SURAH
13: AL RA`D (The Thunder).
In the name of Allah, the Gracious,
the Merciful
1
A. L. M. R. These are the signs of Al-Kitab: that which has been revealed to you
from your Lord is the truth; but most men believe not.
2
Allah is he who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see; is
firmly established on the throne; he has subjected the sun and the moon. Each
one runs for a term appointed. He regulates all affairs, explaining the signs
in detail, that you may believe with certainly in the meeting with your Lord.
3
And it is he who spread out the earth, and set thereon mountains standing firm,
and rivers: and fruit of every kind he made in pairs, two and two: he draws the
night as a veil over the day. Behold, truly in these things there are signs for
those who consider.
4
And in the earth are neighbouring tracts, and gardens of vines and fields sown
with corn, and palm trees, growing out of single roots or otherwise: watered
with the same water, yet some of them we make more excellent than others to eat.
Behold, truly in these things there are signs for those who understand!
5
If you marvel, strange is their saying: when we are dust, shall we indeed then
be in a creation renewed? They are those who deny their Lord they are those
round whose necks will be yokes: they will be companions of the fire, to dwell
in it.
6
They ask you to hasten on the evil in preference to the good: yet have come to
pass, before them, exemplary punishments, but truly your Lord is full of
forgiveness for mankind for their wrong doing. And truly your Lord is strict in
punishment.
7
And the unbelievers say: why is a sign not sent down to him from his Lord? But
you are truly a warner, and to every people a guide.
8
Allah knows what every female bears, by how much the wombs fall short or
exceed. Every single thing is before his sight in proportion.
9
He knows the unseen and that which is open: he is the great, the most high.
10
It is the same whether any of you conceal his speech or declare it openly;
whether he lie hid by night or walk forth freely by day.
11
For each one there are angels in succession, before and behind him: they guard
him by command of Allah. Truly never will Allah change the condition of a
people until they change it themselves. But when Allah wills a people's
punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, besides him,
any to protect.
12
It is he who shows you the lightning, by way both of fear and of hope: it is he
who raises up the clouds, heavy with rain.
13
No, thunder repeats his praises, and so do the angels, with awe: he flings the
loud-voiced thunderbolts, and therewith he strikes whomever he will, yet they
dispute about Allah, with the strength of his power.
14
For him is true prayer: any others that they call upon besides him hear them no
more than if they were to stretch forth their hands for water to reach their
mouths but it reaches them not: for the prayer of those without faith is
nothing but wandering.
15
Whatever beings there are in the heavens and the earth prostrate themselves to
Allah, with good will or in spite of themselves; so do their shadows in the
mornings and evenings.
16
Say: Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth? Say: Allah. Say: Do you then
take protectors other than him, such as have no power either for good or for
harm to themselves? Say: Are the blind equal with those who see? Or the depths
of darkness equal with light? Or do they assign to Allah partners who have
created as he has created, so that the creation seemed to them similar? Say:
Allah is the creator of all things: he is the one, the supreme and
irresistible.
17
He sends down water from the skies, and the channels flow, each according to
its measure: but the torrent bears away the foam that mounts up to the surface.
Even so, from that which they heat in the fire, to make ornaments or utensils
therewith, there is a scum likewise. Thus does Allah show forth truth and
vanity. For the scum disappears like froth cast out; while that which is for
the good of mankind remains on the earth. Thus does Allah set forth parables.
18
For those who respond to their Lord, are good things. But those who respond not
to him, even if they had all that is in the heavens and on earth, and as much
more, would they offer it for ransom. For them will the reckoning be terrible:
their abode will be hell, what a bed of misery!
19
Is then one who knows that which has been revealed to you from your Lord is the
truth, like one who is blind? It is those who are endued with understanding
that receive admonition.
