(Revealed before Hijrah)
Date of Revelation and Context
Preponderance of scholarly opinion is in favour of the view that this Surah was revealed at Mecca. Its subject-matter also confirms this view. Some verses, however, were revealed at Medina. These verses are 44th (according to'Ata), 32nd (according to Qatadah), and 13-1 5th (according to certain other authorities). In Chapter 10 (Surah Yunus) it was stated that whenever a Prophet appears in the world, people are made to accept the Divine Messenger either by being visited with Heavenly punishment or God showers his mercy upon them if they deserve it. Stress was laid in Chapter 11 (Surah Hud) on Divine punishment and in Chapter 12 (Surah Yusuf) on God's mercy. The present Surah, however, explains how the promises and prophecies about the rise and prosperity of the Holy Prophet, made in the three preceding Chapters, will be fulfilled and how Islam eventually will prevail over other religions.
Subject-Matter
The Surah opens with the theme that God works in inscrutable ways. The means by which His Messengers and Prophets rise to power remain hidden from human eyes till the results, towards the accomplishment of which they work, become apparent. It proceeds to draw attention to a well-known law of nature that different kinds of fruits and vegetations grow from a soil which is watered by the same water. Similarly, the Holy Prophet, born and brought up in the same environment with the pagan Meccans, rose to be God's great Messenger. The disbelievers are further told that they should not judge the Holy Prophet by his present weak state and by the paucity of his means and resources, nor should they wonder at the promises of his ultimate success. It is not his promised success that is to be wondered at; rather it would have been strange if he had not appeared at the time of humanity's crying need. The Holy Prophet is bound to succeed and his enemies must fail.
The cause of Islam shall triumph and the children of the leaders of disbelief themselves shall join its fold. God will withdraw His help from disbelievers and their power and glory will depart. All the laws and elements of nature being under God's control, He will make them subservient to the Holy Prophet's cause. The false gods of the idolaters will be quite powerless to impede or arrest the progress of the new Faith. The Surah goes on to develop the theme that so great are the spiritual powers of the Holy Prophet that he could overcome his enemies single-handed, even as a man having eyes could overcome a host of blind men. Polytheism cannot stand against the doctrine of the Unity of God, nor can the votaries of false gods against the devotees of the True God. The enemies of truth shall melt away and vanish like foam or froth. Men of weak understanding see only the rising foam and froth and do not care or have the intelligence to see the pure water underneath. The foam and froth disappear but pure water and gold remain.
Similarly, the superficial and trifling beliefs of the polytheists are bound to perish and the great and noble ideals preached by the Qur'an will endure and its teachings, being in harmony with human nature, will find their way into the hearts of men, who will gradually come to realize on which side lies the truth when they compare the moral stature of believers with that of disbelievers. Mighty Signs will be shown and great miracles wrought by means of the Qur'an and human hearts, the strongest of all earthly citadels shall fall. One of these Signs will be that his people will drive out the Holy Prophet from Mecca and will draw the sword against him. But Islam shall continue to make headway till Mecca, the centre of disbelief and opposition will fall to the victorious arms of the Holy Prophet. Idolatry shall disappear from Arabia for all time and Islilm shall be firmly established there. The world shall witness all these Signs wrought not by human agency but by the hand of the Almighty God Himself. The Surah contains many prophecies about the discomfiture and destruction of the leaders of disbelief and foretells a bright future for Islam.
The Title
The above constitutes the main theme of the Surah and it is in conformity with this theme that it has been named Ra'd or Thunder. Rain brings with it lightning and thunder and it is in the fitness of things that heavenly rain-the Quranic revelation-should also be accompanied by thunder and lightning. Islam has brought with it thunderbolts. Those who draw the sword against Islam shall perish by the sword and those who owe allegiance to it shall sit on the thrones of power and glory.
 بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
[13:1] In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
 المر تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ وَالَّذِي أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ الْحَقُّ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ
[13:2] Alif Lam Mim Ra[1419]. These are verses of the Book. And that which has been revealed to thee from thy Lord is the truth, but most men believe not.
