Ar-Ra'd, ( ), or the Thunder,
[ George Sale's ]translation
Translation is the communication of the semantics, meaning of a #Source and target languages, source-language text by means of an Dynamic and formal equivalence, equivalent #Source and target languages, target-language text. The English la ...
is the 13th chapter (
sūrah
A ''surah'' (; ; ) is an Arabic word meaning 'chapter' in the Quran. There are 114 ''suwar'' in the Quran, each divided into ayah, verses (). The ''suwar'' are of unequal length; the shortest ''surah'' (al-Kawthar) has only three verses, while ...
) of the
Qur'an
The Quran, also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation directly from God ('' Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which consist of individual verses ('). Besides ...
, composed of 43 verses (
āyāt). It has
Muqattat (Quranic initials)
المر(Alif. Lam. Mim. Ra or ALMR).
Verse 15 contains a
prostration
Prostration is the gesture of placing one's body in a reverentially or submissively prone position. Typically prostration is distinguished from the lesser acts of bowing or kneeling by involving a part of the body above the knee, especially t ...
symbol
۩:
:
Whatsoever is in heaven and on earth worshippeth GOD, voluntarily or of force; and their shadows also, morning and evening. ۩
[
This sūrah is concerned with the oneness of God, the message, the Day of judgement, and the penalty. The ]sūrah
A ''surah'' (; ; ) is an Arabic word meaning 'chapter' in the Quran. There are 114 ''suwar'' in the Quran, each divided into ayah, verses (). The ''suwar'' are of unequal length; the shortest ''surah'' (al-Kawthar) has only three verses, while ...
revolves around an important axis that what is truth is clear through power and stability; what is falsehood is clear through its weakness. The verses call upon people to not be deceived by the glitter of falsehood because it is inevitably fleeting, while the truth shines throughout the entire universe.
The name of the sūrah is from the word (Ar-Ra'd) (Thunder) in the 13th ayah.
Summary
*1 The infidels
An infidel (literally "unfaithful") is a person who is accused of disbelief in the central tenets of one's own religion, such as members of another religion, or irreligion, irreligious people.
Infidel is an Ecclesiology, ecclesiastical term in Ch ...
reject the Quran
*2-4 God manifests himself to man in his works
*5 The unbelievers deny the resurrection
*6 Their punishment
*7 Threatened judgments sure to come to pass
*8 Unbelievers demand a sign
*9-12 God is omniscient
*12 God's purposes are unchangeable
*13-14 Thunder and lightning indicates the unceasing works of angels who regulate the clouds and rains in their task given by God.
* ۩ 15 Idolaters invoke their gods in vain
*16 All nature worships the Creator
*17 The separation of infidels from true believers typified in the flowing stream and the melting metal
*18-22 True believers described
*23-24 Their reward
*25 The end of the infidels
*26 Abundance of wealth no sign of God's favour
*27 The infidels demand a sign from heaven
*28 God directs true believers
*29 Muhammad sent to an unbelieving people
*30 Signs unavailing to make infidels true believers
*31-32 God will punish the unbelievers
*33-34 Idolaters are reprobate
*35 Paradise is described
*36 Certain Jews acknowledge Muhammad to be a prophet
*36-37 Muhammad exhorted to make no compromise with idolatry
*38 Wives and children no hindrance to the prophetic office
*39 God is lord of his own book
*40 Muhammad is a preacher only
*41 God's judgments is sure to come to pass
*42 The plots of God's enemies is not hidden from him
*43 God attests the claims of his Prophet
Q13-14
Ibn Taymiyyah
Ibn Taymiyya (; 22 January 1263 – 26 September 1328)Ibn Taymiyya, Taqi al-Din Ahmad, The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780195125580.001.0001/acref-9780195125580-e-959 was a Sunni Muslim ulama, ...
in his work, Majmu al-Fatwa al-Kubra, quoted the Marfu Hadith transmitted by Ali ibn abi Thalib, that Ra'd were the name of a group of angels who herded the dark clouds like a shepherd. Ali further narrated that thunder
Thunder is the sound caused by lightning. Depending upon the distance from and nature of the lightning, it can range from a long, low rumble to a sudden, loud crack. The sudden increase in temperature and hence pressure caused by the lightning pr ...
