْنَاقِہِمْ۝۰ۚ وَاُولٰۗىِٕكَ اَصْحٰبُ النَّارِ۝۰ۚ ہُمْ فِيْہَا خٰلِدُوْنَ۝۵
Wain taAAjab faAAajabun qawluhum aitha kunna turaban ainna lafee khalqin jadeedin olaika allatheena kafaroo birabbihim waolaika alaghlalu fee aAAnaqihim waolaika ashabu alnnari hum feeha khalidoona

English

Ahmed Ali

If you are surprised, then astonishing is the speech (of those who say:) "Having turned to dust shall we be raised as a new creation?" They are the ones who deny their Lord, and they will have collars around their necks. They are the inmates of Hell, where they will abide for ever.

5

وَيَسْتَعْجِلُوْنَكَ بِالسَّيِّـئَۃِ قَبْلَ الْحَسَـنَۃِ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِہِمُ الْمَثُلٰتُ۝۰ۭ وَاِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُوْ مَغْفِرَۃٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلٰي ظُلْمِہِمْ۝۰ۚ وَاِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيْدُ الْعِقَابِ۝۶
WayastaAAjiloonaka bialssayyiati qabla alhasanati waqad khalat min qablihimu almathulatu wainna rabbaka lathoo maghfiratin lilnnasi AAala thulmihim wainna rabbaka lashadeedu alAAiqabi

English

Ahmed Ali

They want you to hasten the evil before the good, even when there have been examples of retribution before them. Though certainly your Lord forgives human beings for their iniquities, your Lord is severe of retribution.

6

وَيَقُوْلُ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا لَوْلَاۗ اُنْزِلَ عَلَيْہِ اٰيَۃٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّہٖ۝۰ۭ اِنَّمَاۗ اَنْتَ مُنْذِرٌ وَّ لِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ ہَادٍ۝۷ۧ
Wayaqoolu allatheena kafaroo lawla onzila AAalayhi ayatun min rabbihi innama anta munthirun walikulli qawmin hadin

English

Ahmed Ali

The unbelievers say: "Why no miracle was sent down to him by his Lord?" But you are only a bearer of warnings, and a guide for every nation.

7

اَللہُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَحْمِلُ كُلُّ اُنْثٰى وَمَا تَغِيْضُ الْاَرْحَامُ وَمَا تَزْدَادُ۝۰ۭ وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ عِنْدَہٗ بِمِقْدَارٍ۝۸
Allahu yaAAlamu ma tahmilu kullu ontha wama tagheedu alarhamu wama tazdadu wakullu shayin AAindahu bimiqdarin

English

Ahmed Ali

God is cognisant of what every female carries in her womb, or what the wombs want or exceed (of their disburdening time). With Him all things are in determined measure.

8

عٰلِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّہَادَۃِ الْكَبِيْرُ الْمُتَعَالِ۝۹
AAalimu alghaybi waalshshahadati alkabeeru almutaAAali

English

Ahmed Ali

He is the knower of the known and the unknown, the mighty and most high.

9

سَوَاۗءٌ مِّنْكُمْ مَّنْ اَسَرَّ الْقَوْلَ وَمَنْ جَہَرَ بِہٖ وَمَنْ ہُوَمُسْتَخْفٍؚبِالَّيْلِ وَسَارِبٌۢ بِالنَّہَارِ۝۱۰
Sawaon minkum man asarra alqawla waman jahara bihi waman huwa mustakhfin biallayli wasaribun bialnnahari

English

Ahmed Ali

He who keeps his secret among you is the same to Him as he who speaks out publicly, and he who hides himself in the night and walks freely in the day.

10

The Themes of Surah Ar-Ra'd (ٱلرَّعْد)

Surah Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder) covers several profound themes and subject matters and emphasizes the power and sovereignty of Allah, the signs of His creation, and the consequences of belief and disbelief. Here are the key themes:

Divine Power and Oneness of God (Tawhid) Evident from Nature

Surah Ar-Ra’d places emphasis on the concept of the Oneness of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) i.e., Tawhid. The surah begins with a powerful description of thunder, a natural phenomenon that is a reminder of Allah as the Creator and the Master of this universe as well as the Heavens and the Earth, and He alone controls it all. This is a sure sign of a Creator that He can produce and control thunder, a force of immense power and destruction.

Surah Ar-Ra'd does not stop at highlighting Allah's (SWT) power through thunder and continues to tress on the fact that only Allah (SWT) can make these phenomena happen. It encourages contemplation on the various natural phenomena, such as the rain bringing life after drought, the alternation of day and night, and the balance and perfect harmony in the universe. These are seen as signs pointing towards the existence of a Creator with immense wisdom and design, as the beauty and order in nature are seen as evidence of Allah's (SWT) grandeur.

Responding to Disbelief and Mockery

The surah responds to the arguments used by the disbelievers of Mecca as the Quraish doubted the message of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the Quran itself. The surah responds in several ways:

  • Challenge: It challenges the disbelievers to produce something like the Quran. The eloquence, structure, and message of the Quran are seen as miracles and testaments to their divine origins.
  • Logical Reasoning: The Surah also uses logic and reason to demonstrate the complete absurdity of their claims. For example, in 13:16, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) asks how can idols which are created by humans, control creation.
  • Signs and Warnings: The Surah highlights and reminds the people of today of the past communities that rejected messengers and the consequences that they faced. This serves as a warning to those who reject the message of Islam.

Reward and Punishment in the Afterlife

Another predominant theme in the surah is reward and punishment. It provides consolation to those who follow the religion and a wake-up call to the believers and non-believers who are far from the teachings of Allah. The surah then seeks to bring the blessings felt in this life into perspective: food, progeny, and guidance, in addition to the reward said to be in paradise. It informs the disbelievers of the wrath that awaits them after they deny the message of Allah (SWT) and reminds the believers of the reward they are to gain after facing Hellfire. It gives strict warnings to the disbelievers and good tidings to the believers.

Patience and Steadfastness in Facing Hardship:

The surah recognizes the ordeal of those who believed in the Oneness of Allah in a society that was largely inclined towards idol worshipping. It provides comfort to those who are suffering persecution and reassures the audience that prior prophet dealt with hardships as well, but they did not waver in their beliefs. The surah strongly stresses the aspect of patience and reliance on Allah, as in the end, Allah (SWT) will definitely reward those who stick to their faith.

Virtues and Benefits of Surah Ar-Ra'd

Surah Ar-Ra'd is a source of strength and revelation to the believers. Descriptions of the nature of Allah (SWT) and His greatness, which includes thunder and lightning that remind the people of His greatness (13:13), are common indications of His power. The surah provides comfort and a message of reassurance for those who seek the assistance of Allah (SWT). The Quran itself affirms, "And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out" (Quran 65:2).

In addition, Surah Ar-Ra'd encourages believers to ponder the wonders of nature, from the growth of vegetation (13:4) to the extreme power of lightning (13:13). Such reflection enhances the understanding of divine attribute of creation as well as the understanding of the guidance offered by Allah (SWT) through the Quran. In terms of moral and spiritual advice, lessons can be learned from the fates of believers and disbelievers as depicted in the surah by the comparison made in verses (13:18-25).

The surah offers valuable moral and spiritual guidance. Finally, the immense rewards promised for reciting and contemplating the Quran extend to Surah Ar-Ra'd. The surah's emphasis on the afterlife and accountability (13:16-17) reminds believers of the eternal rewards awaiting them for their faith and righteous deeds.