Be steadfast in your faith and Seek forgiveness from Allah for your shortcomings

One of the most difficult thing for a believer is to exercise patience "Sabr" specially when confronted with odds and faced with the tyranny of the powerful. We experience hardships in our lives both at home and at places of work and sometimes we are so helpless to protect us and our families and our job that it seems that we are running out of our capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering and feel completely helpless.

The prophet of Allah have faced much greater sorrow, helplessness and tyranny of their audience non believers. Remember, the story of *Prophet Jonah, Yunus عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ, who was so dejected by the negative response of his people when he called them to follow one true God and in utter impatience he left his people and was thrown overboard from a ship, swallowed by a big fish. There he repented his impatience and begged Allah to forgive him. And when he was forgiven and was gulped out by the fish on the shore, he found that the very people whom he had left had accepted the path of one true God he once told them to do so. That is why at many a places in Qur'an, man is asked to exercise patience for they never know what good lies ahead for them.

* You may read the account at: Prophet Younis (Jonah) and Allah's Displeasure

In the same context, we share the 55th verse of Surah 40. Al Mu'min in which Allah has reassured Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم to remain steadfast and be patient when faced with utter odds and seemingly hit against a hall. Herein under is the verse and its explanation as relevant to the premise above:

The Verse

فَاصۡبِرۡ اِنَّ وَعۡدَ اللّٰهِ حَقٌّ وَّاسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۡۢبِكَ وَسَبِّحۡ بِحَمۡدِ رَبِّكَ بِالۡعَشِىِّ وَالۡاِبۡكَارِ‏ 

“So be patient. Indeed, the promise of Allah is true. And seek forgiveness for your sin, and glorify the praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning.”

Immediate context in Surah Mu'min

Surah Al-Mu’min is a Makkan surah revealed when Muslims were facing strong opposition, mockery, and pressure. Just before verse 55 (40:51–54), Allah had reassured Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم that Messengers and believers will ultimately be helped, even if they seem weak and that past nations who denied the truth were destroyed. It has been reminded that Guidance and success belong to those who follow revelation.

So verse 40:55 comes as direct guidance to the Prophet ﷺ (and by extension, to all believers) on how to respond while waiting for Allah’s help to manifest.

Explanation of the verse

• “So be patient. Indeed, the promise of Allah is true.” This patience (ṣabr) is not passive waiting. In the context of the surah, it means:
• Remaining firm despite rejection and hostility
• Trusting that Allah’s promise of victory, justice, and accountability is guaranteed, even if delayed
• Not being shaken by the arrogance or temporary power of the disbelievers, which the surah repeatedly highlights as deceptive
• The phrase “the promise of Allah is true” directly counters the doubt created by hardship: delay does not mean denial.
• “Seek forgiveness for your sin” 
• Although the Prophet ﷺ was protected from sin, this command serves multiple purposes:
• It teaches humility, even at the highest level of faith
• It shows that seeking forgiveness is part of spiritual strength, not weakness
• It reminds believers that divine help is connected to purifying oneself, not just confronting external enemies.
• In context, it also contrasts the believers with the arrogant rejecters who refuse to admit fault or repent.
• Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, an eminent Muslim scholar and exegete translates "sin" mentioned as given below:
• A study of the context shows that here “sin” implies the state of impatience that was being caused to the Prophet (peace be upon him) on account of the severe antagonism, especially the persecution of his followers. He earnestly desired that either some miracle should be shown, which should convince the disbelievers or something else should soon come down from Allah, which should quell the storm of opposition. Though this desire in itself was not a sin, which should have called for repentance, the high rank with which Allah had blessed the Prophet (peace be upon him) demanded great grit and will power; so the little impatience shown by him was regarded as inconsistent with his high rank. Therefore, he was required to ask Allah’s forgiveness for showing the weakness and was told to hold his ground like a rock as a man of a high rank like him should.
• “Glorify the praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning” 
• That is, Glorification of Allah with His praises is the only means by which those who work for the sake of Allah can get the strength to resist and overcome the hardships faced in the way of Allah.
• Within the surah’s themes, this means: (1) Staying spiritually grounded while living in a hostile environment, (2) Drawing strength from remembrance rather than reacting emotionally to opposition, and (3) Maintaining a constant connection to Allah while awaiting His judgment and aid

Overall message in context

The above quoted verse ties together three survival tools for believers under pressure:

• Patience in the face of injustice,
• Repentance and humility before Allah, and
• Consistent remembrance and worship

Together, they form a response to persecution that is spiritual, moral, and resilient, reinforcing the surah’s central message: arrogance leads to ruin, but faith anchored in Allah leads to eventual victory.

