13. Sura ar-Ra‘d with Urdu Translation

Sura 13. ar-Ra‘d (Thunder):

In the Name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Ever-Merciful.

1. Alif, Lam, Mim, Ra. (Only Allah and the Messenger know the real meaning.) These are the Verses of the Book of Allah, and whatever has been revealed to you from your Lord is the Truth, but most people do not believe.

2. And Allah is He Who has raised aloft the heavens (in space) without pillars (as) you see; then He settled Himself on the Throne of His Authority (encompassing the entire universe befitting His glory) and fettered the sun and the moon to a system, each moving (in its respective orbit to complete its rotation) during its appointed term. He alone devises strategies for the total system (of the entire universe) and vividly manifests (all the) Signs (or the laws of nature) so that you may develop firm faith in appearing face to face before your Lord.

3. And He is the One Who spread out the earth (despite its being round) and brought about mountains and rivers in it and produced pairs of (genders) two each among all kinds of fruits (as well. He is the One Who) stretches the cover of the night over the day. Indeed there are (many) Signs in it for those who meditate.

4. And there are in the earth tracts (of different kinds) that are adjacent to each other and the gardens of grapes and crops and palm trees, clustered and non-clustered. All these are irrigated with the same water. And (despite that) We make some of them superior to others in taste. Verily there are (great) Signs in it for the people who apply reason.

5. And if you are surprised (at the denial of the disbelievers), then (more) surprising is this that they say: ‘What, when we become dust (after death), shall we then be created anew?’ They are the ones who deny their Lord, and they alone will have shackles round their necks. And they are the ones who are the inmates of Hell. They will reside in it forever.

6. And they hasten to demand from you punishment before mercy though many torments have passed before them. And, (O Beloved,) your Lord is Most Forgiving to the people despite their (oppression and) injustice. But certainly your Lord is Severe in punishment (as well).

7. And the disbelievers say: ‘Why has any Sign not been sent down to this (Messenger) from his Lord?’ (O My Glorious Messenger!) You are only a warner (to the disobedient of their evil consequences) and a provider of guidance to every community (of the world).

8. Allah knows what every female bears in her womb, and how much the wombs contract and how much they distend, and with Him is everything in a fixed measure.

9. He is the Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Most Great (and) the Most Exalted.

10. He among you who talks in a low voice and the other who talks in a loud voice, and he who is hidden in (the darkness of) the night and he who moves about in the day (light), all are alike (to Him).

11. For (every) human being there are (angels) coming in succession who, before him and behind him, guard him by the Command of Allah. Verily, Allah does not change the state of a people until they bring about a change in themselves. And when Allah intends to torment a people (due to their own evil works), then none can avert it. Nor is there any helper for them apart from Allah.

12. He is the One Who, to rouse in you (sometime) fear and (some other time) hope, shows you lightning and (at times) raises (rain-laden) heavy clouds.

13. The thunder (of clouds and lightning or the angel appointed over it) and all angels glorify Him with His Praise out of His fear. And He sends thunderbolts and strikes with them whom He wills. And they (the disbelievers, despite these Signs of His Might,) dispute about Allah. And He is Stern in strategy and Severe in grip.

14. Calling towards the Truth (i.e. the Oneness of Allah) is for Him alone. And those (false gods - idols) they (i.e. disbelievers) worship besides Him cannot give them any answer at all. Their example is like the one who (sits) stretching both his palms towards water so that it may reach his mouth (itself), but it (i.e. water) reaches not (like this). And (in like manner) the praying of disbelievers (to idols and their idol-worship) is but wandering distracted.

15. And whoever is in the heavens and the earth prostrates himself before Allah, (some) willingly and (others) perforce, and their shadows (too prostrate themselves before Him) morning and evening. (Then why do the disbelievers do idol-worship turning away from Allah?)

16. Say (before these disbelievers): ‘Who is the Sustainer of the heavens and the earth?’ Say (yourself): ‘Allah.’ (Again) ask (them): ‘Have you taken besides Allah (these idols) as your protectors who cannot control any profit or loss even for themselves?’ Say: ‘Can the blind and the seeing be equal? Or can darkness and light be the same? Have they associated such partners with Allah that have also created (some creation) themselves similar to that of Allah, so this creation (created by these idols) has caused them doubt of resemblance (i.e. error of judgment that they too could create as Allah does)?’ Say: ‘Allah alone is the Creator of everything. And He is One. He is Dominant over all.’

17. He sends down water from the sky and the valleys flow according to their (respective) capacity. Then the floodwater carries the scum raised to the surface. And the items that are heated in the fire for making ornaments or other articles also have foam that comes up the same way. Thus Allah illustrates examples of the Truth and falsehood. So, (whether produced by water or by fire) the foam or scum passes away useless but what is beneficial to the people endures in the earth. That is how Allah illustrates examples.

18. For those who accept the Command of their Lord is the excellent outcome. And those who reject His Command, even though they possess all that is in the earth and the like of it added to that, and they atone it (to be delivered from torment, even then) they are the ones whose accountability will be horrible. And Hell is their abode, and that is a wretched abode.

