Surah Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder) - Verse 1

Classification and Verses:

• Madaniyyah (Revealed in Medina).
• Its verses are 43.
• It was revealed after Surah Muhammad.

(Note on Classification: Some scholars state Surah Ar-Ra'd has 43 verses and is entirely Meccan, except for the verses: "And the disbelievers will not cease to be afflicted by what they have done because of a calamity" (Ar-Ra'd: 31) and "And he who has knowledge of the Book" (Ar-Ra'd: 43). Al-Asamm stated it is entirely Madaniyyah by consensus, except for the verse: "And if there were a Qur'an by which the mountains were moved" (Ar-Ra'd: 31).)

Verse 1:

Al-Ra'd (The Thunder): (1) Alif Lam Mim Ra...

[Verse 1]

Tafsir:

• Alif Lam Mim Ra: We have previously discussed these letters.
  • Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said its meaning is: "I am Allah, the Knower."
  • In a narration from 'Ata, it means: "I am Allah, the King, the Most Merciful."
  • 'Amr and Al-Kisai, among others, recited it with Imalah (tilting the vowel sound towards 'i'), while a group including 'Asim recited it with Tafkheem (full pronunciation).
• {تلك} (These): This refers to the verses of the Surah named Alif Lam Mim Ra.
• {تلك آيات الكتاب} (These are the verses of the Book): This Book is the one given to Muhammad (PBUH) to be revealed to him and to remain eternally preserved.
• {والذى أنزل إليك من ربك الحق} (And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord is the Truth): Here, the revealed text is the subject, and "the Truth" is its predicate.
  • The Issue of Qiyas (Analogical Reasoning): Some people use this verse to negate Qiyas. Their argument is: The ruling derived through Qiyas is not revealed from God. If it were, then whoever does not rule by it would be a disbeliever, based on the verse: {And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, then those are the disbelievers} (Al-Ma'idah: 44). Since it is established by consensus (Ijma') that one who does not rule by Qiyas is not a disbeliever, it proves that the ruling established by Qiyas is not from God.
  • If it is not from God, it cannot be "the Truth," because the verse {And that which has been revealed to you from your Lord is the Truth} implies that nothing is true except what Allah has revealed. Therefore, whatever Allah has not revealed must not be true. If it is not true, it must be falsehood, based on the verse: {Then is there anything after the truth except error?} (Yunus: 32).
  • The Rebuttal (of those who affirm Qiyas): Those who affirm Qiyas respond by saying that the ruling derived through Qiyas is also revealed from God. This is because when God commanded adherence to Qiyas, the ruling indicated by that Qiyas becomes a ruling revealed from God.
• {ولكن أكثر الناس لا يؤمنون} (but most of the people do not believe): After mentioning that what was revealed to Muhammad (PBUH) is the Truth, the Almighty mentions that most people do not believe in it, serving as a warning and a threat.

[Verse 7]

Tafsir:

• {الله الذى رفع السماوات بغير عمد ترونها} (Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see): This establishes His absolute power and uniqueness in creation.
• {ثم استوى على العرش} (Then He established Himself above the Throne): This is a statement of His absolute dominion. (The nature of this establishment is a matter of theological discussion, as detailed elsewhere.)
• {وسخر الشمس والقمر كل يجرى لأجل مسمى} (and subjected the sun and the moon, each running for a specified term): Both celestial bodies operate under His command within a predetermined limit.
• {يدبر الامر يفصل الآيات} (He arranges the affair; He details the signs): He manages all affairs and clarifies the signs in creation.
• {لعلكم بلقآء ربكم توقنون} (that you may be certain of the meeting with your Lord): The purpose of these grand signs is to lead mankind to firm conviction in the Resurrection and the meeting with their Creator.