اللَّهُ الَّذِي رَفَعَ السَّمَاوَاتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي ِلأَجَلٍ مُسَمًّى يُدَبِّرُ الأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ الآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ
[13:3] Allah is He Who raised up the heavens without any pillars that you can see[1420]. Then He settled Himself on the Throne[1420A]. And He pressed the sun and the moon into service: each pursues its course until an appointed term. He regulates it all. He clearly explains the Signs, that you may have a firm belief in the meeting with your Lord.
وَهُوَ الَّذِي مَدَّ الأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنْهَارًا وَمِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ جَعَلَ فِيهَا زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآياتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
[13:4] And He it is Who spread out the earth and made therein mountains and rivers. And fruits of every kind He made therein in two sexes[1421]. He causes the night to cover the day. Therein, verily, are Signs for a people who reflect.
وَفِي الأَرْضِ قِطَعٌ مُتَجَاوِرَاتٌ وَجَنَّاتٌ مِنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَزَرْعٌ وَنَخِيلٌ صِنْوَانٌ وَغَيْرُ صِنْوَانٍ يُسْقَى بِمَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِي الأُكُلِ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآياتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
[13:5] And in the earth are diverse tracts, adjoining one another, and gardens of vines, and corn-fields, and datepalms, growing together from one root and others not so growing; they are watered with the same water, yet We make some of them excel others in fruit[1422]. Therein are Signs for a people who understand.
وَإِنْ تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌ قَوْلُهُمْ أَئِذَا كُنَّا تُرَابًا أَئِنَّا لَفِي خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَأُوْلَئِكَ الأَغْلاَلُ فِي أَعْنَاقِهِمْ وَأُوْلَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
[13:6] And if thou dost wonder, then wondrous indeed is their saying: ‘What! when we have become dust, shall we then be in a state of new creation?’ These it is who disbelieve in their Lord; and these it is who shall have shackles[1423] round their necks, and they shall be the inmates of the Fire, wherein they shall abide
وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ الْحَسَنَةِ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ الْمَثُلاَتُ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِلنَّاسِ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ
[13:7] And they want thee to hasten on the punishment in preference to good, whereas exemplary punishments have already occurred before them. And verily, thy Lord is full of forgiveness for mankind despite their wrongdoing, and verily, thy Lord is also strict in condign punishment.
 وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْلاَ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مُنذِرٌ وَلِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ
[13:8] And those who disbelieve say, ‘Wherefore has not a Sign[1424] been sent down to him from his Lord?’ Thou art, surely, a Warner. And there is a Guide for every people.
 اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَحْمِلُ كُلُّ أُنثَى وَمَا تَغِيضُ الأَرْحَامُ وَمَا تَزْدَادُ وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ عِنْدَهُ بِمِقْدَارٍ
[13:9] Allah knows what every female bears, and what wombs diminish and what they cause to grow[1425]. And with Him everything has a proper measure.
 عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ الْكَبِيرُ الْمُتَعَالِي
[13:10] He is the Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Incomparably Great, the Most High.
 سَوَاءٌ مِنْكُمْ مَنْ أَسَرَّ الْقَوْلَ وَمَنْ جَهَرَ بِهِ وَمَنْ هُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍ بِاللَّيْلِ وَسَارِبٌ بِالنَّهَارِ
[13:11] He among you who conceals his word, and he who utters it openly are equal in His sight; and also he who hides by night, and he who goes forth openly by day[1426]
لَهُ مُعَقِّبَاتٌ مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّى يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ وَإِذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍ سُوءًا فَلاَ مَرَدَّ لَهُ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ مِنْ وَالٍ
[13:12] For him (the Messenger) is a succession of angels [1427] before him and behind him; they guard him by the command of Allah. Surely, Allah changes not the condition of a people until they change that which is in their hearts. And when Allah wishes to punish a people, there is no repelling it, nor have they any helper beside Him.
 هُوَ الَّذِي يُرِيكُمْ الْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنْشِئُ السَّحَابَ الثِّقَالَ
[13:13] He it is Who shows you the lightning to inspire fear and hope[1428], and He raises the heavy clouds.
وَيُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ مِنْ خِيفَتِهِ وَيُرْسِلُ الصَّوَاعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِهَا مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُمْ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي اللَّهِ وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الْمِحَالِ
[13:14] And the thunder glorifies Him with His praise and likewise do the angels for awe of Him; and He sends the thunderbolts, and smites therewith whom He wills, yet they dispute concerning Allah, while He is severe in punishing.
