The Thunder (Ar-Rad)

In the name of Allah, Gracious, Merciful.

¹A. L. M. R. These are the verses of the book, that which has been revealed unto you from your Lord is the truth, but most men believe not.¹

²Allah is He who raised the heavens without any pillars that ye can see, is firmly established on the throne, He has subjected the sun and the moon, each one runs for a term appointed. He does regulate affairs, explaining the signs in detail that you may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord.²

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

¹Alif Lam Miim Ra tilka ayatul kitabi wallazi unzila ilaika mi rabbikal haqqu wa lakinna akusara nasi la yuminuna.

²Allahu lazi rafaa samawati bi gairi amadin taraunaha summasutawa alal arushi wa sakharash shamsa wal qamara kullun yajuri li ajalin musamman yudabbirul amura yufassilul ayati laallakum biliqai rabbikum tuqinuna.

1. This oft repeated phrase is indicative of the fact that Allah and the Qur’an are doing a self promotion in a massive attempt to sell the contents of the Qur’an off as credible, authentic and bonafide. Of course, not in the least of cases does the Qur’an pass the acceptance test even according to Qur’an 4:82.

2. This is similar in meaning to what the Psalmist declared several centuries before the Qur’an in Psalm 19:1: The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Indeed, after one has had a careful investigation of the marvels of God’s creation, one is left with nothing except the praise of God.

[Commentary continues below.]

³And it is He who spread out the earth and set thereon mountains standing firm and rivers, and fruit of every kind He made in pairs, two and two. He draws the night as a veil over the day. Behold verily, in these things there are signs for those who consider.³

⁴And in the earth are tracts, neighboring and gardens of vines and fields sown with corn and palm trees, growing out of single roots or otherwise, watered with the same water yet some of them We make more excellent than others to eat. Behold verily, in these things there are signs for those who understand.⁴

³Wa huwal lazi maddalarda wa jaala fiha rawasiya wa anuharan wa min kulli samarati jaala fiha zaujaini sunaini yugushil lailan nahara inna fi zalika la ayatil liqaumi yatafakkaruna.

⁴Wa filardi qitaun mutajawiratu wa jannatun min anabi wa zaruun wa nakhilun ssinwanu wa gairu sinwani yusuqa bi mai wahidin wa nufaddilu baduaha alla badin fil ukuli inna fi zalika la ayatin liqaumi yaqiluna.

3. This is a clear deviation from the Genesis account of God’s creation. Fruit trees were not made in pairs. The Bible reveals that in God’s order of creation fruit trees were made according to Genesis 1:11-12:

And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth." And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

4. This is a virtual improbability, however possible.   

[Commentary continues below.]

⁵And if you do marvel, strange is their saying, “When we are dust, shall we indeed then be in a creation renewed?” They are those who deny their Lord. They are those around whose necks will be yokes, they will be companions of the fire who dwell therein.

⁶And they ask you to hasten on the evil in preference to the good, yet have come to pass before them exemplary punishments. But verily, your Lord is full of forgiveness for mankind for their wrongdoing, and verily, your Lord is strict in punishment.⁵

⁷And the unbelievers say, “Why is not a sign sent down to him from his Lord?” But you are truly a warner and to every people a guide.⁶

⁸Allah does know what every female does bear by how much the wombs fall short or do exceed. Every single thing is before His sight in proportion.

⁹He knows the unseen and that which is open, He is the great, the most high.

⁵Wa in tajabu fa ajabun qauluhum aiza kunna turaban ainna lafi khaluqin jadidin ulaikal lazina kafaru bi rabbihim wa ulaika l agulalu fi anaqihim wa ulaika asuhabu nari humu fiha khaliduna

⁶Wa yasutajilunaka bisayyiati qabulal hasanati wa qadu khalatu min qabulihimul masulatu wa inna rabbaka lazu magufiratin li nasi alla ttulmihim wa inna rabbaka lashadidul iqabi.

⁷Wa yaqulu lazina kafaru lau la unzila alaihi ayatun mi rabbihi innama anta munuziru wa likulli qaumin hadin.

