13. The Thunder

Alif. Lam. Mim. Ra. These are the verses ofthe Book: that which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord isthe Truth; but most men believe not.

Allah is He Who raised the heavens withoutany pillars that ye can see; then He established Himself on theThrone; He has subjected the sun and the moon! Each one runs (itscourse) for a term appointed. He doth regulate all affairs,explaining the signs in detail, that ye may believe with certaintyin the meeting with your Lord.

And it is He Who spread out the earth, andset thereon mountains standing firm and (flowing) rivers: and fruitof every kind He made in pairs, two and two: He draweth the night asa veil o’er the Day. Behold, verily in these things there are Signsfor those who consider!

And in the earth are tracts (diverse though)neighboring, and gardens of vines and fields sown with corn, andpalm trees – growing out of single roots or otherwise: watered withthe same water, yet some of them We make more excellent than othersto eat. Behold, verily in these things there are Signs for those whounderstand!

If thou dost marvel (at their want of faith),strange is their saying: “When we are (actually) dust, shall weindeed then be in a creation renewed?” They are those who deny theirLord! They are those round whose necks will be yokes (of servitude):they will be Companions of the Fire, to dwell therein (for aye)!

They ask thee to hasten on the evil inpreference to the good: Yet have come to pass, before them, (many)exemplary punishments! But verily thy Lord is full of forgivenessfor mankind for their wrong-doing, and verily thy Lord is (also)strict in punishment.

And the Unbelievers say: “Why is not a signsent down to him from his Lord?” But thou art truly a warner, and toevery people a guide.

Allah doth know what every female (womb) dothbear, by how much the wombs fall short (of their time or number) ordo exceed. Every single thing is with Him, in (due) proportion.

He knoweth the Unseen and that which is open:He is the Great, the Most High.

It is the same (to Him) whether any of youconceal his speech or declare it openly; whether he lie hid by nightor walk forth freely by day.

For each (such person) there are (angels) insuccession, before and behind him: They guard him by command ofAllah. Verily never will Allah change the condition of a peopleuntil they change what is in themselves. But when (once) Allahwilleth a people’s punishment, there can be no turning it back, norwill they find, besides Him, any to protect.

It is He Who doth show you the lightning, byway both of fear and of hope: It is He Who doth raise up the clouds,heavy with (fertilizing) rain!

Nay, thunder repeateth His praises, and so dothe angels, with awe: He flingeth the loud-voiced thunder-bolts, andtherewith He striketh whomsoever He will; yet these (are the men)the while they are disputing about Allah, He is Mighty in Power.

To Him is due the true prayer : any othersthat they call upon besides Him hear them no more than if they wereto stretch forth their hands for water to reach their mouths but itreaches them not: for the prayer of those without Faith is nothingbut vain prayer.

Whatever beings there are in the heavens andthe earth do prostrate themselves to Allah,- with good-will or inspite of themselves: so do their shadows in the morning andevenings.

Say: “Who is the Lord and Sustainer of theheavens and the earth?” Say: “(It is) Allah.” Say: “Do ye then take(for worship) protectors other than Him, such as have no powereither for good or for harm to themselves?” Say: “Are the blindequal with those who see? Or the depths of darkness equal withlight?” Or do they assign to Allah partners who have created(anything) as He has created, so that the creation seemed to themsimilar? Say: “Allah is the Creator of all things: He is the One,the Supreme and Irresistible.”

He sends down water from the skies, and thechannels flow, each according to its measure: But the torrent bearsaway the foam that mounts up to the surface. Even so, from that(ore) which they heat in the fire, to make ornaments or utensilstherewith, there is a scum likewise. Thus doth Allah (by parables)show forth Truth and Falsehood. For the scum disappears like forthcast out; while that which is for the good of mankind remains on theearth. Thus doth Allah set forth parables.

For those who respond to their Lord, are(all) Good Things. But those who respond not to Him,- even if theyhad all that is in the heavens and on earth, and as much more, (invain) would they offer it for ransom. For them will the reckoning beterrible: their abode will be Hell,- what a bed of misery!