While this verse was exclusive to Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, it also leaves a strong message for Muslims who get dejected even on a small matter and think that it is the end of the world for Allah is not listening to them. This verse teaches us to be steadfast even under the worst circumstances, pain, rejection and loss. Allah only help those who remain steadfast with complete faith in what comes to them and how they will be taken out of their circumstances by none other than Allah.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 40. Al Mu'min (The Believer) already published. You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Al Qur'an: Overview and selected verses from Sürah 40. Al Mu'min (The Believer)

Sürah al-Muʼmin is the fortieth surah with 85 ayahs with nine rukus, part of the 24th Juzʼ of the Al Qur'an. The Sürah takes its name from verse 28 which mentions a distinguished believer from among the clan of the Pharaoh who supported Moses, referring to him as a "believing man", hence al-Mu'min; The Believer. However, this surah is most often called al-Ghāfir (the All-Forgiving) because of the Divine Name mentioned in verse 3.

There are two surahs in the Holy Qur'an which centers on the Believers and take their names from the mention of the words Mu'min (Believer) and Mu'minoon (Surah 24). In Surah Mu'minoon (Chapter 24) the Believers (Mu'minoon, plural of Mu'min as in this case), the argument is about the collective force of Faith and virtue. In Sürah al-Muʼmin it is about the Individual's witness to faith, and virtues, and his triumph to the end.

With this surah, the Holy Qur'an embarks upon a series of contiguous surahs which are affixed the  Disjoined Letters Ha-Meem " حٰمٓ ". Chronologically they all belong to the same Makkan Period, and they immediately follow the last Sürah in time. The other six surahs that begin with same dis-joined words are:

• Chapter. 41 Surah Fussilat (Explained in Detail)
• Chapter. 42 Surah Ash Shura (The Consultation)
• Chapter. 43 Surah Az Zukhruf (The Ornaments of Gold)
• Chapter. 44 Surah Ad Dukhan (The Smoke)
• Chapter. 45 Surah Al Jathiya (The Crouching)
• Chapter. 46 Surah Al Ahqaf (The Wind Curved Sand Dunes)

* Please read our earlier post: Understanding the Holy Quran: Huroof Muqatta’at - Disjoined Letters to understand the usage of Disjoined Letters with which some of the Surahs of Al Qur'an begin.

We have already shared the Exegesis / Tafseer of the Surah in one of earlier posts, Herein under we will only present a condensed overview of the entire Sūrah, for the scope of this post is to only to introduce the Sūrah and provide links to some of the selected verses from this Sūrah for selective reading / references. The following bird eye view includes the context, major themes and subjects and lessons that we can learn from this Sūrah, followed by references to  some of the selected verses already published.

Overview

Sürah al-Muʼmin teaches that Allah’s mercy is vast for those who repent, but His justice is inevitable for those who persist in arrogance and oppression. Through the story of the believing man in Pharaoh’s court, the surah shows how truth can survive even inside corrupt systems, how courage and wisdom in Da'wah matter, and how worldly power ultimately collapses before divine judgment. It reassures believers that unseen support surrounds them, patience is essential, and final success belongs to truth — even if falsehood dominates temporarily.

Period of Revelation

According to Ibn 'Abbas and Jabir bin Zaid, this Surah was sent down consecutively after Surah Az-Zumar, and its present position in the order of the Surahs in the Quran is the same as its chronological order.

Core message of Surah Al Mu'min

Allah is extremely Merciful to those who repent — but extremely severe with those who persist in arrogance and oppression. The surah balances: Hope (Ghāfir adh-dhanb — Forgiver of sin) and Fear  (Shadīd al-ʿiqāb — Severe in punishment)