⁸Allahu yalamu ma tahumilu kullu unusa wa ma tagidul aruhamu wa ma tazudadu wa kullu shaiin bi miqudarin.

⁹Alimul gaibi wa shahadatil kabirul mutaali.

5. Mockers, the Bible says will come and ask for the judgment to hasten. That will not work because God will not be forced into doing anything out of His Will. The Bible says that the delay is caused by the fact that God wants all mankind to have an opportunity to accept or reject him 2 Peter 3:9-10.

6. Contrary to what Muslims would want to see happen, Allah forbade Muhammad to perform any miracles. His duty, according to Allah and mentioned here is to be a warner and a guide to the people. Not a Miracle worker.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁰It is the same whether any of you conceal his speech or declare it openly, whether he lie hid by night or walk freely by day.

¹¹For each there are angels in succession before and behind him, they guard him by command of Allah. Verily, never will Allah change the condition of a people until they change it themselves. But when Allah wills a people’s punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find besides Him any to protect.⁷

¹²It is He who does show you the lightning by way both of fear and of hope, it is He who does raise up the clouds heavy with rain.⁸

¹⁰Sawaun minkum man asarral qaula wa man jahara bihi wa man huwa musutakhufin bil laili wa saribun bi nahari.

¹¹Lahu muaqqibatun min baini yadaihi wa min khalufihi yahufattunahu min amurillahi innallaha la yugayyiru ma bi qaumin hata yugayyiru ma bi anfusihim wa iza aradallahu bi qaumin saan fala maradda lahu wa ma lahum min dunihi miwalin.

¹²Huwa lazi yurikumul baruqa khaufan wa tamaa wa yunushiu sahaba siqala.

7. All of God’s punishments are conditioned on repentance. When God pronounces judgment on a Nation like Niniveh and the entire nation repents, God with holds His punishment. That bespeaks of His mercy and Long-suffering nature. No god but God alone can do that.

8. In parts of the world, including the world of the Middle East and Africa, lightening is often a medium of the gods to punish wayward or is invoked by the workers of voodoo to cause the death of someone. So, quite naturally, people will fear lightening. Coincidentally, it was such an occurrence which led Martin Luther out of fear to seek God at an early age.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹³And thunder repeats His praises and so do the angels with awe, He flings the loud voiced thunderbolts and therewith He strikes whomsoever He will. Yet these who dispute about Allah with the strength of His power.

¹⁴For Him is prayer in truth: any others that they call upon besides Him hear them no more than if they were to stretch forth their hands for water to reach their mouth but it reaches them not: for the prayer of those without faith is nothing but wandering.

¹⁵And whatever beings there are in the heavens and the earth do prostrate themselves to Allah with good will or in spite of themselves, so do their shadows in the mornings and evenings.⁹

¹³Wa yusabbihu radu bi hamudihi wal malaikatu min khifatihi wa yurusilu sawaiqa fa yusibu biha ma yashau wa hum yujadiluna fillahi wa huwa shadidul mihali.

¹⁴Lahu dawatul haqqi wallazina yaduna min dunihi la yasutajibuna lahum bi shaiin illa ka basitti kafaihi illal mai liyabuluga fahu wa ma huwa bi baligihi wa ma duaul kafirina illa fi dualalin

¹⁵Wa lillahi yasujudu man fi samawati walardi taua wa karuha wa zilaluhum bil guduwwi wala asali.

9. This is just as true as saying that all human beings were created with both male and female organs. The glaring misrepresentation here is the fact that not all of God’s creation bow their wills to Him. Just think of someone you know who does not do the will of God and you have canceled the divineness of this verse.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁶Say, “Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?” Say, “It is Allah.” Say, “Do you then take protectors other than Him, such as have no power either for good or for harm to themselves?” Say, “Are the blind equal with those who see? Or the depths of darkness equal with light?” Or do they assign to Allah partners who have created as He has created so that the creation seemed to them similar? Say, “Allah is the creator of all things, He is the one, the supreme and irresistible.”¹⁰

¹⁶Qulu ma rabbu samawati walarddi qulillahu qulu afa takhazutum min dunihi auliyaa la yamulikuna li anufusihim nafan wa la duarran qulu hal yasutawi l ama wal bassiru am halu tasutawi ttulumatu wa nuru am jaala lillahi shurakaa khalaqa ka khaluqihi fa tashabahal khalqu alaihim qulillahu khaliqu kulli shaiin wa huwal wahidul qahharu.