19. Someone who knows that whatever has been revealed to you is the Truth, can he be like the one who is blind? Truly it is only those endowed with wisdom who accept admonition,

20. Who fulfil their pledge to Allah and do not breach their covenant,

21. And who keep unified all (fulfil all their obligations to Allah, their obligations to the Messenger (blessings and peace be upon him), to humanity at large and to their close relatives) that Allah has enjoined to be unified and remain in a state of fear from Allah and dread an evil reckoning,

22. And who remain steadfast in seeking the pleasure of their Lord, and establish Prayer and spend (both) secretly and openly out of the sustenance We have provided and continue eliminating evil by means of good; they are the ones for whom there is a (beautiful) home in the Hereafter.

23. (There) are evergreen gardens. They will enter them with the pious from among their ancestors, their wives and their children. And the angels will come to them through every door (of Paradise).

24. (Greeting and felicitating them, they will say:) ‘Peace be upon you as a reward for your patience. So (see now) what a beautiful home it is of the Hereafter!’

25. And those who break the promise of Allah after making it firm and strand all (the relations and obligations) that Allah has commanded to be kept unified, and do mischief and strife in the land — upon them is the curse and for them is evil home.

26. Allah releases the provision abundantly for whom He pleases and restrains (for whom He wills). And these (disbelievers) are greatly charmed by the worldly life whereas, in contrast with the life in the Hereafter, the worldly life is nothing but a worthless provision.

27. And the disbelievers say: ‘Why has any Sign not been sent down to him (the Messenger) from his Lord?’ Say: ‘Verily Allah, (despite Signs,) holds astray whom He wills and leads him towards Himself who turns to Him in repentance.

28. Those who believe and their hearts become calm and contented with the remembrance of Allah — know that it is the remembrance of Allah alone that brings calm to the hearts.

29. Those who believe and do pious works, for them there are pleasures and rejoicing and excellent abode (in the Hereafter).’

30. (O Beloved!) Thus We have sent you (as Messenger) to an Umma (Community) before whom in fact (all) the communities have passed. (This is now the last of all the communities) so that you may recite to them that (Book) which We have revealed to you. And they are still denying ar-Rahman (the Most Kind Lord). Say: ‘He is my Lord. There is no God but He. In Him have I put my trust and I turn towards Him alone.’

31. And if there were a Qur’an by which mountains could be set in motion, or by which the earth could be split open or by which the dead could be spoken to, (even then they would not believe in it). But all matters are under the Control of Allah. Have the believers not yet perceived that if Allah had so willed, He would have guided all mankind? And (some) disaster will continue afflicting the disbelievers due to their misdeeds or will be alighting close to their homes (i.e. towns) until Allah’s promise (of torment) comes to pass. Surely Allah does not go against His promise.

32. Indeed the Messengers were mocked (by the disbelievers) before you (as well). So I granted the disbelievers respite and then seized them (with torment). (See) then how My torment was!

33. He (Allah) Who is watching the conduct of every soul and (these idols that the disbelievers) have made peers to Allah — (can they be alike? No way!) Say: ‘(Just) name them. (You fools!) Do you inform Him (Allah) of something whose (existence) He does not know in the whole earth? Or is it all (mere) superficial talk (which has no contact with reality)?’ Rather (the truth is that) the deceptive scheme of the disbelievers has been made fascinating to them and they have been hindered from the (straight) path. And he whom Allah holds strayed, there is none who can be his guide.

34. There is for them chastisement in the worldly life (as well), but certainly the torment in the Hereafter is more fierce. And there is none who can rescue them from (the punishment of) Allah.

35. A glimpse of the Paradise that has been promised to the Godfearing (depicts that) it has rivers flowing under it. Its fruits are everlasting, and so (also) is its shade. This is (the beauty of) the end of those who adopt Godwariness. And the end of the disbelievers is the Fire of Hell.

36. And those whom We have given the Book (the Torah, if they are true believers, then) they rejoice at this (Qur’an) which has been revealed to you. And also some from among their sects are those who deny a part of it. Say: ‘I have been given only this command that I worship Allah and must not associate (any) partner with Him. I invite towards Him alone, and to Him have I to return.’

37. And in like manner We have revealed this (Qur’an) as a Commandment in the Arabic language. And, (O listener,) if you follow the desires of these (disbelievers) after the (conclusive) knowledge has reached you, then there is no helper or protector for you against Allah.

38. And, (O Messenger,) indeed We sent before you (many) Messengers and brought up for them wives and children (as well). And that is not the role of a Messenger to bring a Sign but by Allah’s Command. There is an inscription for every appointed term.

39. Allah erases whatever (writing) He wills and confirms (whatever He wills). And with Him alone is the Real Book (the Protected Tablet (al-Lawh al-Mahfuz)).

40. And whether We show you (during your visible life) a portion (of the torment) that We have promised these (disbelievers), or We lift you (before that - both these options are subject to Our Will). Your assignment is only to communicate (the Commandments) and accountability rests with Us.

41. Do they not see that We are persistently reducing the land (under their control - most of the areas under their rule are gradually accepting the Islamic Rule)? And Allah is the One Who decrees; there is none who can undo His decree. And He is Swift in accountability.

42. And no doubt they also indulged in deceitful plots who have passed before them. So the power to reverse all these plots (also) rests with Allah. He knows best what every soul is busy earning, and the disbelievers will soon come to know for whom is the Home of the Hereafter!

43. And the disbelievers say: ‘You are not a Messenger.’ Say: ‘Sufficient is Allah as a Witness between you and me (on my Messengership), and so also is the one who (exactly) possesses the knowledge of the (revealed) Book.’