Ar-Ra'd

Sura 13 of the Quran

الرعد Ar-Raʻd The Thunder
Arabic text English translation
Classification	Medinan
Position	Juzʼ 13
No. of Rukus	6
No. of verses	43
No. of Sajdahs	1 (15th Ayah)
No. of words	854
No. of letters	3450
Opening muqaṭṭaʻāt	4 Alif Lam Mim Ra (المر)

Ar-Ra'd, (Arabic: الرعد ar-raʻd), or the Thunder, is the 13th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an, composed of 43 verses (āyāt). It has Muqattat (Quranic initials) المر (Alif. Lam. Mim. Ra or ALMR).

The goal of the Sura is the power of truth and the weakness of falsehood. Verse 15 contains a prostration symbol ۩:

۝ Whatsoever is in heaven and on earth worshippeth GOD, voluntarily or of force; and their shadows also, morning and evening. ۩

This Sura is concerned with the oneness of God, the message, the Day of judgement, and the penalty. The Sura revolves around an important axis that what is truth is clear through power and stability; what is falsehood is clear through its weakness. Thus, no matter how it is perceived and no matter how it pretends to be the truth. 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.

Summary

• 1 The infidels 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 regulating the clouds and rains in their task given by God. Ibn Taymiyyah in his work, Majmu al-Fatwa al-Kubra, has quoted the Marfu Hadith transmitted by Ali ibn abi Thalib, that Ra'd were the name of group of angels who herded the dark clouds like a shepherd. Ali further narrated that the thunder (Ra'dan Arabic: رعدان) were the growling voices of those angels while herding the clouds, while Lightning strike (Sawa'iq Arabic: صوائق) were a flaming device used by the said angel in gathering and herding the raining clouds. Al-Suyuti narrated from the Hadith transmitted from Ibn Abbas about the lightning angels, while giving further commentary that hot light produced by lightning (Barq Arabic: برق) were the emitted light produced from a whip device used by those angels. Saudi Grand Mufti Abd al-Aziz Bin Baz also ruled the sunnah practice of reciting Sura Ar-Ra'd, Ayah 13|Quran 13:13 ^{(Translated by Shakir)} whenever a Muslim hearing sound of thunder, as this were practiced according to Hadith tradition narrated by Zubayr ibn al-Awwam.
• ۩ 15 Idolaters invoke their gods in vain
• 16-17 All nature worships the Creator
• 18 The separation of infidels from true believers typified in the flowing stream and the melting metal
• 19-22 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 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 a preacher only
• 41 God's judgments sure to come to pass
• 42 The plots of God's enemies not hidden from him
• 43 God attests the claims of his Prophet

Name

The name of the Surah is from the word (ar-Ra'ad) (thunder) in 13th ayat. It is simply the representative name of the Surah and does not in any capacity imply that the discourse is about the scientific issues associated with thunder.

Time of Revelation

The rhetoric of the discourse shows that this Surah was uncovered in the ending of the Meccan phase when Muhammad was also revealed with Surahs Yunus, Hud, and Al-A'araf, respectively. The way of discourse shows that quite a while had gone since Muhammad had been passing on the Message. From one viewpoint, his adversaries had been carrying out various plots to vanquish him and his mission, on different, his supporters had been communicating a longing that by indicating a marvel or some tangible miracle the disbelievers may be brought to the Correct Path. In answer, Allah intrigued on the Devotees that it isn't His approach to change over individuals by this strategy and that they ought not to lose heart if He is giving the adversaries of the truth, a rope sufficiently long to hang themselves. Else, He can give such indications as may bring the dead out of their graves and cause them to talk, yet and still, after all that these obstinate individuals will develop a reason to clarify this away. This definitive proof obviously demonstrates that this Surah was uncovered during the ending phase of Muhammad's Meccan era.

Theme

The opening ayat articulates the fundamental topic of this Surah, that is, "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." This is the main message of the entire Surah and the reason it has been appeared on a regular basis in various manners that the fundamental parts of the Message - Tawhid, Resurrection, and Prophethood-are a reality: along these lines, they ought to accept truly in these for their own good moral and spiritual. They have been cautioned that they will bring about their own ruin in the event that they dismiss them, for kufr without anyone else is sheer insanity and ignorance. Furthermore,, the point of the Surah isn't simply to fulfill the brains yet additionally to speak to the hearts to acknowledge the Faith. In this manner, it does not only advance consistent contentions on the side of the reality of the Message and against the individuals' off-base thoughts, yet at fitting interims it utilizes thoughtful and sincere interests to prevail their hearts by notifying them of the results of kufr and by holding out the cheerful prizes of Faith with the goal that the silly individuals should surrender their hardheadedness.

Other than this, the complaints of the rivals have been replied with no notice of them, and those questions which are demonstrating a block in the path of the Message or were being made by the adversaries have been expelled. Simultaneously, the Devotees; who had been going through long and hard trial and were feeling tired, and standing by restlessly for Allah's help, 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:-

1. The Qur'an is the disclosure of Allah.
2. Trees, fruits, and vegetables are among the indications of Allah.
3. Allah never changes the state of a people except if they are eager to change themselves.
4. The individuals who don't react to the call of Allah will have no real way to escape from the fire of hellfire.
5. It is the recognition of Allah that gives quietness to hearts.
6. Rasools [Prophets][ have no capacity to show any marvel of miracle with the exception of the will of Allah.

External links

• Quran 13 Clear Quran translation