13: The Thunder (Al-Rad)
Revealed at Makkah
This chapter is named Thunder from the analogy of rain which is often likened to revelation in the Quran. As rain is accompanied by thunder and lightening, so is revelation accompanied by warning of punishment, although its real purpose is mercy. The chapter points to signs in physical nature to the truth of revelation and deals with the demand from the disbelievers to see the sign of punishment befalling them. It then tells them about the Divine laws which govern reward and punishment, and explains that the real miracles were the spiritual life that the Quran awakened in people and the transformation it would bring in the world despite facing great mountains of obstacles. This chapter was revealed during the last four years of the period of the Holy Prophet’s life at Makkah.
Section 1 (Verses 13:1–13:7): Truth of Revelation
13:1
الٓـمّٓرٰ ۟ تِلۡکَ اٰیٰتُ الۡکِتٰبِ ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَیۡکَ مِنۡ رَّبِّکَ الۡحَقُّ وَ لٰکِنَّ اَکۡثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا یُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿۱﴾
I, Allah, am the Best Knower, the Seer. These are verses of the Book. And what is revealed to you from your Lord is the Truth, but most people do not believe.
The original Arabic consists of the letters alif, lām, mīm and rā. These stand for ana (I), Allāh, A‘lam (Best Knower) and Rā’ī, (Seer) respectively.
13:2
اَللّٰہُ الَّذِیۡ رَفَعَ السَّمٰوٰتِ بِغَیۡرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوۡنَہَا ثُمَّ اسۡتَوٰی عَلَی الۡعَرۡشِ وَ سَخَّرَ الشَّمۡسَ وَ الۡقَمَرَ ؕ کُلٌّ یَّجۡرِیۡ لِاَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّی ؕ یُدَبِّرُ الۡاَمۡرَ یُفَصِّلُ الۡاٰیٰتِ لَعَلَّکُمۡ بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّکُمۡ تُوۡقِنُوۡنَ ﴿۲﴾
Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see, and He is established on the Throne of Power, and He made the sun and the moon subservient (to you). Each one runs to an appointed term. He regulates the affair, making clear the messages that you may be certain of the meeting with your Lord.
All heavenly bodies are raised high without any pillars that man can see. Those pillars are the laws of gravitation. All heavenly bodies, we are further told, run their course to an appointed term; they have a beginning and an end, as all things on earth have a beginning and an end.
13:3
وَ ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ مَدَّ الۡاَرۡضَ وَ جَعَلَ فِیۡہَا رَوَاسِیَ وَ اَنۡہٰرًا ؕ وَ مِنۡ کُلِّ الثَّمَرٰتِ جَعَلَ فِیۡہَا زَوۡجَیۡنِ اثۡنَیۡنِ یُغۡشِی الَّیۡلَ النَّہَارَ ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّقَوۡمٍ یَّتَفَکَّرُوۡنَ ﴿۳﴾
And He it is Who spread the earth, and made in it firm mountains and rivers. And of all fruits He has made in it pairs, two (of every kind). He makes the night cover the day. Surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.
13:4
وَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ قِطَعٌ مُّتَجٰوِرٰتٌ وَّ جَنّٰتٌ مِّنۡ اَعۡنَابٍ وَّ زَرۡعٌ وَّ نَخِیۡلٌ صِنۡوَانٌ وَّ غَیۡرُ صِنۡوَانٍ یُّسۡقٰی بِمَآءٍ وَّاحِدٍ ۟ وَ نُفَضِّلُ بَعۡضَہَا عَلٰی بَعۡضٍ فِی الۡاُکُلِ ؕ اِنَّ فِیۡ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیٰتٍ لِّقَوۡمٍ یَّعۡقِلُوۡنَ ﴿۴﴾
And in the earth are tracts side by side, and gardens of vines, and corn, and palm-trees growing from one root and distinct roots — they are watered with one water; and We make some of them to excel others in fruit. Surely there are signs in this for a people who understand.
Unity in diversity is observable in the whole of nature, which is a sure sign of the Unity of the great Author of all existence. Besides this, as there is a difference in the produce of different tracts, though they are subject to the same laws of nature, even so are the hearts of people in relation to the growth of the seed of virtue, which is sown by revelation.