(Ra'dan ) is the growling voices of those angels while herding the clouds, while lightning strike
A lightning strike or lightning bolt is a lightning event in which an electric discharge takes place between the atmosphere and the ground. Most originate in a cumulonimbus cloud and terminate on the ground, called cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning ...
s (Sawa'iq ) are a device used by those angels in gathering and herding the raining clouds. Al-Suyuti
Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (; 1445–1505), or al-Suyuti, was an Egyptians, Egyptian Sunni Muslims, Muslim polymath of Persians, Persian descent. Considered the mujtahid and mujaddid of the Islamic 10th century, he was a leading Hadith studies, muh ...
narrated from the Hadith transmitted from Ibn Abbas
ʿAbd Allāh ibn ʿAbbās (; c. 619 – 687 CE), also known as Ibn ʿAbbās, was one of the cousins of the Prophets and messengers in Islam, prophet Muhammad. He is considered to be the greatest Tafsir#Conditions, mufassir of the Quran, Qur'an. ...
about the lightning angels, while giving further commentary that hot light produced by lightning
Lightning is a natural phenomenon consisting of electrostatic discharges occurring through the atmosphere between two electrically charged regions. One or both regions are within the atmosphere, with the second region sometimes occurring on ...
(Barq ) was the emitted light produced from a whip device used by those angels. Saudi Grand Mufti Abd al-Aziz Bin Baz also ruled the sunnah
is the body of traditions and practices of the Islamic prophet Muhammad that constitute a model for Muslims to follow. The sunnah is what all the Muslims of Muhammad's time supposedly saw, followed, and passed on to the next generations. Diff ...
practice of reciting Sura Ar-Ra'd, Ayah 13, whenever a Muslim hears thunder
Thunder is the sound caused by lightning. Depending upon the distance from and nature of the lightning, it can range from a long, low rumble to a sudden, loud crack. The sudden increase in temperature and hence pressure caused by the lightning pr ...
, as this was practiced according to the Hadith
Hadith is the Arabic word for a 'report' or an 'account f an event and refers to the Islamic oral tradition of anecdotes containing the purported words, actions, and the silent approvals of the Islamic prophet Muhammad or his immediate circle ...
tradition narrated by Zubayr ibn al-Awwam
Al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam ibn Khuwaylid al-Asadi (; ) was an Arab Muslim commander in the service of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the caliphs Abu Bakr () and Umar () who played a leading role in the Ridda Wars, Ridda wars against rebel tribes in ...
.
Time of Revelation
There has been considerable disagreement about the time of revelation among Muslim scholars going back to conflicting reports from the Companions. In his famous tafsir, Turkish scholar Elmalili Hamdi Yazir reviews the different reports and opinions in the introduction of his tafsir of Surah Ar-Ra'd. He quotes a report by Alûsî that Ikrime, Atâ and Hasen said the surah was revealed during the Meccan phase. On the other side, Companion and prominent scholar of the Quran Abdullah bin Abbas along with Kelbî, Mukatil, and Katade said it was revealed in the Medinan phase. He then quotes famous Tafsir scholars Kâdî Baydawî and Ebus-suud as saying it's Madinan, and Fahreddin Râzî as saying it's Meccan.
The rhetoric of the discourse shows that this sūrah was uncovered in the ending of the Meccan phase, when Muhammad was also revealed with the surahs Yunus, Hud, and Al-A'araf. Time had passed since Muhammad last passed on the Message. His adversaries had been carrying out various plots to vanquish him and his mission, while his supporters thought that by indicating some tangible miracle the disbelievers might be brought to the Correct Path. The sūrah responded that the Devotees ought not to lose heart, and that disbelievers would explain away any miracle, even if Allah brought the dead out of their graves and caused them to talk.
Theme
The opening ayah articulates the fundamental topic of this sūrah: "The Message of Muhammad (Allah's tranquility arrive) is the very Truth, however, it is the shortcoming of the individuals that they are dismissing it".
Other than this, the sūrah also addresses the rivals and their complaints, and the Devotees, who had been going through trials and were tiring. The Devotees are told that by standing by restlessly for Allah's help, they have been ameliorated and loaded up with expectation and fortitude. The significant issues, divine Laws, and direction incorporated in the text of the discourse can be categorized as follows:[Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik (translator), Al-Qur'an, the Guidance for Mankind - English with Arabic Text (Hardcover) ]-
# The Qur'an
The Quran, also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation directly from God ('' Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which consist of individual verses ('). Besides ...
is the disclosure of Allah
Allah ( ; , ) is an Arabic term for God, specifically the God in Abrahamic religions, God of Abraham. Outside of the Middle East, it is principally associated with God in Islam, Islam (in which it is also considered the proper name), althoug ...
.
# Trees, fruits, and vegetables are among the indications of Allah.
# Allah never changes the state of a people except if they are eager to change themselves.
# The individuals who don't react to the call of Allah will have no real way to escape from hellfire.
# It is the recognition of Allah that gives quietness to hearts.
# Rasools rophetshave no capacity to show any marvel of miracle with the exception of the will of Allah.
References
External links
Quran 13
Clear Quran translation
Mustafa Khattab is a Canadian–Egyptian Muslim scholar, imam, and university chaplain. He holds a professional ijâzah in the Ḥafṣ style of recitation. He is known for his translation of the Quran in "The Clear Quran" series.
Career
He ...
{{Authority control
Ra'd
Ra'd