لَهُ دَعْوَةُ الْحَقِّ وَالَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ لاَ يَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُمْ بِشَيْءٍ إِلاَّ كَبَاسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى الْمَاءِ لِيَبْلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَالِغِهِ وَمَا دُعَاءُ الْكَافِرِينَ إِلاَّ فِي ضَلاَلٍ
[13:15] Unto Him is the true prayer[1429]. And those on whom they call beside Him answer them not at all, except as he is answered who stretches forth his two hands toward water that it may reach his mouth, but it reaches it not[1430]. And the prayer of the disbelievers is but a thing wasted.
 وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ طَوْعًا وَكَرْهًا وَظِلاَلُهُمْ بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالآصَالِ
[13:16] And to Allah submits whosoever is in the heavens and the earth willingly or unwillingly[1431] and likewise do their shadows, in the mornings and the evenings.
قُلْ مَنْ رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ قُلْ اللَّهُ قُلْ أَفَاتَّخَذْتُمْ مِنْ دُونِهِ أَوْلِيَاءَ لاَ يَمْلِكُونَ ِلأَنفُسِهِمْ نَفْعًا وَلاَ ضَرًّا قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الأَعْمَى وَالْبَصِيرُ أَمْ هَلْ تَسْتَوِي الظُّلُمَاتُ وَالنُّورُ أَمْ جَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ خَلَقُوا كَخَلْقِهِ فَتَشَابَهَ الْخَلْقُ عَلَيْهِمْ قُلْ اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ الْوَاحِدُ الْقَهَّارُ
[13:17] Say, ‘Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?’ Say, ‘Allah.’ Say, ‘Have you then taken beside Him helpers who have no power for good or harm even for themselves?’ Say, ‘Can the blind and the seeing be equal? Or, can darkness be equal to light? Or, do they assign to Allah partners who have created the like of His creation so that the two creations appear similar to them?’ Say, ‘Allah alone is the Creator of all things, and He is the One[1432], the Most Supreme.’
أَنزَلَ مِنْ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌ بِقَدَرِهَا فَاحْتَمَلَ السَّيْلُ زَبَدًا رَابِيًا وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِي النَّارِ ابْتِغَاءَ حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَاعٍ زَبَدٌ مِثْلُهُ كَذَلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْحَقَّ وَالْبَاطِلَ فَأَمَّا الزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَاءً وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِي الأَرْضِ كَذَلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الأَمْثَالَ
[13:18] He sends down water from the sky, so that valleys flow according to their measure, and the flood bears on its surface swelling foam. And from that which they heat in the fire, seeking to make ornaments or utensils, comes out a foam similar to it. Thus does Allah illustrate truth and falsehood. Now, as to the foam, it goes away as rubbish, but as to that which benefits men, it stays on the earth. Thus does Allah set forth parables.[1433]
لِلَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ الْحُسْنَى وَالَّذِينَ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَهُ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُمْ مَا فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا وَمِثْلَهُ مَعَهُ لاَفْتَدَوْا بِهِ أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمْ سُوءُ الْحِسَابِ وَمَأْوَاهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ وَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ
[13:19] For those who respond to their Lord is eternal good; and as for those who respond not to Him, if they had all that is in the earth and the like of it added thereto, they would readily ransom themselves therewith. It is these that shall have an evil reckoning, and their abode is Hell. What a wretched place of rest!
 أَفَمَنْ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ الْحَقُّ كَمَنْ هُوَ أَعْمَى إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُوا الأَلْبَابِ
[13:20] Is he, then, who knows that what has been revealed to thee from thy Lord is the truth, like one who is blind? But only those gifted with understanding will reflect:
 الَّذِينَ يُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَلاَ يَنقُضُونَ الْمِيثَاقَ
[13:21] Those who fulfill Allah’s pact, and break not the covenant;
 وَالَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَنْ يُوصَلَ وَيَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ وَيَخَافُونَ سُوءَ الْحِسَابِ
[13:22] And those who join what Allah has commanded to be joined, and fear their Lord[1434], and dread the evil reckoning;
وَالَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاَةَ وَأَنفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلاَنِيَةً وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ
[13:23] And those who persevere in seeking the favour of their Lord, and observe Prayer, and spend out of that with which We have provided them, secretly and openly, and repel evil with good[1435]. It is these who shall have the best reward of the final Abode —
جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ
[13:24] Gardens of Eternity. They shall enter them and also those who are righteous from among their fathers, and their wives and their children[1436]. And angels shall enter unto them from every gate[1437], saying:
 سَلاَمٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ
[13:25] ‘Peace be unto you, because you were steadfast; behold how excellent is the reward of the final Abode!’
وَالَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَنْ يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الأَرْضِ أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمُ اللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوءُ الدَّارِ
[13:26] And those who break the covenant of Allah, after having established it and cut asunder what Allah has commanded to be joined, and act corruptly in the earth — on them is the curse and they shall have a grievous abode.
اللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ وَفَرِحُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الآخِرَةِ إِلاَّ مَتَاعٌ
[13:27] Allah enlarges His provision for whomsoever He pleases and straitens it for whomsoever He pleases. And they rejoice in the present life, while the present life is but a temporary enjoyment as compared[1438] with that which is to come.
وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَوْلاَ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ قُلْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَهْدِي إِلَيْهِ مَنْ أَنَابَ
[13:28] And those who disbelieve say, ‘Why is not a Sign sent down to him from his Lord?’ Say, ‘Allah leaves to go astray[1439] whom He wills and guide to Himself those who turn to Him.'
 الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُمْ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ أَلاَ بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ
[13:29] ‘Those who believe, and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Aye! it is in the remembrance of Allah[1440] that hearts can find comfort;
 الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ طُوبَى لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَآبٍ
[13:30] ‘Those who believe and do good works — happiness shall be theirs, and an excellent place of return.’
كَذَلِكَ أَرْسَلْنَاكَ فِي أُمَّةٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهَا أُمَمٌ لِتَتْلُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ الَّذِي أَوْحَيْنَا إِلَيْكَ وَهُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ بِالرَّحْمَنِ قُلْ هُوَ رَبِّي لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ مَتَابِ
[13:31] Thus have We sent thee to a people, before whom other peoples have passed away, that thou mayest recite to them what We have revealed to thee, yet they disbelieve in the Gracious God. Say, ‘He is my Lord; there is no God but He. In Him do I put my trust and towards Him is my return.’
وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْآنًا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ الْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ الأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ الْمَوْتَى بَلْ لِلَّهِ الأَمْرُ جَمِيعًا أَفَلَمْ يَيْئَسْ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَنْ لَوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ لَهَدَى النَّاسَ جَمِيعًا وَلاَ يَزَالُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا تُصِيبُهُمْ بِمَا صَنَعُوا قَارِعَةٌ أَوْ تَحُلُّ قَرِيبًا مِنْ دَارِهِمْ حَتَّى يَأْتِيَ وَعْدُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يُخْلِفُ الْمِيعَادَ
[13:32] And if there were a Qur’an by which mountains[1441] could be moved or by which the earth could be cut asunder[1442] or by which the dead could be spoken[1443] to, they would not believe in it. Nay, the matter rests entirely with Allah. Have not the believers yet come to know that, if Allah had enforced His will, He could have surely guided all mankind? And as for those who disbelieve, disaster shall not cease to befall them for what they have wrought or to alight near their home[1444], until the promise of Allah comes to pass. Surely, Allah fails not in His promise.
 وَلَقَدْ اسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ
[13:33] And surely, Messengers have been mocked at before thee; but I granted respite to those who disbelieved. Then I seized them, and how was then My punishment!
أَفَمَنْ هُوَ قَائِمٌ عَلَى كُلِّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ قُلْ سَمُّوهُمْ أَمْ تُنَبِّئُونَهُ بِمَا لاَ يَعْلَمُ فِي الأَرْضِ أَمْ بِظَاهِرٍ مِنْ الْقَوْلِ بَلْ زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مَكْرُهُمْ وَصُدُّوا عَنْ السَّبِيلِ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ
[13:34] Will then He, Who stands over every soul to note what it earns, let them go unpunished? Yet, they ascribe partners to Allah. Say, ‘Name them.’[1445] Would you inform Him of what He does not know in the earth? Or, is it a mere empty saying? Nay, but the design of the disbelievers has been made to appear [1446]beautiful in their eyes, and they have been kept back from the right way. And he whom Allah lets go astray shall have no guide.
 لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَلَعَذَابُ الآخِرَةِ أَشَقُّ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَاقٍ
[13:35] For them is a punishment in the present life; and, surely, the punishment of the Hereafter is harder, and they will have no defender against Allah.
مَثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الأَنْهَارُ أُكُلُهَا دَائِمٌ وَظِلُّهَا تِلْكَ عُقْبَى الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا وَعُقْبَى الْكَافِرِينَ النَّارُ
[13:36] The similitude of the Heaven promised to the God-fearing is, that through it flow streams: its fruit is everlasting[1447], and so is its shade. That is the reward of those who are righteous; and the reward of the disbelievers is Fire.
وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمْ الْكِتَابَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمِنْ الأَحْزَابِ مَنْ يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُ قُلْ إِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَلاَ أُشْرِكَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُو وَإِلَيْهِ مَآبِ
[13:37] And those to whom We have given the Book rejoice in what has been revealed to thee. And of the different parties[1448] there are some who deny a part thereof. Say, ‘I am only commanded to worship Allah and not to set up equals to Him. Unto Him do I call, and unto Him is my return.’
وَكَذَلِكَ أَنزَلْنَاهُ حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّا وَلَئِنْ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ بَعْدَمَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنْ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلاَ وَاقٍ
[13:38] And thus have We revealed it as a clear judgment. And if thou follow their evil desires after the knowledge that has come to thee, thou shalt have no friend nor defender against Allah.
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلاً مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ بِآيَةٍ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتَابٌ
[13:39] And, indeed, We sent Messengers before thee, and We gave them wives and children. And it is not possible for a Messenger to bring a Sign save by the command of Allah. For every term there is a divine decree.
 يَمْحُوا اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ وَعِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ
[13:40] Allah effaces what He wills and established[1449] what He wills, and with Him is the source of all commandments.[1450]
 وَإِنْ مَا نُرِيَنَّكَ بَعْضَ الَّذِي نَعِدُهُمْ أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ الْبَلاَغُ وَعَلَيْنَا الْحِسَابُ
[13:41] And whether We make thee see the fulfillment of some of the things with which We threaten them or whether We make thee die, it makes little difference, for on thee lies only the delivery of the Message, and on Us the reckoning.
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا نَأْتِي الأَرْضَ نَنْقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا وَاللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ لاَ مُعَقِّبَ لِحُكْمِهِ وَهُوَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ
[13:42] Do they not see that We are visiting the land, reducing it from its outlying borders?[1451] And Allah judges; there is none to reverse His judgment. And He is swift at reckoning.
وَقَدْ مَكَرَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِهِمْ فَلِلَّهِ الْمَكْرُ جَمِيعًا يَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ وَسَيَعْلَمُ الْكُفَّارُ لِمَنْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ
[13:43] And those who were before them did also devise plans, but all effective devising of plans belongs to Allah[1451A]. He knows what every soul earns; and the disbelievers shall soon know whose will be the final reward of this abode.
 وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا لَسْتَ مُرْسَلاً قُلْ كَفَى بِاللَّهِ شَهِيدًا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ عِلْمُ الْكِتَابِ
[13:44] And those who disbelieve say, ‘Thou art not a Messenger.’ Say, ‘Sufficient is Allah as a Witness between me and you, and so is he who possesses knowledge of the Book.’[1451B]
1419. Whereas Chapters 10,11 & 12 begin with the letters Alif Lam Ra, the present Surah which is the 13th in number opens with the letters, Alif Lam Mim Ra. This difference in theabbreviated letters shows that the subject-matter of this Surah varies a little from that of thethree preceding Chapters. These four abbreviated letters mean, I am Allah, the All-Knowing,the All-Seeing; the attribute, 'Knowing,' having been added to the attribute, 'Seeing,' referredto in the preceding Chapters.