13:5
وَ اِنۡ تَعۡجَبۡ فَعَجَبٌ قَوۡلُہُمۡ ءَ اِذَا کُنَّا تُرٰبًا ءَ اِنَّا لَفِیۡ خَلۡقٍ جَدِیۡدٍ ۬ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا بِرَبِّہِمۡ ۚ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ الۡاَغۡلٰلُ فِیۡۤ اَعۡنَاقِہِمۡ ۚ وَ اُولٰٓئِکَ اَصۡحٰبُ النَّارِ ۚ ہُمۡ فِیۡہَا خٰلِدُوۡنَ ﴿۵﴾
And if you wonder, then wondrous is their saying: When we are dust, shall we then be raised in a new creation? These are they who disbelieve in their Lord, and these have chains on their necks, and they are the companions of the Fire; in it they will abide.
The chains spoken of here are the chains which keep them constrained to evil usages and corrupt practices.
13:6
وَ یَسۡتَعۡجِلُوۡنَکَ بِالسَّیِّئَۃِ قَبۡلَ الۡحَسَنَۃِ وَ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمُ الۡمَثُلٰتُ ؕ وَ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ لَذُوۡ مَغۡفِرَۃٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلٰی ظُلۡمِہِمۡ ۚ وَ اِنَّ رَبَّکَ لَشَدِیۡدُ الۡعِقَابِ ﴿۶﴾
And they ask you to hasten on the evil before the good, and indeed there have been exemplary punishments before them. And surely your Lord is full of forgiveness for mankind despite their wrongdoing. And surely your Lord is Severe in retribution.
The opponents of the Holy Prophet are told that the Merciful God would deal with them not according to their wrongdoings, but according to His vast and comprehensive forgiveness. But when evil outsteps all bounds, His very mercy, which must be exercised towards His righteous servants, requires that the wrongdoers should not be left without punishment.
13:7
وَ یَقُوۡلُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لَوۡ لَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ عَلَیۡہِ اٰیَۃٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّہٖ ؕ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنۡتَ مُنۡذِرٌ وَّ لِکُلِّ قَوۡمٍ ہَادٍ ٪﴿۷﴾
And those who disbelieve say: Why has not a sign been sent down to him from his Lord? You are only a warner and for every people a guide.
The words for every people a guide refer to the Holy Prophet. He was a warner indeed; he warned the evildoers of the evil consequences of their evil deeds, but he was ultimately to be a guide for every people, to lead them out of their evil ways and to set them on the right path.
Section 2 (Verses 13:8–13:18): Fall and Rise of Nations
13:8
اَللّٰہُ یَعۡلَمُ مَا تَحۡمِلُ کُلُّ اُنۡثٰی وَ مَا تَغِیۡضُ الۡاَرۡحَامُ وَ مَا تَزۡدَادُ ؕ وَ کُلُّ شَیۡءٍ عِنۡدَہٗ بِمِقۡدَارٍ ﴿۸﴾
Allah knows what every female bears, and what the wombs fall short of completing and what they grow. And everything with Him has a measure.
The physical law of nature is spoken of here with a deeper reference to the spiritual law, according to which some receive a new birth through the Prophet and others do not. The subject is made clearer in the verses that follow.
13:9
عٰلِمُ الۡغَیۡبِ وَ الشَّہَادَۃِ الۡکَبِیۡرُ الۡمُتَعَالِ ﴿۹﴾
The Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Great, the Most High.
13:10
سَوَآءٌ مِّنۡکُمۡ مَّنۡ اَسَرَّ الۡقَوۡلَ وَ مَنۡ جَہَرَ بِہٖ وَ مَنۡ ہُوَ مُسۡتَخۡفٍۭ بِالَّیۡلِ وَ سَارِبٌۢ بِالنَّہَارِ ﴿۱۰﴾
Alike (to Him) among you is he who conceals the word and he who speaks openly, and he who hides himself by night and (who) goes forth by day.
A general law is given expression to here, with a deeper reference to the secret and open counsels against the Holy Prophet and to enemies seeking his life by day and by night.