Notable Verses / group of verses that define the context and theme of the Surah

• Allah’s Names set the tone (40:1–3)
• “The revelation of the Book is from Allah, the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing. Forgiver of sin, Accepter of repentance, Severe in punishment, Owner of abundance…”
• This means that Allah is not only Merciful and not only Severe. Thus the balance prevents false hope and false security
• Arrogance is the root of rejection (40:4–5)
• “None dispute the signs of Allah except those who disbelieve…”
• This means that Intellectual arguments often hide moral arrogance, and that Rejection is frequently spiritual, not logical.
• Angels making duʿāʾ for believers (40:7–9)
• “Those who carry the Throne and those around it glorify their Lord… and seek forgiveness for those who believe.”
• These verses carry a powerful lesson, which is the believers are supported by the unseen and those who truly believe and fall into the category of "The Believers," their names are mentioned in the heavens if you believe. This builds hope in lonely times.
• The believer from Pharaoh’s family (40:28–45)
• This group of verses is ne of the most remarkable stories in the Qur’an.
• Here a man is mentioned who concealed his faith initially, spoke with wisdom and courage and challenged tyranny from within the system (“Do you kill a man for saying: ‘My Lord is Allah’?” 40:28).
• This group of verses stresses that Truth can exist inside corrupt systems and Da'wah can be strategic and wise. and that speaking truth may cost safety—but saves the soul.
• The psychology of arrogance (40:35–37)
• Bewildered by the expanding ingress of truth among his people, the self proclaimed almighty Pharaoh has been mentioned wanting  to build a tower so as to “Reach the heavens” and mock the truth.
• Arrogance always tries to outperform God and that power breeds delusion.
• These verses have a modern parallel as we witness technological or political arrogance being exhibited without moral humility.
• The reality of Hell and regret (40:47–50)
• This set of verses depict an argument by the people who have been thrown into hell who would then blame their theological as well as political leaders, and beg the angels.
• These verses show that blame-shifting continues even in Hell and the leaders who once mislead their people will abandon them for they themselves be rotting in the hell. And all excuses will die in the Hereafter (Links strongly with 34:31–33)
• The promise to believers (40:51)
• “Indeed, We will surely support Our messengers and those who believe in this worldly life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand.”
• Here comes the reassurance for the Mu'min true believer - good days can be delayed but the promised days in the Paradise will erase the pain of their hardships at the hands of the wordily demagogues.
• The worthlessness of worldly power (40:82)
• “Then they saw Our punishment — and their faith did not benefit them…”
• This warns the arrogant and the timid people who made life of others miserable by telling them that once everyone will be resurrected, at time belief after seeing punishment will be too late, for repentance had a time window which they never tried to open in their wordily life.
• The final command to the Prophet ﷺ (40:55–56)
• These are the closing verses addressed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ who was heavily under pressure of the tyranny of the disbelievers.
• “So be patient, [O Muhammad]. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin and exalt [ Allah ] with praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning.  (40:55)”
• This group of verses mean that Infallibility is an indispensable attribute of all prophets. which means that all the prophets are infallible in the sense that they do not sin or disobey God's orders. Here, God reminds the believers of an important fact to which Muslims must be attentive on the way to God.
• There is a lesson on these verses for us and that is Patience is not weakness - It is strategic endurance for truth.

Especially powerful verses for reflection today

• 40:3 — Balance of mercy and punishment
• 40:7–9 — Angels making duʿāʾ for believers
• 40:28 — Courage of the believing man
• 40:35 — Arrogance and denial
• 40:51 — Allah’s promise of support
• 40:55 — Patience and certainty
• 40:82 — Regret after punishment

Summarizing the above commentary, Sürah Al Mu'min is about Faith which is ever justified, for Allah forgives: but evil deeds must have evil fruits, for for Allah knows and is just (1-20). In all history Evil came to evil; the protest of Faith, in the midst of Evil, may be ignored; but Faith is protected by Allah, while Evil perishes (21-50). No doubt is there of the Future Judgment; the Power, Goodness, and Justice of Allah are manifest; will man dispute, or will he accept the Signs before it is too late? (51-85).

Now let us share herein some of the selected ayat / verses from this surah already shared:

• Verse 7: Our Lord! Forgive those who repent and follow Your Path
• Verses 7-8: A Unique Invocation by the Angels for Forgiveness of the Repenting Believers 
• Verse 19: Allah knows even the stealthiest glance of the eyes and secrets that hearts conceal
• Verse 44: A verse from Qur'an that captures the profound faith of a believer in the face of adversity
• Verse 55: Be steadfast in your faith and Seek forgiveness from Allah for your shortcomings
• Verse 60:
• Those who scorn worship of Allah will surely enter Hell, utterly abased
• Allah Reassures Believers to Call upon Him and He will answer their prayers
• Verse 61: Allah is He Who made the night for you to seek repose in it - but most people are ungrateful
• Verses 64-65: Allah made the earth a dwelling place for you - So call upon Him, consecrating to Him all your devotion

We will continue to add some other important verses from Surah Al Mu'min in time.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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But the life of this world (compared to the Hereafter) is only a fleeting enjoyment

We all live in this world seeing and enjoying the "seen" never ever caring for what is hidden and "promised." For us, this world with all its glitters and amusement is associated with enjoyment, happiness, laughter and pleasure. Yet, a very few of us reflect over the shortness of our life and the permanency of life of the hereafter. 

For this reason, we have selected the 26th verse from Surah Ar-Raʿd (13:26) which cautions us the shortness of this life which has been referred to as a time equated to fleeting enjoyment and the life of the hereafter being the permanent life the pleasures (or otherwise) of which depend on how we spend our lives in our worldly life. 

