Surah-13 250

SURAH-13

AR-RA’AD
Surah Ar-Ra’ad “the thunder” takes its name from word Ar-Ra’ad used in verse
13. There is a considerable difference of opinion among the scholars and the
commentators about its period of revelation. However, according to majority, it is a
late Makkan Surah which was revealed in almost the same period in which Surah
Yunus and Hud were revealed.

The main theme of this Surah is enunciated in its very first verse and that is that
the Qur’an which has been revealed to Muhammad (PBUH) is the Truth. It has been
revealed by Allah, the God and the Creator of the heavens and the earth, the sun
and the moon, the hills, the flowing streams, fruits, orchards, date plams, etc. Those
who wonder how they would be raised to life after death when they had become
dust, in fact disbelieve in Allah Who has knowledge of every thing and Who is All-
Powerful God. It is not difficult for Him to raise the dead to life. Thus Tauhid (oneness
of God), revelation to the messengers, and resurrection of the dead for Judgement
are the subjects around which the whole Surah revolves. The main teachings of this
Surah can be summarized as under:

 The Qur’an is the Truth revealed from All-Powerful God.

 All creations of Allah including the Thunder and angels praise God.

 Allah does not change the condition of a people until and unless they change
themselves.

 Those who do not respond to the call of Allah and reject the belief would face the
consequences and would not be able to escape from Hell.

 The disbeliever’s demand of miracles from Muhammad (PBUH) is absolutely

unjustified. A messenger shows miracles only if Allah gives him miracles and
permits him to do so. The disbelievers would not believe even if they are shown
apparently impossible things to happen.

 It is the remembrance of Allah in which the hearts find rest (v.28)

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Lesson-148 : Who is Allah

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the
Most Merciful.
1. Alif, Lam, Mim, Ra. These are verses of the
Book (the Quran). And that which has been
revealed to you from your Lord is the Truth but
most of the people do not believe.
2. Allah is He Who raised the heavens without
pillars that you can see, then He mounted the
Throne, and subjected the sun and the moon (to
His law), each one is running in its course for an
appointed term. He regulates all affairs; He
explains the revelations in detail so that you may
be certain of the meeting with your Lord.

3. And it is He Who has spread out the earth and

placed therein firm hills and the rivers; and of all
fruits He made therein two spouses (male and
female), and He made the night cover the day.
Verily, in these things there are signs for the
people who reflect.
4. And in the earth there are tracts side by side,
and gardens of grapes and cornfields, and date-
palms with single or double trunks, watered with
the same water, yet We have made some of them
to excel others in taste. Verily, in these things
there are signs for the people who have sense.

5. And if you wonder, then wondrous is their

saying: When we are dust, shall we then be raised
in a new creation? They are the people who
disbelieve in their Lord; and they are those who
will have chains on their necks, and they are the
ones who are the owners of the Fire wherein they
will abide.

6. They ask you to hasten on the evil rather than

the good, when instances of exemplary
punishments have indeed occurred before them.
And verily, your Lord is Full of Forgiveness for
mankind despite their wrong-doing. And verily,
your Lord is (also) very strict in punishment.
7. Those who disbelieve say: Why some sign has
not been sent down upon him (Muhammad) from
his Lord? You are only a warner and to every
people there has been (sent) a guide.

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8. Allah knows that which every female bears

and He knows how the wombs contract and
expand. And everything with Him has a due
measure.
9. He is the Knower of the Invisible and Visible,
(He is) the Great, the Most High.
10. It is the same (to Him) whether any of you
speaks in secret or speaks aloud, whether he hides
in the night or walks freely in daytime.

11. For him are angels ranged before him and

behind him who guard him by the command of
Allah. Verily, Allah does not change the condition
of a people until they change that which is in their
hearts. And when Allah intends misfortune for a
people, there is none that can repel it, nor have
they a defender besides Him.

Lesson-149 : All glorify Allah

12. It is He who shows you the lightening as a fear
and a hope and raises heavy clouds.

13. The thunder hymns His praise and so do the

angels for fear of Him. And He sends the thunder
bolts and strikes with them whom He wills, while
they dispute about Allah. And He is Mighty in
strength.