1420. These words mean: (1) You see that the heavens stand without pillars; (2) the heavens do not stand on pillars which you can see, i.e., they have supports but you cannot see them. Taken literally the verse means that the heavens stand without the support of pillars. Figuratively, it means that the heavens or; for that matter, the heavenly bodies, do stand on supports but these supports are not visible to the human eye, e.g., the force of gravity, or magnetic power or the special movements of planets or other means which science has discovered so far or which may be discovered in future.
1420A. The word 'Arsh (Throne) has been used in the Qur'an to express the bringing to perfection of spiritual or physical laws. The use of this expression is analogous to the practice of worldly monarchs. They make their important proclamations 'from the throne.'
1421. Though the present verse refers only to fruits, elsewhere the Qur'an speaks of God having made pairs-male and female-of all things (36:37; 51:50). This is a truth which of all religious Scriptures the Qur'an was the first to propound. Scientists have begun to discover pairs even in inorganic matter. The verse draws attention to the fact that the law that everything has a pair applies to the human intellect also. Until heavenly light descends on it, man cannot have true knowledge, which is born of a combination of both Divine revelation and human reason.
1422. The expression signifies that when trees watered with the same water bear fruits vastly different in taste and color. why cannot the Holy Prophet. even though he lives in the same town and among the same people, excel them, especially when he is nourished by the elixir of Divine revelation and his opponents are brought up under the fostering care of Satan?
1423. The shackles of false beliefs and evil practices.
1424. 'Sign' invariably means, the Sign of punishment unless the context points to some other meaning.
1425. In v. 4 we are told that all things in the universe have pairs and that in the spiritual world also some individuals act like males and others like females, the former exercising influence and the latter receiving it. The verse under comment points out that in the person of the Holy Prophet there has appeared one who is spiritually a male and that nobody can attain any spiritual rank without receiving his stamp. It further says that God knows well the natural capacities and aptitudes of the Holy Prophet's people, whether they will accept Divine or satanic influence, and which influence will grow and which will decline. Those who accept the Holy Prophet and receive his stamp will grow and increase in power, influence and numbers; while his opponents will decline and decrease.
1426. The overt or covert plans of the Holy Prophet's enemies cannot succeed because God; Who knows them all, is his Helper and Protector.
1427. The word Al-Mu'aqqibat signifies, the angels of the night and the day because they succeed each other by turns. The plural feminine form is used because of the frequency of their doing so; since in Arabic the feminine form is sometimes employed to impart emphasis and frequency. The word, rendered here as 'a succession of angels,' may refer to the celestial beings in Heaven; or to the devoted Companions of the Holy Prophet who guarded him risking their lives.
1428. Lightning inspires both fear and hope. It inspires fear because sometimes men die of it and embryos, and certain plants get adversely affected. It also brings hope to men, for it heralds fertilizing rain and also helps to destroy germs of different diseases and thus serves to put an end to epidemics.
1429. The expression may be translated as: (1) God alone is worthy of worship; (2) it is praying to God alone that can be useful or beneficial for man; (3) the Voice of God alone rises in support of truth; and (4) the Voice of God alone must prevail.
1430. The right way to succeed in life is to place all things in their proper places-to give God the status which is His due and to create things the position which they rightly possess. That alone is the way to success and true happiness.
1431. of nature, willingly or unwillingly. The tongue must perform the function of tasting and the ear cannot help hearing. This obedience to the laws of nature may be called compulsory. But man is given a certain freedom of action where he can use his volition and discretion. But even in actions in which he appears to have been granted freedom, he is subject to certain amount of compulsion, and he must obey God's laws in whatever he does, whether he likes it or not. The words, willingly or unwillingly, may also refer to two classes of men, viz., believers who give willing submission to God and disbelievers who obey His laws grudgingly.
1432. The Qur'an has used two different words to express Divine Unity: (1) Ahad and (2) Wahid. Whereas the former word denotes the absolute Unity of God without relation to any other being. the latter means only 'the first' or 'the starting point,' and requires a second and a third to follow it. The Divine attribute, Wahid (One), shows that God is the real 'Source' from which all creation springs. and everything points to Him just as a second or a third thing necessarily points to the first. But where the Qur'an seeks to refute the doctrine of the sonship of those who have been falsely given that status, it uses the word Ahad, i.e., He Who is and has ever been One and Alone and Who has begotten no child (1 12:2).