The verse (meaning-focused translation)

اَللّٰهُ يَبۡسُطُ الرِّزۡقَ لِمَنۡ يَّشَآءُ وَيَقۡدِرُ​ؕ وَفَرِحُوۡا بِالۡحَيٰوةِ الدُّنۡيَا ؕ وَمَا الۡحَيٰوةُ الدُّنۡيَا فِى الۡاٰخِرَةِ اِلَّا مَتَاعٌ‏ 

“Allah extends provision for whom He wills and restricts it. They rejoice in the life of this world, but the life of this world compared to the Hereafter is only a fleeting enjoyment.” (13:26)

This single verse touches three of the most sensitive human realities: (1) rizq (provision), (2) happiness, and (3) illusion. Let us expand its meaning and how can this single verse if understood and correctly reflected upon can change our orientation to the worldly life and shape it for a permanent life of the hereafter.

Context within Surah Ar-Raʿd

Surah Ar-Raʿd consistently contrasts: (1) Visible power vs unseen control, (2) Temporary life vs permanent reality, (3) Human assumptions vs divine wisdom.

Just before and after this verse, the Surah speaks about: (1) People who demand signs (13:7), (2) The certainty of divine knowledge (13:8–10), (3) The laws of change in societies (13:11), (4) Natural power and human argument (13:12–13), and (5) The contrast between truth and falsehood (13:17). So 13:26 fits into a larger message and which is "Your material condition is not proof of your worth, truth, or ultimate success."

As per revered Muslim scholar Ibn Kathir, the verse serves as a reminder to focus on the eternal life rather than being distracted by the, often misleading,, temporary enjoyment of this world. This verse has two distinct parts: (1) Allah alone determines, increases, and restricts sustenance (provision) based on His wisdom and will. (2) Then Allah highlights that worldly abundance is merely a temporary enjoyment (trial) that cannot be compared to the everlasting, superior, and true life in the Hereafter.

Rizq / Means of sustenance

In the first part of the verse Allah proclaims that is it He alone who extends rizq / provision and restricts. To some this may appear to be random cruelty, that is giving to some and restricting others from having what other have. 

In fact in Qur’anic worldview, Expansion of provision may be: (1) A test of gratitude and arrogance, (2) A means of influence, (3) A form of delayed accountability, while Restriction of provision may be: (1) A test of patience, (2) A purification, (3) A protection from arrogance, (4) A redirection toward higher values.

This part of the verse thus outlines the key Islamic principle that Rizq is not a scoreboard of divine approval. This directly challenges a modern (and ancient) assumption that If I am succeeding financially, I must be right. The Qur’an dismantles this notion.

World famous exegete of Al Qur'an Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi is thus of the view that:

This verse refutes the wrong criterion by which the disbelievers of Makkah (and all other disobedient people of the world) judged whether one was or was not a favorite of God. They judged a man’s worth by his wealth and worldly prosperity and not by his faith and righteous conduct. They thought that the one who was enjoying all the good things of life was a favorite of God, even if he had erroneous beliefs and did wicked deeds. On the other hand, they considered the one who was poor and indigent to be under the wrath of God, even though he was righteous. That is why in their judgment the chiefs of the Quraish were far superior to the followers of the Prophet (peace be upon him). They would say, "You can see for yourselves that God is with the chiefs of the Quraish.

In this verse, Allah has warned them that they are absolutely wrong in drawing such a conclusion from the worldly conditions of the people. Allah gives His provision to the people abundantly or sparingly for reasons different from those which they presumed and richness or poverty is no criterion by which to judge the worth of people. The real criterion of judging the worth of people is their beliefs and deeds. The one, who has righteous beliefs and does good deeds, shall be higher in rank than the one who has wrong beliefs and does evil deeds. Thus the real criterion is the quality of his deeds and not the possession or the lack of wealth. 

Preference to the worldly life over the permanent life of Hereafter

“They rejoice in the life of this world” - This part of the verse implies deep emotional attachment to the worldly life, not just enjoyment. It refers to people who: (1) Measure success by income, (2) Define worth by lifestyle, (3) Equate happiness with consumption, and thus (4) Feel secure because of wealth.

Qur’anic viewpoint is that though the enjoyment is not haram and one should enjoy this life moderately rather than rejoicing with misplaced loyalty. That is the worldly life should not become one's (1) Goal, (2) Identity, or (3) Proof of one's success

The temporary worldly life

“But the life of this world is only a fleeting enjoyment” - this does not mean that the Qur’an does not say the world is worthless. Rather it is being said that this life (1) Utterly short and temporary, (2) rather it is Deceptive if absolutized, and (3) it is Inadequate as a final goal.

