Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder)

13. “And The thunder glorifies Him with His praise, and the angels, too, in awe of Him; and He sends the thunderbolts so as to smite with them whomever He pleases, while they dispute about Allah, and He is mighty in wrath.”

This noble verse deals with the thunderbolt which is never separable from lightning.

The verse says:

“And The thunder glorifies Him with His praise…”

Certainly, this vibrating echoing sound of the world of nature, which is coupled with the lightning phenomenon, both act towards one goal which is the glorification of Allah. In other words, the thunder is a vocal expression of lightning, which reveals the nature of the system of creation and the magnitude of the Creator.

Not only the sound of the thunder and other particles of the material world glorify and thank Him, but all the angels are also busy thanking praising Him because of their awe and fear.

The verse continues saying:

“…and the angels, too, in awe of Him…”

The divine angels are frightened that they might have had shortcomings and failures as to the execution of their duties and responsibilities assigned to them by Allah in the system of existence, thus facing Divine punishment.

We know well that the duties and responsibilities have always been awe-inspiring and frightening for those who feel responsible, that kind of constructive fear which derives and directs them to action.

In order to give a further explanation concerning thunder and lightning, the Qur’an alludes to thunderbolts, where it declares:

“…and He sends the thunderbolts so as to smite with them whomever He pleases…”

Despite all these and in spite of observing all signs of Allah’s magnitude, comparing them to the inferiority of man with respect to catastrophes, even in the case of a celestial spark, there are some ignorant groups who go on disputing about Allah.

The verse says:

“…while they dispute about Allah…”

They dispute while Allah’s powers know no limits and His punishment would be painful and He punishes severely.

The verse concludes:

“…and He is mighty in wrath.”

Explanations

In the Qur’anic literature, the totality of existence is ever engaged in praising the glory of Allah; that kind of praising which is based on knowledge and cognition and free will.

What is interesting in this respect is that the Qur’an explains this subject in such a way that it attracts the attention of all, and obliterates all matters which give rise to disbelief and loss of faith, among which one may point to the following:

The application of such noble words as /sabbaha/ or /yusabbihu/ which explicitly express the meaning of praise and glorification.

The repetition of this subject in the various Suras of the Qur’an.

The raising of the issue of the glorification of Allah by all beings at the beginning of the Surah, and immediately after the holy phrase /bismill ah/.

The use of such words as the humility of the entire domain of existence:

“…all are obedient to him”1 .

The prostration of the stars and the plants:

“And the herbs and the trees do adore (Him).”2

The obedience of the skies and the earth:

“…they both said: ‘We come willingly.”3

The awareness that all beings are in a state of prayer and gratitude:

“…He knows the prayer of each and its glorification…”4

Addressing of man as to his lack of understanding of the expression of gratitude of other beings:

“…but you do not understand their glorification…”5

The Arabic term /mih al/ is derived from /hilah/ which means every kind of hidden and covert way of seeking a remedy, and since this process is interconnected with and interdependent on knowledge and power, therefore, commentators have interpreted the Qur’anic holy phrase /šadidulmihal/ as ‘mighty in power and punishment’.

In some Qur’anic verses, the acts of gratitude to Allah and glorifying Him have been mentioned with together:

“The thunder glorifies Him with His praise…”6 “and there is not a single thing but glorifies Him with His praise…”7

It is just like the bowing and prostration within which we say:

“Glorified is my Lord, the Exalted, and with His praise” “Glorified is my Lord, the greatest, and with His praise”.

It has been recorded in various Sunni traditions that the sublime Prophet (S) used to interrupt his speech and start praying as soon as he heard the sound of thunderbolts and he would encourage others to do the same.¹

Thunderbolts and being thunder-stricken is not an accidental matter. On the contrary, it is in accordance with Allah’s will and the laws of the Divine nature.

Thunderbolts are the Divine punishment which are inflicted on the sinful nations like the people of Thamūd:

“…So there seized them the thunderbolt of a disgracing chastisement for what they used to earn.”9