13:11
لَہٗ مُعَقِّبٰتٌ مِّنۡۢ بَیۡنِ یَدَیۡہِ وَ مِنۡ خَلۡفِہٖ یَحۡفَظُوۡنَہٗ مِنۡ اَمۡرِ اللّٰہِ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یُغَیِّرُ مَا بِقَوۡمٍ حَتّٰی یُغَیِّرُوۡا مَا بِاَنۡفُسِہِمۡ ؕ وَ اِذَاۤ اَرَادَ اللّٰہُ بِقَوۡمٍ سُوۡٓءًا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَہٗ ۚ وَ مَا لَہُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِہٖ مِنۡ وَّالٍ ﴿۱۱﴾
For him are (angels) guarding the consequences (of his deeds), before him and behind him, who guard him by Allah’s command. Surely Allah does not change the condition of a people, until they change their own condition. And when Allah intends harm to a people, there is no averting it, and besides Him they have no protector.
While the statement is no doubt general and refers to the guardian angels referred to in 6:61, there is a deeper allusion to the Divine protection specially granted to the Holy Prophet against the numerous enemies among whom he lived day and night. The angels guard the consequences of the deeds of man, and are therefore spoken of here as guarding him, i.e., guarding whatever he does, by Allah’s command.
13:12
ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ یُرِیۡکُمُ الۡبَرۡقَ خَوۡفًا وَّ طَمَعًا وَّ یُنۡشِیُٔ السَّحَابَ الثِّقَالَ ﴿ۚ۱۲﴾
He it is Who shows you lightning causing fear and hope and (Who) brings up the heavy cloud.
13:13
وَ یُسَبِّحُ الرَّعۡدُ بِحَمۡدِہٖ وَ الۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃُ مِنۡ خِیۡفَتِہٖ ۚ وَ یُرۡسِلُ الصَّوَاعِقَ فَیُصِیۡبُ بِہَا مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ وَ ہُمۡ یُجَادِلُوۡنَ فِی اللّٰہِ ۚ وَ ہُوَ شَدِیۡدُ الۡمِحَالِ ﴿ؕ۱۳﴾
And thunder celebrates His praise, and the angels too for awe of Him. And He sends thunderbolts and strikes with them whom He pleases, yet they dispute concerning Allah, and He is Mighty in prowess.
13:14
لَہٗ دَعۡوَۃُ الۡحَقِّ ؕ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ یَدۡعُوۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِہٖ لَا یَسۡتَجِیۡبُوۡنَ لَہُمۡ بِشَیۡءٍ اِلَّا کَبَاسِطِ کَفَّیۡہِ اِلَی الۡمَآءِ لِیَبۡلُغَ فَاہُ وَ مَا ہُوَ بِبَالِغِہٖ ؕ وَ مَا دُعَآءُ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ اِلَّا فِیۡ ضَلٰلٍ ﴿۱۴﴾
To Him is due the true prayer. And those to whom they pray besides Him give them no answer, but (they are) like one who stretches forth his two hands towards water that it may reach his mouth, but it will not reach it. And the prayer of the disbelievers is only wasted.
13:15
وَ لِلّٰہِ یَسۡجُدُ مَنۡ فِی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ طَوۡعًا وَّ کَرۡہًا وَّ ظِلٰلُہُمۡ بِالۡغُدُوِّ وَ الۡاٰصَالِ ﴿ٛ۱۵﴾
And whoever is in the heavens and the earth makes submission to Allah only, willingly and unwillingly, and their shadows, too, morning and evening.
13:16
قُلۡ مَنۡ رَّبُّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ قُلِ اللّٰہُ ؕ قُلۡ اَفَاتَّخَذۡتُمۡ مِّنۡ دُوۡنِہٖۤ اَوۡلِیَآءَ لَا یَمۡلِکُوۡنَ لِاَنۡفُسِہِمۡ نَفۡعًا وَّ لَا ضَرًّا ؕ قُلۡ ہَلۡ یَسۡتَوِی الۡاَعۡمٰی وَ الۡبَصِیۡرُ ۬ۙ اَمۡ ہَلۡ تَسۡتَوِی الظُّلُمٰتُ وَ النُّوۡرُ ۬ۚ اَمۡ جَعَلُوۡا لِلّٰہِ شُرَکَآءَ خَلَقُوۡا کَخَلۡقِہٖ فَتَشَابَہَ الۡخَلۡقُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ؕ قُلِ اللّٰہُ خَالِقُ کُلِّ شَیۡءٍ وَّ ہُوَ الۡوَاحِدُ الۡقَہَّارُ ﴿۱۶﴾
Say: Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth? Say: Allah. Say: Do you then take besides Him, guardians who control no benefit or harm even for themselves? Say: Are the blind and the seeing alike? Or, are darkness and light equal? Or, have they set up with Allah partners who have created creation like His, so that what is created became confused to them? Say: Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Supreme.
