013- AL-RAʿD
THE THUNDER
Al-Raʿd
The fourth in a series of six sūrahs whose opening verses include the letters alif, lām, and rāʾ, and which speak of the Book, al-Raʿd also contains the detached letter mīm in its opening verse. According to some commentators, it is a Makkan sūrah, while others maintain that it is Madinan. Still others are of the opinion that it is mostly Makkan with some Madinan verses. Al-Zamakhsharī notes simply that its time of revelation is uncertain.
The sūrah affirms the Divine Source of what has been revealed to the Prophet, even though most people do not believe in it (v. 1) or doubt both the Resurrection (v. 5) and that the Prophet is a messenger from God (vv. 7, 43). It also draws attention to the many wonders of the natural world, all of which are entirely dependent upon God for their subsistence (vv. 2–4); like the thunder mentioned in v. 13 (and from which the sūrah derives its name), they also partake in the glorification of God (vv. 12–13, 15). Drawing on natural phenomena again, an important parable of water from the sky is provided in order to illustrate the stark difference between truth and falsehood (v. 17). Those who disbelieve, fail to heed God’s call, and work corruption upon the earth encounter calamities in this world (vv. 25, 31) and are promised Hell in the next (vv. 18, 25, 34); those who believe and are righteous live tranquilly in this world (v. 28) and are promised Paradise in the next (vv. 18, 23–24, 29, 35).
(source: “The Study Quran” a new translation and commentary by Seyyed Hossein Nasr)
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