20
Those who fulfil the covenant of Allah and fail not in their pledged word;
21
Those who join together those things which Allah has commanded to be joined,
hold their Lord in awe, and fear the terrible reckoning;
22
Those who patiently persevere, seeking the countenance of their Lord; establish
regular prayers; spend out of what we have bestowed for their sustenance,
secretly and openly; and turn off evil with good: for such as these is the
final attainment of the eternal home,
23
Gardens of perpetual bliss: they shall enter there, as well as the righteous
among their fathers, their spouses, and their offspring: and angels shall enter
to them from every gate.
24
Peace to you for that you persevered in patience now how excellent is the final
home.
25
But those who break the covenant of Allah, after having pledged their word to
it, and cut apart those things which Allah has commanded to be joined, and work
mischief in the land; on them is the curse; for them is the terrible home.
26
Allah enlarges, or grants by measure, the sustenance to whom he pleases. They
rejoice in the life of this world: but the life of this world is but little
comfort in the hereafter.
27
The unbelievers say: why is not a sign sent down to him from his Lord? Say:
Truly Allah leaves to stray, whom he will; but he guides to himself those who
turn to him in penitence,
28
Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of
Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find
satisfaction.
29
For those who believe and work righteousness, is blessedness, and a beautiful
place of return.
30
Thus have we sent you among a people before whom peoples have passed away; in
order that you might rehearse to them what we send down to you by inspiration;
yet they reject the most gracious. Say: He is my Lord; there is no god but he.
On him is my trust, and to him do I turn.
31
If there were a Quran
with which mountains were moved, or the earth were torn apart, or the dead were
made to speak, this would be the one. But, truly, the command is with Allah. In
all things do not the believers know, that, had Allah willed, he could have
guided all mankind? But the unbelievers, never will disaster cease to seize
them for their deeds, or to settle close to their homes, until the promise of
Allah come to pass, for, truly, Allah will not fail in his promise.
32
Messengers were mocked before you: but I granted respite to the unbelievers, and
finally I
punished them: then how terrible was my reward!
33
Is then he who stands over every soul and all that it does, like any others?
And yet they ascribe partners to Allah. Say: But name them! Is it that you will
inform him of something he knows not on earth, or is it a show of words? No! To
those who believe not, their pretence seems pleasing, but they are kept back
from the path. And those whom Allah leaves to stray, no one can guide.
34
For them is a penalty in the life of this world, but harder, truly, is the
penalty of the hereafter: and defender have they none against Allah.
35
The parable of the garden which the righteous are promised -- beneath it flow
rivers. Perpetual is the enjoyment of it and the shade in it: such is the end
of the righteous; and the end of unbelievers is the fire.
36
Those to whom we have given Al-Kitab rejoice at what has been revealed to
you, but there are among the clans those who reject a part of it. Say: I am commanded to worship
Allah, and not to join partners with him. To him do I call, and to him is my
return.
37
Thus have we revealed it to be a judgment of authority in Arabic. Were you to
follow their desire after the knowledge which has reached you, then you would
find neither protector nor defender against Allah.
38
We sent messengers before you, and appointed for them wives and children: and
it was never the part of a messenger to bring a sign except as Allah permitted.
For each period is a book.
39
Allah blots out or confirms what he pleases:[1]
with him is the mother of Al-Kitab.
40
Whether we shall show you part of what we promised them, or take to ourselves
your soul, your duty is to make it reach them: it is our part to call them to
account.
41
Do they not see that we gradually reduce the land from its outlying borders?
Allah commands, there is none to put back his command: and he is swift in
calling account.
42
Those before them devised plots; but in all things the master planning is
Allah's. He knows the doings of every soul: and soon will the unbelievers know
who gets home in the end.
43
The unbelievers say: "You are no messenger." Say: "Enough for a
witness between me and you is Allah, and such as have knowledge of Al-Kitab."
[1] It is common belief that some ancient scriptures are either abrogated or have not survived to this day. However, this should never be said of the Taurat or Injil. The Quran repeatedly says that it "confirms" the previous books. This means that it "witnesses to the truthfulness" of the Taurat and Injil which are still with us today, unchanged since the time of the Prophet. For more information, see the study course "Allah's Eternal Word."