13:17
اَنۡزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَالَتۡ اَوۡدِیَۃٌۢ بِقَدَرِہَا فَاحۡتَمَلَ السَّیۡلُ زَبَدًا رَّابِیًا ؕ وَ مِمَّا یُوۡقِدُوۡنَ عَلَیۡہِ فِی النَّارِ ابۡتِغَآءَ حِلۡیَۃٍ اَوۡ مَتَاعٍ زَبَدٌ مِّثۡلُہٗ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ یَضۡرِبُ اللّٰہُ الۡحَقَّ وَ الۡبَاطِلَ ۬ؕ فَاَمَّا الزَّبَدُ فَیَذۡہَبُ جُفَآءً ۚ وَ اَمَّا مَا یَنۡفَعُ النَّاسَ فَیَمۡکُثُ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ کَذٰلِکَ یَضۡرِبُ اللّٰہُ الۡاَمۡثَالَ ﴿ؕ۱۷﴾
He sends down water from the clouds, then watercourses flow according to their measure, and the torrent bears along the swelling foam. And a scum like it arises from what they melt in the fire for the sake of making ornaments or tools. Thus does Allah compare truth and falsehood. Then as for the scum, it passes away as a worthless thing; and as for that which benefits people, it remains behind in the earth. Thus does Allah set forth parables.
The word used includes here all kinds of things necessary for the life of man, such as utensils, tools, implements, and instruments of war.
13:18
لِلَّذِیۡنَ اسۡتَجَابُوۡا لِرَبِّہِمُ الۡحُسۡنٰی ؕؔ وَ الَّذِیۡنَ لَمۡ یَسۡتَجِیۡبُوۡا لَہٗ لَوۡ اَنَّ لَہُمۡ مَّا فِی الۡاَرۡضِ جَمِیۡعًا وَّ مِثۡلَہٗ مَعَہٗ لَافۡتَدَوۡا بِہٖ ؕ اُولٰٓئِکَ لَہُمۡ سُوۡٓءُ الۡحِسَابِ ۬ۙ وَ مَاۡوٰىہُمۡ جَہَنَّمُ ؕ وَ بِئۡسَ الۡمِہَادُ ﴿٪۱۸﴾
For those who respond to their Lord is good. And as for those who do not respond to Him, even if they had all that is in the earth and as much again, they would certainly offer it for a ransom. As for those, theirs is an evil reckoning and their abode is hell; and evil is the resting-place.
Section 3 (Verses 13:19–13:26): Good and Evil Bring their Own Reward
13:19
اَفَمَنۡ یَّعۡلَمُ اَنَّمَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَیۡکَ مِنۡ رَّبِّکَ الۡحَقُّ کَمَنۡ ہُوَ اَعۡمٰی ؕ اِنَّمَا یَتَذَکَّرُ اُولُوا الۡاَلۡبَابِ ﴿ۙ۱۹﴾
Is he who knows that what is revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, like him who is blind? Only those who have understanding are mindful —
13:20
الَّذِیۡنَ یُوۡفُوۡنَ بِعَہۡدِ اللّٰہِ وَ لَا یَنۡقُضُوۡنَ الۡمِیۡثَاقَ ﴿ۙ۲۰﴾
those who fulfil the pact of Allah, and do not break the covenant,
13:21
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ یَصِلُوۡنَ مَاۤ اَمَرَ اللّٰہُ بِہٖۤ اَنۡ یُّوۡصَلَ وَ یَخۡشَوۡنَ رَبَّہُمۡ وَ یَخَافُوۡنَ سُوۡٓءَ الۡحِسَابِ ﴿ؕ۲۱﴾
and those who join what Allah has ordered to be joined and have awe of their Lord, and fear the evil reckoning.
While the previous verse deals with people’s duty to their Maker, this refers to relations with His creatures. “What Allah has ordered to be joined” includes all those ties of love and relationship which Allah has taught human beings to observe and keep inviolate.
