Summary of Quran Chapter 13 Surah Ar-Ra’d The Thunder

This Surah was also revealed before the migration [migration of Holy Prophet Mohammad PBUH from Makkah to Madinah (in 622 A.C. the year from which the Muslim era begins)], and its main subject is the affirmation of the basic beliefs of Islam, Tawheed, Prophethood, and the Hereafter and the answer to the objections rose against them. At the end of the first surah, i.e. Surah Yusuf, Allah Almighty had said that there are many signs of the perfect power of Allah and His Oneness in human beings and on the earth. (And how many a sign in the heavens and the earth they pass by, while they are averse thereform. Verse: 12:105).

However, the disbelievers have turned away from them instead of paying attention to them. Now, in this surah, some details of these signs of the universe have been explained, which are saying that the Almighty, who has created this mind-boggling system of the universe, does not need any helper or partner to establish his deity. If considered with justice, every particle of this universe bears witness to the Oneness of Allah, and also to the fact that He did not create this whole system without purpose.

There is, of course, a purpose to this, and that is that every deed done in this worldly life should one day be accounted for, and on that day the reward of good deeds and the punishment of evil deeds should be given. This automatically proves the belief in the Hereafter. Then, in order to determine good and evil, Allah Almighty must give clear instructions to the servants.

The source of these instructions is the messengers of Allah, who know the commands of Allah through revelation and convey it to the people of this world. Therefore, it also proves the belief in Prophethood. Among the signs of the universe, which are mentioned in this surah, there is also thunder and lightning of clouds, which is mentioned in verse 31 of this surah (Quran-Chapter: 13;31). In Arabic, thunder is called "Ra’d". That is why the name of the surah is Ra’d.