10. According to 3:49 and 5:110; Jesus created a bird and breathed into it and it became a soaring bird. That indeed is a similar creation to the birds created by God. The act of Jesus falsifies the Qur’anic statement that Allah alone is the creator, when Jesus also created.

[Commentary continues below.]

¹⁷He sends down water from the skies and the channels flow each according to its measure, but the torrent bears away the foam that mounts up to the surface. Even so from that which they heat in the fire to make ornaments or utensils therewith there is a scum likewise. Thus does Allah show forth truth and vanity, for the scum disappears like froth cast out; while that which is for the good of mankind remains on the earth. Thus does Allah set forth parables.

¹⁸For those who respond to their Lord are good things. But those who respond not to Him even if they had all that is in the heavens and on earth and as much more, would they offer it for ransom? For them will the reckoning be terrible, their abode will be hell, what a bed of misery.

¹⁹Is then one who does know that which has been revealed unto these from your Lord is the truth like one who is blind? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition.

²⁰Those who fulfill the covenant of Allah and fail not in their plighted word.

¹⁷Anuzala mina samai maan fa salatu audiyatun bi qadariha fa hutamala sailu zabada rabiyan wa mimma yuqiduna alaihi fi nari butigaa hiluyatin au matain zabadun misuluhu kazalika yaduribullhul haqqa walu batila fa amma zabadu fa yazuhabu jufaan wa amma ma yanfau nasa fa yamukusu filardi kazalika yaduribullahul amusala.

¹⁸Lillazina sutajabu lirabbihimul husuna wallazina lamu yasutajibu lahu lau anna lahum ma filarddi jamian wa misulahu maahu la futadau bihi ulaika lahum suul hisabi wa mawahum jahannamu wa bisal mihadu.

¹⁹Afama yalamu annama unuzila ilaika mi rabbikal haqqu ka man huwa ama innama yatazakkaru ulul alubabi.

²⁰Allazina yufuna bi ahudillahi wa la yanuqudunal misaqa.

[Commentary continues below.]

²¹And those who join together those things which Allah has commanded to be joined hold their Lord in awe and fear the terrible reckoning.

²²And those who patiently persevere seeking the countenance their Lord, establish regular prayers, spend out of what We have bestowed for their sustenance secretly and openly, and turn off evil with good, for such there is the final attainment of the home.

²³Gardens of perpetual bliss, they shall enter there as well as the righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their offspring, and angels shall enter unto them from every gate.

²⁴“Peace unto you for that you persevered in patience. Now how excellent is the final home.”

²⁵And those who break the covenant of Allah after having plighted their word thereto and cut asunder those things which Allah has commanded to be joined and work mischief in the land, on them is the curse; for them is the terrible home.

²⁶Allah does enlarge or grant by measure the sustenance to whom so He pleases. Rejoice in the life of this world, but the life of this world is but little comfort in the hereafter.

²¹Wallazina yasiluna ma amarallahu bihi anyusala wa yakhushauna rabbahum wa yakhafuna sual hisabi.

²²Wallazina suabaru butigaa wajuhi rabbihim wa aqamu sualata wa anufaqu mimma razaqunahum sirra wa alaniyata wa yadurauna bil hasanati sayyiata ulaika lahum uqubaa dari.

²³Jannatu aduni yadukhulunaha wa man sualaha mina abaihim wa azuwajihim wa zurriyyatihim wal malaikatu yadukhuluna alaihim min kulli babin.

²⁴Salamun alaikum bima suabarutum fa nima uqubaa dari.

²⁵Wallazina yanuqudduuna ahudallahi min badi misaqihi wa yaqutauna ma amarallahu bihi anyusala wa yufusiduna filardi ulaika lahumu lanatu wa lahum suu dari.