13:22
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ صَبَرُوا ابۡتِغَآءَ وَجۡہِ رَبِّہِمۡ وَ اَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَ اَنۡفَقُوۡا مِمَّا رَزَقۡنٰہُمۡ سِرًّا وَّ عَلَانِیَۃً وَّ یَدۡرَءُوۡنَ بِالۡحَسَنَۃِ السَّیِّئَۃَ اُولٰٓئِکَ لَہُمۡ عُقۡبَی الدَّارِ ﴿ۙ۲۲﴾
And those who are steadfast seeking the pleasure of their Lord, and keep up prayer and spend (on good works) out of what We have given them, secretly and openly, and repel evil with good; theirs is the (happy) issue of the abode —
Evil is a thing which is by all means to be repelled, and hence good for evil is recommended only in cases when evil would be repelled by that good. Unconditionally requiting evil with good would abolish all safeguards; evildoers who received nothing but good for every evil they committed would most assuredly establish a condition of anarchy by their evil deeds. Elsewhere it is said: whoever forgives and brings about reform (42:40).
13:23
جَنّٰتُ عَدۡنٍ یَّدۡخُلُوۡنَہَا وَ مَنۡ صَلَحَ مِنۡ اٰبَآئِہِمۡ وَ اَزۡوَاجِہِمۡ وَ ذُرِّیّٰتِہِمۡ وَ الۡمَلٰٓئِکَۃُ یَدۡخُلُوۡنَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ مِّنۡ کُلِّ بَابٍ ﴿ۚ۲۳﴾
Gardens of perpetuity, which they will enter along with those who do good from among their fathers and their spouses and their offspring; and the angels will enter in upon them from every gate.
The Quran is full of clear statements that women shall enjoy the bliss of paradise. Azwāj is the plural of zauj, which means either husband or wife, and hence I have rendered it as spouses.
13:24
سَلٰمٌ عَلَیۡکُمۡ بِمَا صَبَرۡتُمۡ فَنِعۡمَ عُقۡبَی الدَّارِ ﴿ؕ۲۴﴾
Peace be on you, because you were constant — how excellent is then the final abode!
13:25
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ یَنۡقُضُوۡنَ عَہۡدَ اللّٰہِ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مِیۡثَاقِہٖ وَ یَقۡطَعُوۡنَ مَاۤ اَمَرَ اللّٰہُ بِہٖۤ اَنۡ یُّوۡصَلَ وَ یُفۡسِدُوۡنَ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ ۙ اُولٰٓئِکَ لَہُمُ اللَّعۡنَۃُ وَ لَہُمۡ سُوۡٓءُ الدَّارِ ﴿۲۵﴾
And those who break the covenant of Allah after its confirmation, and cut apart what Allah has ordered to be joined, and make mischief in the land, for them is the curse, and theirs is the evil end of the abode.
13:26
اَللّٰہُ یَبۡسُطُ الرِّزۡقَ لِمَنۡ یَّشَآءُ وَ یَقۡدِرُ ؕ وَ فَرِحُوۡا بِالۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا ؕ وَ مَا الۡحَیٰوۃُ الدُّنۡیَا فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ اِلَّا مَتَاعٌ ﴿٪۲۶﴾
Allah amplifies provision for whom He pleases, and restricts (it also). And they rejoice in this world’s life. And this world’s life, compared with the Hereafter, is only a temporary enjoyment.
Section 4 (Verses 13:27–13:31): Revolution to be Brought About by the Quran
13:27
وَ یَقُوۡلُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لَوۡ لَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ عَلَیۡہِ اٰیَۃٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّہٖ ؕ قُلۡ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ یُضِلُّ مَنۡ یَّشَآءُ وَ یَہۡدِیۡۤ اِلَیۡہِ مَنۡ اَنَابَ ﴿ۖۚ۲۷﴾
And those who disbelieve say: Why is not a sign sent down to him by his Lord? Say: Allah leaves in error whom He pleases, and guides to Himself those who turn (to Him) —
The answer to this question is given at the end of this section: “disaster will not cease to afflict them because of what they do, or it will reach close to their homes, until the promise of Allah come to pass” (v. 31). This promise related to the utter annihilation of the power of the disbelievers. The question, why is not a sign sent down to him, here as elsewhere in the Quran, is a demand for the promised annihilation of their power and their defeat, and the answer is always conveyed in somewhat similar terms, stating first that they should ask for mercy; that the Quran has healing power, the condition of the faithful being a witness to it; that the fate of the former generations affords a lesson; that smaller calamities continue to afflict them, and in these they can see the signs of their ultimate vanquishment; and that finally, if all those tokens are rejected, the great calamity will not fail to overtake them.