Is then one who doth know that that whichhath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord is the Truth, like onewho is blind? It is those who are endued with understanding thatreceive admonition;-

Those who fulfill the Covenant of Allah andfail not in their plighted word;

Those who join together those things whichAllah hath commanded to be joined, hold their Lord in awe, and fearthe terrible reckoning;

Those who patiently persevere, seeking thecountenance of their Lord; establish regular prayers; spend, out of(the gifts) We have bestowed for their sustenance, secretly andopenly; and turn off evil with good: for such there is the finalattainment of the (eternal) home,-

Gardens of perpetual bliss: they shall enterthere, as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses,and their offspring: and angels shall enter unto them from everygate (with the salutation):

“Peace unto you for that ye persevered inpatience! Now how excellent is the final Home!”

But those who break the Covenant of Allah,after having plighted their word thereto, and cut asunder thosethings which Allah has commanded to be joined, and work mischief inthe land;- on them is the Curse; for them is the terrible Home!

Allah doth enlarge, or grant by (strict)measure, the sustenance (which He giveth) to whomso He pleaseth.(The worldly) rejoice in the life of this world: But the life ofthis world is but little comfort in the Hereafter.

The Unbelievers say: “Why is not a Sign sentdown to him from his Lord?” Say: “Truly Allah leaveth, to stray,whom He will; But He guideth to Himself those who turn to Him inpenitence,-

“Those who believe, and whose hearts findsatisfaction in the remembrance of Allah; for without doubt in theremembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.

“For those who believe and workrighteousness, is (every) blessedness, and a beautiful place of(final) return.”

Thus have We sent thee amongst a Peoplebefore whom (long since) have (other) Peoples (gone and) passedaway; in order that thou mightest rehearse unto them what We senddown unto thee by inspiration; yet do they reject (Him), the MostGracious! Say: “He is my Lord! There is no god but He! On Him is mytrust, and to Him do I turn!”

If there were a Quran with which mountainswere moved, or the earth were cloven asunder, or the dead were madeto speak, (this would be the one!) But, truly, the Command is withAllah in all things! Do not the Believers know, that, had Allah (so)willed, He could have guided all mankind (to the Right)? But theUnbelievers,- never will disaster cease to seize them for their(ill) deeds, or to settle close to their homes, until the promise ofAllah come to pass, for, verily, Allah will not fail in His promise.

Mocked were (many) messengers before thee:but I granted respite to the Unbelievers, and finally I punishedthem: then how (terrible) was my requital!

Is then He Who standeth over every soul (andknoweth) all that it doth, (like any others)? And yet they ascribepartners to Allah. Say: “But name them! Is it that ye will informHim of something He knoweth not on earth, or is it (just) a show ofwords?” Nay! to those who believe not, their devising seemspleasing, but they are kept back (thereby) from the Path. And thosewhom Allah leads astray, no one can guide.

For them is a penalty in the life of thisworld, but harder, truly, is the chastisement of the Hereafter: anddefender have they none against Allah.

The parable of the Garden which the righteousare promised!- beneath it flow rivers: perpetual is the fruitsthereof and the shade therein: such is the end of the Righteous; andthe end of Unbelievers in the Fire.

Those to whom We have given the Book rejoiceat what hath been revealed unto thee: but there are among the clansthose who reject a part thereof. Say: “I am commanded to worshipAllah, and not to join partners with Him. Unto Him do I call, andunto Him is my return.”

Thus have We revealed it to be a judgment ofauthority in Arabic. Wert thou to follow their (vain) desires afterthe knowledge which hath reached thee, then wouldst thou findneither protector nor defender against Allah.

We did send messengers before thee, andappointed for them wives and children: and it was never the part ofa messenger to bring a Sign except as Allah permitted (orcommanded). For each period is an appointment.

Allah doth blot out or confirm what Hepleaseth: with Him is the Mother of the Book.

Whether We shall show thee (within thylife-time) part of what We promised them or take to Us thy soul(before it is all accomplished),- thy duty is to make (the Message)reach them: it is Our part to call them to account.

See they not that We gradually reduce theland from its outlying borders? (Where) Allah commands, there isnone to put back His command: and He is swift in calling to account.

Those before them did (also) devise plots;but in all things the master- Allah is the devising all together. Heknoweth the doings of every soul: and soon will the Unbelievers knowwho gets home in the end.

The Unbelievers say: “No messenger art thou.”Say: “Enough for a witness between me and you is Allah, and such ashave knowledge of the Book.”