14. To Him is the real prayer. And those whom

they pray besides Him cannot answer them at all
except as is the answer to one who stretches forth
his hands towards water that it may reach his
mouth but it is never going to reach him. And the
prayer of the disbelievers (likewise) is nothing but
an error.

15. And to Allah fall in prostration whosoever is

in the heavens and the earth, willingly or
unwillingly, and so do their shadows in the
mornings and in the evenings.
16. Ask them (O Muhammad): Who is the Lord of
the heavens and the earth? Tell them (if they do
not answer): Allah. Say: Why have you then taken
for protector others than Him who have no power
of benefit or harm even for themselves? Say: Is
the blind one equal to the seer, or is darkness
equal to light? Or do they ascribe to Allah partners
who created the like of His creation so that

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creation (by Allah and by them) seemed alike to

them? Say: Allah is the Creator of all things, and
He is the One, the Almighty.

17. He sends down water from the sky, so the

valleys flow (taking it) according to their measure;
and the flood bears on its surface the swelling
foam like the scum which rises from that (ore)
which they heat in the fire in order to make
ornaments and articles of use. Thus does Allah
depict the Truth and the Falsehood (by such
parables). Then, as for the foam, it passes away as
scum upon the banks, while as for that which is of
benefit to mankind, it remains in the earth. In this
way Allah sets forth parables (to clarify His
verses).
18. For those who respond to their Lord’s call is
excellent reward (i.e. Paradise). But for those who
do not answer His call, even if they had all that is
in the earth, with as much like it, they will offer it
as ransom (but it would not be accepted). They are
the ones who will have a terrible reckoning and
their abode would be Hell, and that is the worst
resting-place.
19. Is he who knows that what is revealed to you
(O Muhammad) from your Lord is the Truth like
him who is blind? But it is only the men of
understanding who pay heed.
20. Those who keep the pact of Allah and do not
break the covenant.

21. Those who join that (relationship) which Allah

has commanded to be joined and fear their Lord,
and fear the terrible reckoning.

22. And those who keep patience in seeking their

Lord’s pleasure, and establish prayer, and spend
secretly and openly out of that which We have
given them and repel evil with good. For such
there is the home of the Hereafter.

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23. Everlasting Paradise which they will enter,

along with those who do good deeds, from their
forefathers and their spouses and their offspring.
And the angels shall enter to them from every
gate.

24. (Saying): Peace be on you because you

persevered. So how excellent is the home of the
Hereafter?
Lesson-150 : Hearts find rest in remembrance of Allah
25. As for those who break the covenant of Allah
after confirming it and cut asunder what Allah has
commanded to be joined and create mischief in
the land, they are such for whom there is curse and
for them is the evil home.

26. Allah enlarges sustenance for whom He wants

and straightens it (for whom He wants). And they
rejoice in the life of the world; whereas the life of
the world is but brief comfort as compared with
the Hereafter.

27. And those who disbelieve say: Why has no

sign been sent down to him from his Lord? Say:
Verily, Allah sends astray whom He wants and
guides to Himself those who turn (to Him).

28. Those who believe and whose hearts find

consolation in the remembrance of Allah. Verily,
it is in the remembrance of Allah that do the hearts
find consolation.
29. Those who believe and do good deeds, for
them is joy and beautiful place of return.

30. Thus have We sent you (O Muhammad) to a

nation, before which other nations have passed
away, that you may recite to them what We have
revealed to you, while they disbelieve in the
Beneficent. Say: He is my Lord; there is no God
save Him. In Him do I place my trust and to Him
is my return.