13:28
اَلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ تَطۡمَئِنُّ قُلُوۡبُہُمۡ بِذِکۡرِ اللّٰہِ ؕ اَلَا بِذِکۡرِ اللّٰہِ تَطۡمَئِنُّ الۡقُلُوۡبُ ﴿ؕ۲۸﴾
those who believe and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Now surely in Allah’s remembrance do hearts find rest.
13:29
اَلَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ طُوۡبٰی لَہُمۡ وَ حُسۡنُ مَاٰبٍ ﴿۲۹﴾
Those who believe and do good, a good final state is theirs and a goodly return.
13:30
کَذٰلِکَ اَرۡسَلۡنٰکَ فِیۡۤ اُمَّۃٍ قَدۡ خَلَتۡ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہَاۤ اُمَمٌ لِّتَتۡلُوَا۠ عَلَیۡہِمُ الَّذِیۡۤ اَوۡحَیۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡکَ وَ ہُمۡ یَکۡفُرُوۡنَ بِالرَّحۡمٰنِ ؕ قُلۡ ہُوَ رَبِّیۡ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ ۚ عَلَیۡہِ تَوَکَّلۡتُ وَ اِلَیۡہِ مَتَابِ ﴿۳۰﴾
Thus We have sent you among a nation before which other nations have passed away, that you might recite to them what We have revealed to you, and (still) they deny the Beneficent. Say: He is my Lord, there is no god but He; in Him do I trust and to Him is my return.
13:31
وَ لَوۡ اَنَّ قُرۡاٰنًا سُیِّرَتۡ بِہِ الۡجِبَالُ اَوۡ قُطِّعَتۡ بِہِ الۡاَرۡضُ اَوۡ کُلِّمَ بِہِ الۡمَوۡتٰی ؕ بَلۡ لِّلّٰہِ الۡاَمۡرُ جَمِیۡعًا ؕ اَفَلَمۡ یَایۡـَٔسِ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اَنۡ لَّوۡ یَشَآءُ اللّٰہُ لَہَدَی النَّاسَ جَمِیۡعًا ؕ وَ لَا یَزَالُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا تُصِیۡبُہُمۡ بِمَا صَنَعُوۡا قَارِعَۃٌ اَوۡ تَحُلُّ قَرِیۡبًا مِّنۡ دَارِہِمۡ حَتّٰی یَاۡتِیَ وَعۡدُ اللّٰہِ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یُخۡلِفُ الۡمِیۡعَادَ ﴿٪۳۱﴾
And if there could be a Quran with which the mountains were made to pass away, or the earth were split apart, or the dead were made to speak — indeed, the commandment is wholly Allah’s. Do not those who believe know that, if Allah please, He would certainly guide all the people? And as for those who disbelieve, disaster will not cease to afflict them because of what they do, or it will reach close to their homes, until the promise of Allah come to pass. Surely Allah will not fail in (His) promise.
That the Quran should work such great wonders is not an impossibility but a fact, for we are immediately told that it will be brought about soon by Allah’s commandment. At the time when these verses were revealed, difficulties in the spread of Islam appeared like mountains. It is a matter of history that they were made to pass away. The earth splitting apart means that the Quran would go deep down into the hearts of people, which are compared here to the earth. These words may also mean that the earth will be travelled over. There were no facilities at that time for going to distant corners of Arabia, to say nothing of the whole world. Yet not only was the whole of Arabia travelled over by the message-bearers of Islam within ten years after this, but within a hundred years of the Prophet’s death Islam had traversed the whole of the known world, from the farthest East in China to the farthest West in Spain. It is again a matter of history that the dead were made to speak. People who were dead spiritually now spoke with such power that the whole earth from end to end responded to their call.
Section 5 (Verses 13:32–13:37): Opposition will Fail
13:32
وَ لَقَدِ اسۡتُہۡزِیَٔ بِرُسُلٍ مِّنۡ قَبۡلِکَ فَاَمۡلَیۡتُ لِلَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا ثُمَّ اَخَذۡتُہُمۡ ۟ فَکَیۡفَ کَانَ عِقَابِ ﴿۳۲﴾
And messengers before you were certainly mocked, but I gave respite to those who disbelieved, then I seized them. How (terrible) was then My retribution!