There is an Arabic saying that: Life is something that gives pleasure but does not last — like a traveler’s shade.

Ibn Kathir, contrasting this life with that of the Hereafter, emphasizes the insignificance of worldly wealth and pleasure compared to the eternal life. And that True success is not measured by worldly riches, as the disbelievers often rejoice in this, ignoring the greater, permanent rewards of the afterlife. 

To sum up, it may be noted that the "Worldly-oriented people invariably ignore the preacher of Truth." The reason for this is that a worldly people recognize only worldly glories. As the preacher is in possession of only sublime truths, he is not recognized and is ignored as an unimportant person. But, when the veil over reality is torn asunder, man will come to know at that time that the apparent glory which he considered everything, was absolutely valueless. The truly valuable thing was reality which, because it was unseen, could not claim his attention.

There is a Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which says, "Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler," mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī  6416 which also tells us the temporary nature of our life. Yet despite all these mentions, our orientation remain towards our present state in this world rather than eyeing the a permanent life that is our final destination.

Correlation with our daily lives 

This verse is truly reflective of the state of mind of a majority of the people who when blessed with more than others think that the world only belongs to them and instead of being thankful to their Creator and the Sustainer, arrogance and obstinacy creeps in and they indulge into merry making to make best of their lives. They thus forget that this life provides them with a mere fleeting enjoyment which would rob them of blessings of the hereafter.

Let us establish a correlation with the verse and our practical life:

• Income inequality & comparison culture: 
• We constantly compare: our Salaries, Homes, Cars and Lifestyles (especially via social media) with others and if having an upper edge, a sense of elation creeps in rather than be humble for what we have is not due to our efforts rather it is because of Divine blessings which are not permanent.
• Rather 13:26 resets the scale and caution those who are blessed more that these blessings can be withdrawn due to their arrogance and pride.
• Anxiety over finances: In contrast to those living in abundance, many people today live with Financial stress, Fear of loss of jobs and Obsession with stability. This verse tells them that control is not with your employer, market, or economy, rather it is with Allah. If understood correctly, one would realize that this verse cancels panic and despair. and give them hope if one persists in one's faith and endures difficulties with sabr / perseverance.
• Arrogance of success: 
• This is a dilemma - When people rise, they attribute it purely to intelligence. At the same time in their arrogance (due to their being rich and efforts), they see others as lazy and they completely undermine unseen help.
• The verse thus indicate expansion / rise a test, not a trophy.
• Despair of hardship: 
• But when people fall, they feel abandoned and feel inferior - thus they lose self-worth.
• This verse comforts the fallen by telling them that restriction is not rejection. Many a man who have true faith rise again and are honoured much more than those who are arrogant.
• Psychological wisdom: 
• This verse also explains why: (1) Rich people are not automatically happy and (2) Poor people are not automatically miserable  - for the reason that happiness is not proportional to provision.
• At the same time, it also notes that rejoicing wrongly placed produces: (1) Fear of loss, (2) Endless desire, and (3) the inner feeling of finding never enough to satisfy their greed.
• A deep link with 13:11 (law of change):
• Earlier in the Surah, it was said “Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is within themselves.” (13:11)
• So while provision is from Allah, character, gratitude, justice, and effort shape how provision is used and experienced.
• One-line Qur’anic worldview: Your bank balance is not your biography in Allah’s sight.
• A reflection for today: In a world obsessed with growth, lifestyle and status consciousness, man is more prone to rely on his wealth to exhibit his false status - something that would be of no use in the life of the hereafter.

Thus the verse 13:26 whispers a dangerous truth to the ego: What you are chasing is not what you were created for. Remember the fate of Qarun / Korah as mentioned in Surah 28. Al-Qasas wherein it has been told to the mankind that even if a man is rich beyond any bounds, his arrogance can lead him to utter disaster, deprivation of all wealth and even his life. So let us be humble even if we are rich or blessed more than others and live this life as a prelude to the life of the Hereafter.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may refer for more Selected Verses from Sürah 13. Al Ra'd - The Thunder  already published

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For more Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. .

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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A small verse that is Spinal Cord of Al Qur’an

Mankind was created by the Lord of the worlds as a test case to see who among the lot has steered one's life to the Divine path and pledges that alone the Lord of the world is to be worshiped and to Him alone we seek help. This pledge has been drilled deep in the hearts of true believers who have an unflinching faith in one true God, we Muslims call Allah.

Today, we share a small verses from the very first Surah (Chapter) of Al Qur'an: Surah al-Fātiḥah. This verse sits in the center of the Surah and is considered as the Spinal Cord of Al Qur'an for just this small verses embodies in itself the entire meaning of Al Qur'an. Let us share the verse and then present its an in-depth analysis:

The Verse:

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

“You alone do we worship, and You alone do we turn for help.”