²⁶Allahu yabusuttu rizuqa lima yashau wa yaqudiru wa farihu bil hayati duniya wa mal hayatu duniya filakhirati illa mataun.

[Commentary continues below.]

²⁷And the unbelievers say, “Why is not a sign sent down to him from his Lord?” Say, “Truly Allah leaves to stray whom He will, but He guides to Himself those who turn to Him in penitence.”

²⁷Wa yaqulu lazina kafaru lau la unuzila alaihi ayatun mi rabbihi qulu inna laha yuddillu ma yashau wa yahudi ilaihi man anaba.

[Commentary continues below.]

²⁸“Those who believe and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah, for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find satisfaction.”

²⁹“For those who believe and work righteousness is blessedness and a beautiful place of return.”

³⁰Thus have We sent you among a people before whom have peoples passed away; in order that you might rehearse unto them what We send down unto you by inspiration, yet do they reject the most gracious, say, “He is my Lord. There is no god but He. On Him is my trust and to Him do I turn.”

²⁸Allazina amanu wa tattumainnu qulubuhum bi zikurillahi alla bi zikurillahi tattumainnul qulubu.

²⁹Allazina amanu wa amilu sualihati tuba lahum wa husunu maabin.

³⁰Kazalika arusalunaka fi ummatin qadu khalatu min qabuliha umamun litatuluwa alaihimu lazi auhaina ilaika wa hum yakufuruna bi rahmani qulu huwa rabbi la ilaha illa huwa alaihi tawakalutu wa ilaihi matabi.

[Commentary continues below.]

³¹If there were a Qur’an with which mountains were moved or the earth were cloven asunder or the dead were made to speak. But truly the command is with Allah in things. Do not the believers know that had Allah willed He could have guided all mankind? But the unbelievers never will disaster cease to seize them for their deeds, or to settle close to their homes until the promise of Allah come to pass, for verily, Allah will not fail in His promise.

³²And mocked were apostles before you, but I granted respite to the unbelievers and finally I punished them, then how was My requital?

³¹Wa lau anna quranan suyyiratu bihil jibalu au quttiatu bihi larddu au kullima bihil mauta balu lillahil amuru jamian afalam yayasi lazina amanu allau yashaullahu lahada nasa jamian wa la yazalu lazina kafaru tusibuhum bima sanau qariatun au tahullu qariban min darihim hatta yatiya wadullahi innallaha la yukhuliful miada.

³²Wa laqadu isutuhuzia bi rusulin min qabulika fa amulaitu lillazina kafaru summa akhazutuhum fa kaifa kana iqabi.

[Commentary continues below.]

³³Is then He who stands over every soul all that it does? And yet they ascribe partners to Allah. Say, “But name them! Is it that you will inform Him of something He knows not on earth or is it a show of words?” No, to those who believe not their pretense seems pleasing but they are kept back from the path, and those whom Allah leaves to stray no one can guide.¹¹

³⁴For them is a penalty in the life of this world but harder truly is the penalty of the hereafter, and defender have they none against Allah.¹²

³⁵The parable of the garden which the righteous are promised, beneath it flow rivers, perpetual is the enjoyment thereof and the shade therein, such is the end of the righteous, and the end of unbelievers is the fire.

³⁶And those to whom We have given the book rejoice at what has been revealed unto you, but there are among the clans those who reject a part thereof. Say, “I am commanded to worship Allah and not to join partners with Him. Unto Him do I call and unto Him is my return.”¹³

³³Afaman huwa qaimun alla kulli nafusin bima kasabatu wa jaala lillahi shurakaa qulu sammuhum am tunabbiunahu bima la yalamu filardi am bi tuahirin minal qauli balu zuyyina lillazina kafaru makuruhum wa ssuduu ani sabili wa ma yudulililluhu fama laha min hadin.

³⁴Lahum azabun fil hayati duniya wa laazabu lakhirati ashaqqu wa ma lahum minallahi mi waqin

³⁵Masalul jannati lati wuida l mutaquna tajuri min tahutihal anuharu ukuluha daimun wa zilluha tiluka uquba lazina taqa wa uqubal kafirina naru.