13:33
اَفَمَنۡ ہُوَ قَآئِمٌ عَلٰی کُلِّ نَفۡسٍۭ بِمَا کَسَبَتۡ ۚ وَ جَعَلُوۡا لِلّٰہِ شُرَکَآءَ ؕ قُلۡ سَمُّوۡہُمۡ ؕ اَمۡ تُنَبِّـُٔوۡنَہٗ بِمَا لَا یَعۡلَمُ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ اَمۡ بِظَاہِرٍ مِّنَ الۡقَوۡلِ ؕ بَلۡ زُیِّنَ لِلَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا مَکۡرُہُمۡ وَ صُدُّوۡا عَنِ السَّبِیۡلِ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یُّضۡلِلِ اللّٰہُ فَمَا لَہٗ مِنۡ ہَادٍ ﴿۳۳﴾
Is, then, He Who watches every soul as to what it earns (like their associate gods)? And yet they ascribe partners to Allah! Say: Name them. Would you inform Him of what He does not know in the earth, or of an outward saying? Rather, their plan is made to seem good to those who disbelieve, and they are kept back from the path. And whom Allah leaves in error, he has no guide.
It is to show the utmost contempt for the alleged partners of the Divine Being that their worshippers are called upon to give them a name, as if it were said that they are not worthy of a name. Or the meaning may be, give them a name expressing any qualification of godhead, such as a sustainer, creator, etc.
13:34
لَہُمۡ عَذَابٌ فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا وَ لَعَذَابُ الۡاٰخِرَۃِ اَشَقُّ ۚ وَ مَا لَہُمۡ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ مِنۡ وَّاقٍ ﴿۳۴﴾
For them is punishment in this world’s life, and the punishment of the Hereafter is certainly more grievous. And they have no protector against Allah.
13:35
مَثَلُ الۡجَنَّۃِ الَّتِیۡ وُعِدَ الۡمُتَّقُوۡنَ ؕ تَجۡرِیۡ مِنۡ تَحۡتِہَا الۡاَنۡہٰرُ ؕ اُکُلُہَا دَآئِمٌ وَّ ظِلُّہَا ؕ تِلۡکَ عُقۡبَی الَّذِیۡنَ اتَّقَوۡا ٭ۖ وَّ عُقۡبَی الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ النَّارُ ﴿۳۵﴾
A parable of the Garden which is promised to those who keep their duty: In it flow rivers. Its fruits are perpetual and (so is) its plenty. Such is the end for those who keep their duty; and the end for the disbelievers is the Fire.
The paradise mentioned here is called a parable, as also in 47:15. A saying of the Holy Prophet makes it clear that the blessings of paradise are such as no eye has seen, nor has ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man to conceive of them (Bukhari, 59:8). The description given in the Quran is only a likeness of what it actually is, as it is of a nature entirely different from the things of this world.
13:36
وَ الَّذِیۡنَ اٰتَیۡنٰہُمُ الۡکِتٰبَ یَفۡرَحُوۡنَ بِمَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَیۡکَ وَ مِنَ الۡاَحۡزَابِ مَنۡ یُّنۡکِرُ بَعۡضَہٗ ؕ قُلۡ اِنَّمَاۤ اُمِرۡتُ اَنۡ اَعۡبُدَ اللّٰہَ وَ لَاۤ اُشۡرِکَ بِہٖ ؕ اِلَیۡہِ اَدۡعُوۡا وَ اِلَیۡہِ مَاٰبِ ﴿۳۶﴾
And those to whom We have given the Book rejoice in what has been revealed to you, and some sects deny a part of it. Say: I am commanded only to serve Allah and not set up partners with Him. To Him do I invite (you), and to Him is my return.
The Book may signify the Quran; or it may refer to the previous revelation, in which case the Jewish and Christian converts to Islam are meant here.
13:37
وَ کَذٰلِکَ اَنۡزَلۡنٰہُ حُکۡمًا عَرَبِیًّا ؕ وَ لَئِنِ اتَّبَعۡتَ اَہۡوَآءَہُمۡ بَعۡدَ مَا جَآءَکَ مِنَ الۡعِلۡمِ ۙ مَا لَکَ مِنَ اللّٰہِ مِنۡ وَّلِیٍّ وَّ لَا وَاقٍ ﴿٪۳۷﴾
And thus have We revealed it, a true judgment, in Arabic. And if you follow their low desires after the knowledge that has come to you, you would have against Allah no guardian nor protector.