This verse is the spinal cord of the Qur’an. Everything before it prepares for it, and everything after it flows from it.

Ibn Kathir describes that the first part is a declaration of innocence from Shirk (polytheism), while the second negates having any power or strength, displaying the recognition that all affairs are controlled by Allah alone. This meaning is reiterated in various instances in the Qur'an. 

For instance, Allah said, (So worship Him (O Muhammad ) and put your trust in Him. And your Lord is not unaware of what you (people) do.) (11:123)

((He alone is) the Lord of the east and the west; La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). So take Him alone as Wakil (Disposer of your affairs)), (73:9) 

And that this verse as the declaration of ultimate tawhid (oneness of God). It signifies worshipping Allah alone, free from Shirk, while relying solely on Him for aid in all matters. This verse represents the core of Islamic belief, balancing submission with seeking Divine help.

Position in Surah al-Fātiḥah: Why this verse is central

Surah al-Fātiḥah has 7 verses, and 1:5 stands exactly in the middle. Herein under is the breakdown of the seven verses of the Surah:

• Verses 1–4: Who Allah is (Lord, Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment)
• Verse 5 denotes our response to that knowledge expressed in verses 1-4
• Verses 6–7 Having acknowledged that Allah is and that Allah alone is to be worshiped and is the only source of help for the mankind, verses 6-7 carry our request for guidance and salvation.

The entire Surah sums up our faith resting on correct knowledge of Allah that leads us to worship and depend on Him alone.

Linguistic depth of the verse 5

•  “Iyyāka” (إِيَّاكَ)
• Arabic places “You alone” before the verb for emphasis.
• Normal order: We worship You
• Qur’anic order: You alone we worship
• "You...'', means, we worship You alone and none else, and rely on You alone and none else. This is the perfect form of obedience and the entire religion is implied by these two ideas. Some of the Salaf said, Al-Fatihah is the secret of the Qur'an, while these words are the secret of Al-Fatihah
• Implication: (1) No worship of anyone else—explicit or subtle, (2) No divided loyalty, and (3) No hidden dependence
• “Naʿbudu” (نعبد): 
• The meaning of worship: ʿIbādah in Islam is not ritual alone. It includes: (1) Love, (2) Fear. (3) Hope, (4) Obedience, (5) Submission, and (6) Moral surrender
• Qur’anic echo: “I did not create jinn and mankind except that they worship Me.” (51:56)
• The term ibadah is used in three sense: (i) worship and adoration; (ii) obedience and submission; and (iii) service and subjection. In this particular context the term carries all these meanings simultaneously. In other words, we say to God that we worship and adore Him, that we are obedient to Him and follow His will, and also that we are His servants. Moreover man is so bound to none save God, that none but He, may be the subject of man's worship and total devotion, of man's unreserved obedience, of man's absolute subjection and servitude.
• “Nastaʿīn” (نستعين): The meaning of seeking help. Seeking help here is ultimate reliance, not denial of means.
• Not only do we worship God, but our relationship with Him is such that we turn to Him alone for help and succour. We know that He is the Lord of the whole universe and that He alone is the Master of all blessings and benefactions. Hence, in seeking the fulfilment of our needs we turn to Him alone. It is towards Him alone that we stretch forth our hands when we pray and supplicate. It is in Him that we repose our trust. It is therefore to Him alone that we address our request for true guidance.
• Qur’anic support: “And rely upon Allah if you are believers.” (5:23)

Why worship comes before help

• This order is deliberate. Because Worship is related to purpose, while Help is support for fulfilling purpose
• That is We do not worship Allah because He helps us; but because He helps us because we worship Him.
• This purifies intentions and prevents transactional faith.

Why Plural form is used (“We worship… we seek help”)

We should mention that in this Ayah, the type of speech here changes from the third person to direct speech by using the Kaf in the statement Iyyaka (You). This is because after the servant praised and thanked Allah, he stands before Him, addressing Him directly.

Another viewpoint: The implication of using We instead I is for a reason:

• Islam is communal, not individualistic
• You never stand alone before Allah
• Unity in worship creates moral solidarity
• Even in private prayer, you speak as part of an ummah.

Theological foundation: Tawḥīd

This verse combines two core forms of Tawḥīd:

• Tawḥīd al-Ulūhiyyah: You alone we worship
• Tawḥīd al-Rubūbiyyah: You alone we seek for help
• Together they negate: (1) Shirk in belief, (2) Shirk in practice, and (3) Shirk in reliance.