³⁶Wallazina atainahumu kitaba yafurahuna bima unuzila ilaika wa minal ahuzabi ma yunukiru badahu qulu innama umirutu an abudallaha wa la ushurika bihi ilaihi adu wa ilaihi maabi.

11. This is similar to the Christian doctrine of predestination, except that in Christianity, predestination is based on God’s foreknowledge. In Islam, on the other hand, it is fatalism because God specifically created some for heave and others for hell and no one can really change that.

12. Indeed there will be no helper for anyone against God on that day except those who have put their faith in God through Christ because the Bible says in 1 Timothy ²:5: For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; the Qur’an agrees with this statement in 3:55, that the Followers of Jesus will be exalted above the unbelievers (non-followers). John 14:6 states authoritatively and conclusively that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Him. John 17:3 also confirms that there is only One God and One Messenger, the man Christ Jesus, Knowing this is life everlasting.

13. Allah asserts those who had the Book earlier rejoiced at that which Muhammad received. This is very doubtful and frankly, unbelievable that such an assertion can be made by Allah. Those of us who were formerly Muslims but have come to faith in Christ Jesus and knowing the contents of the Qur’an as it stands today cannot imagine why and how any Christian or Jew for that matter would rejoice at the revelation of the Qur’an

[Commentary continues below.]

³⁷And thus have We revealed it to be a judgment of authority in Arabic. Were you to follow their desires after the knowledge which has reached you, then would you find neither protector nor defender against Allah.

³⁸And We did send apostles before you and appointed for them wives and children, and it was never the part of an apostle to bring a sign except as Allah permitted. For each period is a book.¹⁴

³⁹Allah blots out or confirms what He pleases, with Him is the mother of the book.¹⁵

⁴⁰And whether We shall show you part of what We promised them or take to your soul Ourselves, your duty is to reach them, it is Our part to call them to account.

³⁷Wa kazalika anuzalunahu hukuman arabiyyan wa lain itabata ahuwaahum bada ma jaaka minal ilmi ma laka minallahi mi waliyyi wa la waqin.

³⁸Wa laqadu arusalna rusulan min qabulika wa jaaluna lahum azuwaja wa zurriyyatan wa ma kana li rasulin anyatiya bi ayatin illa bi izunillahi likulli ajalin kitabun.

³⁹Yamuhullahu ma yashau wa yusubitu wa indahu ummul kitabi.

⁴⁰Wa imma nuriyannaka badua lazi naiduhum au natawaffayannaka fa innama alaikal balagu wa alainal hisabu.

14. Please refer to verse 38. Islam teaches that there has been 124,000 prophet throughout the ages. If the verse is correct in that every prophet brought a Book, there would be 124,000 Books. Islam further teaches the belief in 104 Scriptures of which hundred are missing but only four remain. Of the four, three are in the Bible and the fourth one is the Qur’an, whose contents are a distortion of the contents of the Bible which it claims to confirm.

[Commentary continues below.]

⁴¹Do they not see that We gradually reduce the land from its outlying borders? Allah commands there is none to put back His command, and He is swift in calling to account.

⁴²And those before them did devise plots, but in all things the master planning is Allah’s. He knows the doings of every soul, and soon will the unbelievers know who gets home in the end.

⁴³And the unbelievers say, “No apostle are you.” Say, “Enough for a witness between me and you is Allah and such as have knowledge of the book.”¹⁶

⁴¹Awalam yarau anna nati lardda nanuqusuha min aturafiha wallahu yahukumu la muaqqiba li hukumihi wa huwa sariul hisabi.

⁴²Wa qadu makara lazina min qabulihim fa lillahil makuru jamian yalamu ma takusibu kullu nafusin wa sayalamul kuffaru liman uqubaa dari.

⁴³Wa yaqulu lazina kafaru lasuta murusalan qulu kafu billahi shahidan baini wa bainakum wa man indahu ilumul kitabi

16. The only testimony that could be borne by those who have knowledge of the Book is that the Qur’an is not what it claims to be ( a Book from God).

[Commentary continues below.]