Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder)

17. “He sent down water from the sky, then rivers flew according to their capacity and the floodwater carried along a swelling foam, and from metals, which they melt with fire so as to make an ornament or goods, arises a foam similar to it. Thus does Allah illustrate the Truth and falsehood; then as for the foam passes away as a worthless thing, and what is beneficial for people remains on the earth. Thus Allah sets forth the parables.”

As the method of the Qur’an relies heavily on objective issues as an educational book, in order to explain the complicated concepts, it points to the tangible examples which are interesting and beautiful in everyday life of the people.

It explains an explicit example for visualization of the facts referred to in the previous verses regarding monotheism, paganism, faith and blasphemy, the truth and the untruth.

At first the Qur’an says:

“He sent down water from the sky…”

It is the kind of water which is life-giving and creating, and it is also the source of development and movement. There are floodwaters which flow from every valley and every river, measured according to their capacity.

The holy verse continues saying:

“…then rivers flew according to their capacity…”

Small streams join one another, stream-lining into canals that join together to form huge torrents which flow down the mountains. Waters piling up carry whatever stand in their way, which strike over them. At this moment, foams emerge from between the layers of the wares.

As the Qur’an says:

“…and the floodwater carried along a swelling foam…”

The emergence of the foams is not confined to the coming of rain. There arises a foam out of what is being melted in the furnaces for obtaining jewelry or home appliances, upon which they light fire to melt, so there are also foams appearing which are like the ones on water surface.

The Qur’an says:

“…and from metals, which they melt with fire so as to make an ornament or goods, arises a foam similar to it…”

After giving this example, the Holy Qur’an concludes by pointing out that Allah provides you with an example in this manner for the truth and the untruth.

The verse says:

“…Thus does Allah illustrate the Truth and falsehood…”

Afterwards, discussing it in detail, it declares, however, the seeming high foams, which are void in the process of flow of water, go away and the water, which is useful for people, stays on the earth.

The verse says:

“…then as for the foam passes away as a worthless thing, and what is beneficial for people remains on the earth…”

The truth is also always useful, just like pure water which is the source of life. However, the wrong and the untruth is useless and absurd, while the truth must always be flourishing and alive so as to expel the ‘untruth’.

At the end of the verse, to stress further the point and to call all to study in depth and in a more exact way over this example, as well as other examples of the Qur’an, it says:

“…Thus Allah sets forth the parables.”

Examples usually universalize cases. There are many scientific discussions which are only understandable for a selected few persons and the masses of people do not benefit from them very much. However, once they are accompanied with examples, they tend to become better understandable for the people of all echelons and all levels of knowledge.

Therefore, examples are best as a means of generalization of knowledge and culture, and they have some undeniable and numerous applications.

There are two examples introducing the falsehood in this verse. One is the foam which appears on the surface of water. The second is the foam which covers metals once they are in the melting pot.

The falsehood is like the foam for:

It is transient.

It appears as the shadow of the truth and under it.

It covers up the truth.

It has got looks but is worthless. It does neither quench the thirst of anyone, nor does any plant grow as a result of it.

It disappears once the conditions are normal.

It places itself on top though it is void and without any substance.

Illustration

Illustration makes rational problems tangible and paves the way for arriving at the objectives. It universalizes all subjects and tends to silence the obstinate. Therefore, the Qur’an has utilized this method extensively. Allah has provided three examples in this verse.

First, He has exemplified the revelation of the Qur’an to the water which is descended from the sky. He has also compared the hearts of the people to the oases which attract the water to themselves according to their own capacity.

Those who make their utmost effort to understand the Qur’an will reap great rewards, like rivers and oases which are big; and those who are content with the Qur’an and make less effort in understanding its facts will reap less and take less advantages just like smaller oases and streams which obtain less shares.

Later, Allah compares the satanically whims and temptations to foam which appears on water surface. It goes without saying that the main cause of the foam is not water itself, but it is the land which does not have good soil.

Also, skepticisms and doubts as well as selfish whims do not have their origin in the truth, but they have their source in the people’s selves. Allah, the Almighty, proclaims that as foam does not last long and what remains of it is pure and soft water, satanical whims will ultimately disappear and vanish while the real face of the truth reveals itself and remains forever.

The third example is that He (s.w.t.) has compared paganism to those nasty materials which are dark in colour and exemplified as such which melt while they are placed on metals and the simile goes on in the case of faith which is exemplified to a melted piece of metal which is pure.

And thus end the proverbs of the Qur’an here which are so instructive.