Connection to guidance (verses 6)

• اِهۡدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الۡمُسۡتَقِيۡمَۙ‏ (1:6) Direct us on to the Straight Way
• Only after declaring: Exclusive worship and Exclusive reliance, that we ask: “Guide us to the straight path.”
• That is Guidance is not given to divided hearts.

In summary, Surah 1:5 is a covenant of exclusive devotion and total dependence—declaring that life’s purpose is worship, and life’s strength comes only from Allah.

This verse expresses another fundamental principle that follows logically from the preceding ones. It is also a decisive and crucial principle that draws a line between the freedom man gains in submitting to God and the abuse and debasement implicit in man’s servitude to man. Once man has submitted himself to God and sought help and guidance from Him alone, he has achieved total liberation from the tyranny of all religious, intellectual, moral and political powers.

May Allah guide our hearts to worship Him without any prejudice and depend upon Him for any help or assistance, rather than banking on the worldly gods, which unfortunately many Muslims do.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo Credit: Zaffar Bhatti Artist | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More

Devastating fate of the disbelieving wife of Prophet Lot (Lūṭ عليه السلام) and his people - as mentioned in Al Qur'an

There are many anecdote mentioned in Al Qur'an of the people of the bygone times and their fate for their ungratefulness. While majority of stories relate to the mankind, there are many a mention of women that have been part of the theological history. Though many women are mentioned, they are usually identified by their relationships, such as "the wife of..." or "the mother of..." rather than their proper names, adhering to the Arab tradition of the time. The only woman mentioned by name is Maryam (Mary), mother of Prophet Eesa عليه السلام. 

Besides Maryam, the Quran often uses specific women to highlight virtues or lessons, such as the unfaithful wife of Noah, wife of Abu Lahab and the betraying wife of Prophet Lot (Lūṭ عليه السلام) as examples of disbelief, versus Mary and the wife of Pharaoh as examples of faith. Despite having such good fortunes and such close relations with Allah’s (SWT) prophets, the wives of Prophet Noah and Lot, AS, chose not to benefit from Allah’s(SWT) infinite mercy and blessings. They incurred Allah’s (SWT) wrath by their own actions and brought it upon themselves.

There is also a mention of Queen Sheba along with mention of Prophet Sulaiman, AS. We have already published an exclusive post on Maryam: Women in Quran - Maryam (Mary) - Mother of Prophet Eesa (Jesus). Today through this post, we talk about the devastating fate of betraying wife of Prophet Lot (Lūṭ عليه السلام), who betrayed her pious husband and prophet of Allah and sided with her people who lived a life of utter disgust in a place where shame had died and indecency mocked the mankind.

We have already published a detailed account of the curse of homosexuality in which the people of Prophet Lūṭ عليه السلام have indulged in our earlier post: Prophet Lut (Lot) and Allah's Wrath on his People. Herein under we intend showing our readers an AI generated video exclusively made about the betraying wife of Prophet Lūṭ عليه السلام to graphically show the fate of his wife and people after they refused to life an honourable life and failed the Divine test.

Before we share the video, herein under is just a summary of the complete anecdote that resulted into the Divine wrath on the wicked people who lived in the ancient city of Sodom. The Qur’an presents the story as a moral and spiritual warning:

Prophet Lūṭ عليه السلام was sent to a people who openly practiced grave immorality, rejected divine guidance, and mocked reform despite clear admonition. Lūṭ عليه السلام called them to purity, repentance, and obedience to Allah, but they persisted in denial and hostility. Although his wife lived in the same household as a prophet, she did not share his faith; instead, she sided inwardly with the wrongdoing society and betrayed the mission by supporting the disbelievers (not through marital infidelity, but through belief and loyalty). When Allah’s decree came, the believers were saved while the town was destroyed, and Lūṭ’s wife perished with the disbelievers, demonstrating that nearness to righteousness by relationship does not save anyone—only faith and obedience do (cf. 7:80–84, 11:77–83, 26:160–175, 66:10).

* The photo used in the caption of a statue is attributed in the history books as that of the wife of  Prophet Lūṭ عليه السلام who turned into ashes and was frozen on the ground when she tried to look back to see the Divine wrath falling on her people despite the warning that no one would look back. 

Herein under now watch the AI generated video of the wicked life of people of Sodom and the fate of their life along with the betraying wife of  Prophet Lūṭ عليه السلام:

The purpose of sharing such anecdotes of disbelief, betrayal and wickedness is to impress upon the notion that a pious woman can live with a disbelieving husband (like wife o Pharaoh) and still preserve her faith in one true God, while wicked and unfaithful wives, like wives of Prophets Noah and Lot,  could not benefit from the teachings of their pious husbands and were perished and remain noted in the history books as an example of betrayal and Divine punishment. This story is one of the darkest chapters in human history — a story Allah preserved in the Qur’an as a warning until the Last Day.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the reference material contained in Islam: My Ultimate Decision are that of the Islamic scholars / websites. We have shared these view as added information for better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the views owing to their own perception / school of thought being followed. If any one differs with the material contained in this blog, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make our posts all encompassing / comprehensive.