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31. Even if there could be a Quran with which

mountains could be moved or the earth could be
torn asunder or the dead could be made to speak,
(still the disbelievers would not have believed).
But the command of all things is with Allah. Are
the believers not then satisfied that if Allah willed,
He would have certainly guided the whole of
mankind. And as for those who disbelieve, the
disaster will not cease to afflict them or it will
settle near their homes because of what they do,
until the promise of Allah comes to pass. Verily,
Allah does not fail His promise.
32. And indeed the Messengers of Allah were
ridiculed before you, but I gave respite to those
who disbelieved. Then I seized them and how
awful was My punishment.
33. Is He Who watches over every soul as to what
it has done (is equal to one who is aware of
nothing)? Yet they attribute partners to Allah. Say:
Tell their names (to me). Is it that you would
inform Him of something which He does not
know in the earth or is it just an expression of
mere words? Nay, but their evil schemes are made
fair-seeming to those who disbelieve and they are
debarred from the right path. And he whom Allah
sends astray, for him there is no guide.
34. For them there is torment in the life of the
world and the torment of the Hereafter is surely
more painful, and for them there is none to protect
(them) from Allah.
Lesson-151 : Description of Paradise
35. The description of the Paradise which has been
promised to the pious is this: Rivers flow
underneath it; its fruit as well as its shade are
everlasting; such is the reward of those who fear
God, while the reward of the disbelievers is Fire.

36. Those to whom We gave the Scripture rejoice

at that which is revealed to you, while there are
some of the factions who deny a part of it. Say: I
am commanded to worship Allah only and not to
join partners with Him: To Him I call and to Him
is my return.

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37. And thus have We revealed it (the Quran), a

commandment in Arabic. And now if you follow
their desires after the knowledge which has come
to you, then you will have no protector or
defender against Allah.

38. Indeed We have sent messengers before you

and made for them wives and offspring. And it
was not possible for a messenger that he should
bring a miracle except by Allah’s permission. For
every period there is a book.

39. Allah effaces what He wills and establishes

(what He wills), and with Him is the Mother
(master copy) of the Book.
40. Whether We show you (O Muhammad)
something of that which We have promised them
or make you die (before that), your duty is to
convey the message and on Us is to take account.
41. Do they not see how We are gradually
reducing the land (of the disbelievers) from its
sides? And when Allah commands, there is none
who can reverse His command, and He is swift in
taking account.
42. And verily those who were before them had
devised plans, but all planning belongs to Allah.
He knows that which each soul earns. And the
disbelievers will soon come to know for whom
will be the good home (in the Hereafter).

43. And those who disbelieve say: You are not a

messenger. Say: Allah is sufficient witness (of my
messenger-ship) between me and you, and so are
those who have true knowledge of the Scripture.

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SURAH-14

IBRAHIM
This Surah belongs to the last group of Makkan revelation. It draws its name from
verse 35 wherein the name of Prophet Abraham has appeared. His prayer has been
mentioned in verses 35-41 which he made to God when he was settling his eldest son
Ismael in the uncultivable valley of Makkah. In his prayer he expresses disapproval of
polytheism and prays to God to provide his posterity with fruits for food in the
wilderness of the vally of Faran. Makkah became a place of pilgrimage and with the
advent of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), it also became a centre of Islam, world’s
second biggest religion, so not only the fruits but also the best of everything from all
over the world started coming to this city for use of the children of Abraham. This is
how the great Prophet’s prayer was fulfilled.

The opening verse of the Surah declares the purpose of the revelation of the
Quran by Allah to Muhammad (PBUH) and that is that the mankind may be brought
from darkness into light. The last verse concludes with declaration that the Quran is
message for the whole of mankind and that God is One. Otherwise the theme of this
Surah is almost the same as that of other Makkan Surahs of this group i.e. the truth
of revelation to the Prophets who were sent to warn their people and the
consequences for the wrong doers who rejected the truth. Parables of good and bad
tree have been cited to show the fate of the good and bad words (and of good and
bad deeds). The former get rewards while the latter get punishment. Allah’s torment
on the disbelievers of the earlier messengers has been quoted to warn the pagans of
Makkah who were disbelieving the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) despite severe
warnings and admonititions which had already been administered on them.

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Lesson-152 : Moses and other messengers

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the
Most Merciful.
1. Alif Lam Ra. This is a Book which We have
revealed to you (O Muhammad) so that you may
bring mankind out of darkness to light by their
Lord’s permission to the path of the Almighty, the
Owner of Praise.

2. Allah, to Whom belongs whatsoever is in the

heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. And woe
to the disbelievers from a terrible doom.