1433. The verse has used two very apt illustrations. In the first illustration, truth is compared to water and falsehood to foam. Falsehood in the beginning seems to prevail over truth, but in the end it is swept away by truth even as rubbish is swept away by a powerful current of water. In the second illustration; truth is likened to gold or silver which, when melted, throws off the dross leaving behind the unmixed metal, pure and bright.
1434. After faithfully discharging their duties to God, the believers fulfill the obligations they owe to His creatures. The observance of these two duties constitutes the basis on which the whole fabric of religion stands.
1435. The believers follow the course best suited for the eradication of evil. They resort to punishment where it serves a useful purpose and to forgiveness if forgiveness is calculated to bring about the desired result. In short, they cut at the very root of evil by whatever method is appropriate in the circumstances.
1436. This verse enunciates a great principle. Any good act that a man does, is done with the intentional or unintentional help or cooperation of his relatives and kinsmen. Therefore, they all are made to participate, proportionately to their share, in the reward he wins.
1437. The various categories of good deeds of believers will; in the next world, be represented as so many gates of Heaven.
1438. The particle fi is sometimes used to denote comparison (Lane).
1439. It is God's immutable law that He guides those who are desirous of turning to Him and leaves to go astray those who themselves turn away from Him and refuse to accept His guidance.
1440. Search after God is the innermost yearning of the human soul and is the real object and goal of man's life, and when that goal is attained man enjoys perfect peace of mind, for then he rests, as it were, in the very lap of God.
1441 . Jibal is the plural of Jabal which figuratively means, (1) chief of a tribe or community; (2) a learned man towering above those around him; (3) great hardship or calamity (Aqrab). The clause may mean that the Qur'an solves all the difficult problems that confront man, or it may mean that it has abrogated the old order of things and has inculcated a new approach to the various human problems.
1442. These words figuratively mean that the Qur'an would speedily spread throughout the whole earth. Literally, it means that portions of land would be cut off from enemy territory and would pass into the possession of believers.
1443. By means of the Qur'an those spiritually dead will not only be quickened into a new life, but will also be made to speak words of wisdom and will preach the Message of the Qur'an to the world.
1444. Calamity after calamity shall continue to befall the disbelievers and they shall suffer reverses one after the other, till the prophecy relating to the utter destruction of their power will be fulfilled by the Fall of Mecca, their metropolis and chief citadel.
1445. Idolaters are called upon to state what are the functions which their gods perform. The word 'name' in the verse does not mean personal name but attributive name, for the personal names of some of the gods have been given in the Qur'an itself (71 :24); the words, do name them, may also be an expression of contempt, meaning that the gods of the disbelievers are so worthless that even the mention of their names would put them to shame.
1446. It often happens that when a man commits a fraud or imposture in order to gain worldly advantage, he himself gradually falls a victim to his own imposture which gradually appears attractive to him.
1447. The words, its fruit is everlasting, signify that the fruits of Heaven will see no autumn, no season of decay, nor even of dormancy. Thus, there will be no interruption in the boons and blessings of Paradise. "Fruit" and "shade" stand respectively for inward and outward blessings, and imply that believers will enjoy all kinds of blessings in Heaven, both external and internal.
1448. By the word, Ahzab (parties), is meant all those people to whom a Prophet is sent and who do not accept him.
1449. The verse lays down two laws relating to Divine punishment: (a) God either cancels the punishment wholly or partially; or (b) He lets it stand as decreed.
1450. (a) God alone knows the root cause of all commandments or the wisdom underlying them. (b) All the commandments of the Shari'ah are based on Divine attributes, so the source of the Law lies with God; Umm means, source, basis, origin; stay or support (Lane).
1451. Atraf meaning good and generous, (and also) low and mean persons, the verse means: 'Do they not see that God is gradually reducing and curtailing the land from its sides?' i.e., Islam is spreading through the length and breadth of Arabia and making inroads into every home and all sections and stations of society-the high and the low, the rich and the poor, the slave and the master.
1451A. All the secret designs of the enemies of Islam are known to God and so none of their plans or stratagems can frustrate His purpose-the ultimate victory of Islam.
1451B. The words, knowledge of the Book. may mean, fresh Signs from Heaven and the prophecies of the previous Scriptures regarding the Holy Prophet.
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