Section 6 (Verses 13:38–13:43): Steady Progress of Truth
13:38
وَ لَقَدۡ اَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلًا مِّنۡ قَبۡلِکَ وَ جَعَلۡنَا لَہُمۡ اَزۡوَاجًا وَّ ذُرِّیَّۃً ؕ وَ مَا کَانَ لِرَسُوۡلٍ اَنۡ یَّاۡتِیَ بِاٰیَۃٍ اِلَّا بِاِذۡنِ اللّٰہِ ؕ لِکُلِّ اَجَلٍ کِتَابٌ ﴿۳۸﴾
And certainly We sent messengers before you and appointed for them wives and children. And it is not in the power of a messenger to bring a sign except by Allah’s permission. For every term there is an appointment.
13:39
یَمۡحُوا اللّٰہُ مَا یَشَآءُ وَ یُثۡبِتُ ۚۖ وَ عِنۡدَہٗۤ اُمُّ الۡکِتٰبِ ﴿۳۹﴾
Allah effaces what He pleases and establishes (what He pleases), and with Him is the basis of the Book.
The Divine ordinance to annihilate the power of the opponents of the Holy Prophet and to bring about the establishment of the Truth is called the “basis of the Book” (Umm al-Kitāb), because the final defeat of the powers of evil, which was previously foretold, would be such a clear sign that it would dispel all doubts.
13:40
وَ اِنۡ مَّا نُرِیَنَّکَ بَعۡضَ الَّذِیۡ نَعِدُہُمۡ اَوۡ نَتَوَفَّیَنَّکَ فَاِنَّمَا عَلَیۡکَ الۡبَلٰغُ وَ عَلَیۡنَا الۡحِسَابُ ﴿۴۰﴾
Whether We show you part of what We promise them, or cause you to die (before it comes about), your duty is only to deliver the message, and Ours to call (them) to account.
13:41
اَوَ لَمۡ یَرَوۡا اَنَّا نَاۡتِی الۡاَرۡضَ نَنۡقُصُہَا مِنۡ اَطۡرَافِہَا ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ یَحۡکُمُ لَا مُعَقِّبَ لِحُکۡمِہٖ ؕ وَ ہُوَ سَرِیۡعُ الۡحِسَابِ ﴿۴۱﴾
Do they not see that We are visiting the land, curtailing it of its sides? And Allah pronounces a doom — there is no repeller of His decree. And He is Swift in calling to account.
The reference in curtailing the sides may be either to some of the exalted men having come over to Islam and the opposition being thus weakened, or to the diminution of the number of disbelievers, both high and low, by people daily leaving their ranks and joining the ranks of Islam.
13:42
وَ قَدۡ مَکَرَ الَّذِیۡنَ مِنۡ قَبۡلِہِمۡ فَلِلّٰہِ الۡمَکۡرُ جَمِیۡعًا ؕ یَعۡلَمُ مَا تَکۡسِبُ کُلُّ نَفۡسٍ ؕ وَ سَیَعۡلَمُ الۡکُفّٰرُ لِمَنۡ عُقۡبَی الدَّارِ ﴿۴۲﴾
And those before them planned indeed, but all planning is Allah’s. He knows what every soul earns. And the disbelievers will come to know for whom is the (good) end of the abode.
The meaning is that the plans of the enemy need not be feared, for all their planning is controlled by Allah, or that the requital of their plans is in the hands of Allah.
13:43
وَ یَقُوۡلُ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡا لَسۡتَ مُرۡسَلًا ؕ قُلۡ کَفٰی بِاللّٰہِ شَہِیۡدًۢا بَیۡنِیۡ وَ بَیۡنَکُمۡ ۙ وَ مَنۡ عِنۡدَہٗ عِلۡمُ الۡکِتٰبِ ﴿٪۴۳﴾
And those who disbelieve say: You are not a messenger. Say: Allah is sufficient for a witness between me and you and whoever has knowledge of the Book.
Those who have any knowledge of previous revelation will testify to the truth of the revelation of the Quran, because it fulfils all previous prophecies and satisfies the criteria of a true revelation.