3. Those who love the life of the world more than

the Hereafter, and hinder others from the way of
Allah and seek to make it crooked; they have gone
far astray.

4. And We have not sent any messenger except

with the language of his own people so that he
might make (the message) clear to them. Then
Allah leads astray whom He wills and guides
whom He wills. And He is Almighty, the Wise.

5. And indeed We sent Moses with Our

revelations, saying: Bring out your people from
darkness to light, and remind them of the days of
Allah. Verily, therein are signs for every steadfast,
grateful person.

6. And (remember) when Moses said to his

people: Recall Allah’s favours to you when He
delivered you from Pharaoh’s people who
subjected you to dreadful torment, slaughtered
your sons and spared your women. And in this
there was a great trial for you from your Lord.

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7. And when your Lord announced: If you give

thanks, I will give you more; but if you are
ungrateful, then My punishment is indeed severe.

8. And Moses said: If you disbelieve, you and all

who are in the earth together, then (you should
know that) Allah verily is Self-Sufficient, Owner
of Praise.
9. Has not the news of those reached you who
were before you; the nation of Noah, Aad and
Thamud, and those after them? None knows them
except Allah. Their messengers came to them with
clear proofs, but they thrust their hands in their
mouths, and said: Verily, we reject that (message)
wherewith you have been sent and we are really in
serious doubt regarding that to which you call us.

10. Their messengers said: Are you in doubt about

Allah Who is the Creator of the heavens and the
earth? He calls you (to His true religion) that He
may forgive you your sins and reprieve you to
appointed term. They said: You are nothing but
men like us, you intend to turn us away from what
our forefathers used to worship. Then bring us
some clear warrant.

11. Their messengers said to them: We are only

men like you, but Allah gives grace (messenger-
ship) whom He pleases of His slaves. And it is not
possible for us to bring you a warrant except by
Allah’s permission. And in Allah let the believers
put their trust.

12. And why should we not put our trust in Allah,

when He has indeed guided us to our (right) ways
(of life). And we shall certainly bear with patience
all the harm you may do to us. And in Allah let
them, who want to trust, put their trust.

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13. And those who disbelieved said to their

messengers: Surely, we will drive you out of our
land or you will have to return to our religion.
Then their Lord revealed to them: We shall
definitely destroy the wrong-doers.

14. And certainly We shall make you to dwell in

the land after them. This is (reward) for him who
fears to stand before Me (on the Day of Judgment)
and also fears My threat (of doom).
15. And they (the messengers) prayed for (help
and) victory and (so) every rebellious, obstinate
was destroyed.
16. Hell is in front of him and he will be given
festering water to drink.
17. Which he will sip but will not be able to
swallow. And death will come to him from every
side, yet he will not die, and beyond that there will
be terrible doom.

Lesson-153 : Disbelievers and Satan

18. A parable of those who disbelieve in their
Lord is that their deeds are as ashes on which the
wind blows furiously on a stormy day. They have
no control, not in the least, of that which they have
earned. That is the straying far away (from the
road to success).

19. Have you not seen that Allah has created the
heavens and the earth with Truth? If He wishes,
He can remove you and bring a new creation (in
your place).
20. And this is not at all difficult for Allah.

21. And they all will come before Allah. Then

those who were weak (in the world) would say to
those who were (powerful and) proud: We were
certainly your followers. Now can you do
anything to avert from us the torment of Allah!
They will say: Had Allah given us guidance, we
would have guided you? Now it is the same for us
whether we worry or endure it with patience, for
there is no escape for us.

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22. And the Satan will say when the matter stands
decided: Verily, Allah promised you a promise of
truth; and I promised you but I betrayed you. And
I had no power over you except that I invited you
(to evil) and you obeyed me. So blame me not,
rather blame yourselves. I cannot help you nor you
can help me. I deny that you had associated me
(with God) before. Verily, for wrong-doers, there
is a painful doom.

23. And those who believed and did good deeds

they will be admitted to Paradise, beneath which
rivers flow; therein they will abide forever by the
permission of their Lord. Their greeting in it will
be: Peace.

24. Do you not see how Allah gives example of a

good word: that it is like a good tree whose roots
are firmly fixed (in the ground) and its branches
reach in the sky.
25. It gives its fruit in every season by the
permission of its Lord. Allah sets examples for
mankind in order that they may reflect.

26. And the example of a bad word is as a bad tree

uprooted from the surface of the earth having no
stability.

27. Allah makes the believers firm by a firm word

in the life of the world and in the Hereafter and
Allah sends the wrong-doers astray. Allah does
what He pleases.

28. Have you not seen those who exchanged the

blessings of Allah for disbelief and led their
people down into the House of Destruction?

29. That is to Hell, wherein they will enter. And it

is an evil place to live.

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30. And they set up rivals to Allah in order to

mislead the people from His way. Say: You may
enjoy yourselves (for a while), but your
destination is surely the Fire.
Lesson-154 : Abraham’s prayer
31. Say (O Muhammad) to My slaves who have
believed, to establish prayer and spend of that
which We have given them, secretly and publicly,
before the Day comes on which there will be no
bargaining nor friendship.

32. Allah is He Who created the heavens and the

earth and sends down water from the sky, and
thereby produces fruits as provision for you. And
He has made the ships subservient to you that they
may run upon the sea by His command, and He
has made the rivers to be of service to you.

33. And He has (also) made the sun and the moon
to be of service to you, both are constantly
pursuing their courses, and has made of service
unto you the night and the day.
34. And He has given you of all that you asked of
Him. And if you want to count the favours of
Allah, you would not be able to count them.
Verily, man is certainly unjust and ungrateful.
35. And (remember) when Abraham said: My
Lord! Make this city a place of peace and keep me
and my sons away from the worship of the idols.

36. O my Lord! They have indeed led many of the

mankind astray. So he who follows me, he verily
is of me. And he who disobeys me, then surely,
You are Forgiving, Merciful.
37. Our Lord! I have settled some of my offspring
in an uncultivable valley near Your Sacred House,
our Lord, that they may establish prayer properly;
therefore, make the hearts of some people incline
toward them and provide them with fruits so that
they may give thanks (to You).

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38. Our Lord! Surely, You know what we hide and

what we proclaim. In fact, nothing in the earth or
in the heaven is hidden from Allah.

39. All (praises and) thanks be to Allah Who has

blessed me (sons like) Ismael and Isaac in my old
age. Verily, my Lord is indeed the Hearer of
prayer.
40. My Lord! Make me and my offspring regular
in establishing prayer; our Lord, and accept my
supplications.

41. Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and the

believers on the Day when the account (of deeds)
is cast.

Lesson-155 : The Doomsday

42. Do not think that Allah is unaware of what the
wicked people are doing. He is only giving them a
respite till a Day when eyes will stare in terror.

43. And they will come hurrying (on that Day)

with their heads raised, their gaze returning not to
them, and their hearts flying as air (because of
fear).
44. And warn (O Muhammad) mankind of the Day
when the torment will come upon them, and the
wrongdoers will say: Our Lord! Grant us reprieve
for a little while, we will obey your call and
follow the messengers. (It will be said to them):
Had you not sworn before that you will have no
end?

45. And you had lived in the dwellings of those

who wronged themselves, and it was explained to
you how We had dealt with them, and We had
quoted examples for you (to make you understand
the consequences of evil deeds).
46. Indeed they have plotted their schemes and
their all schemes are with Allah, even though their
schemes were such which could move the
mountains.
47. Therefore, do not think that Allah will break
His promise which He made with His messengers.
Surely, Allah is All-Mighty and Capable of
Retribution.

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48. On the Day when the earth will be changed

into a different earth and the heavens (also will be
changed), and all would come forth to Allah, the
One, the Irresistible.
49. And you will see the guilty on that Day bound
together in chains.
50. Their garments will be of tar and their faces
will be covered with Fire.
51. That Allah may repay each soul according to
that which it has earned. Verily, Allah is swift in
settling accounts.

52. This (the Quran) is a clear message for

mankind so that they may be warned thereby and
they may know that He only is the One God, and
that men of understanding may take lesson.

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