You may also refer to our reference page on Women in Islam and other Reference Pages created so far, to know more about Islam.

Photo: 

References:  | 1 |  2 | 3 |

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Why does Allah mention the Thunder and Thunderbolts in Al Qur'an

We usually use the word "awe" without really understanding the depth hidden in this three lettered word. Generally seeking, awe is a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder. However, in Al Qur'an uses the thunder and thunderbolts, that really shake us when these powerful noises and light is seen across the sky, to perfectly describe what awe truly is.

Today we share the 12-13th verses from Surah 13. Ar Ra'ad, a Surah which means the Thunder, to explain how the combination of the thunder and thunderbolts instill the otherwise rather misunderstood word "awe."  Let us first read the meaning of these two verses and then explain how Allah describe "awe" to glorify His immense might and power:

هُوَ الَّذِىۡ يُرِيۡكُمُ الۡبَرۡقَ خَوۡفًا وَّطَمَعًا وَّيُنۡشِئُ السَّحَابَ الثِّقَالَ​ۚ‏ 

(13:12) He it is Who causes you to see lightning that inspires you with both fear and hope, and He it is Who whips up heavy clouds.

​وَيُسَبِّحُ الرَّعۡدُ بِحَمۡدِهٖ وَالۡمَلٰۤـئِكَةُ مِنۡ خِيۡفَتِهٖ ​ۚ وَيُرۡسِلُ الصَّوَاعِقَ فَيُصِيۡبُ بِهَا مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ وَهُمۡ يُجَادِلُوۡنَ فِى اللّٰه​ۚ ِ وَهُوَ شَدِيۡدُ الۡمِحَالِؕ‏ 

(13:13) The thunder celebrates His praise and holiness, and the angels, too, celebrate His praise for awe of Him. He hurls thunderbolts, striking with them whom He wills while they are engaged in disputation concerning Allah. He is Mighty in His contriving.

These two verses are short, but carry a complete worldview about nature, power, fear, hope, and human arrogance.

Immediate context of Surah Ar-Raʿad

We have already published an Overview and Exegesis of Sürah (13) Ar Ra’ad (The Thunder). Herein under is just a passing reference to what Surah Ar Ra'ad is about.  Surah Ar-Raʿd is about: (1) Signs in nature, (2) Rejection (by non believers and atheists) despite evidence, (3) Human insistence on arguing rather than reflecting and (4) The certainty of divine power behind visible laws

The above mentioned two verses come in a section where Allah is teaching through the natural world, not scripture alone — so the message addresses all humanity, believers and non-believers alike, specially the atheists of modern day. Let us explain to understand they why of these two verses:

Lightning: fear and hope together (13:12)

(13:12) He it is Who causes you to see lightning that inspires you with both fear and hope, and He it is Who whips up heavy clouds.

The Qur’an deliberately combines opposites. Here both fear and hope are mentioned to instill the Divine fear in the hearts of those who shrug off the Divine signs of fear that results into destruction, danger, loss, while at the same time the thunderbolts are a cue for hope that binges rain resulting into life and growth.

Key lesson: The verses means that Reality is not random — it is balanced. And that Lightning is neither purely benevolent nor purely destructive. Rather it reflects: (1) Human vulnerability, (2) Dependence on forces beyond control.

It also has lesson for the atheists that Nature is not “kind” or “cruel” — it is indifferent to human ego. Yet it is finely balanced in ways that sustain life.

Heavy clouds: unseen preparation before visible outcomes (“He brings forth heavy clouds.”). This means that Rain does not arrive suddenly. It requires a complete natural procedure to set in like: (1) Evaporation, (2) Accumulation, (3) Movement, (3) Timing.

Universal lesson: Major outcomes are preceded by unseen processes. This challenges: (1) Instant gratification, (2) * Reductionist thinking, and (3) Denial of unseen realities (including resurrection).

* Reductionist thinking is a cognitive approach that analyzes complex systems, problems, or behaviors by breaking them down into their smallest, most fundamental, and simple parts. Originating from René Descartes, this method posits that understanding the individual components allows for comprehension of the entire system. It is widely used in scientific fields like physics, chemistry, and biology to create objective, testable models, though it is often criticized for ignoring the context and interactions that make up the whole.

Thunder glorifies Allah (13:13) — what does this mean?

(13:13) The thunder celebrates His praise and holiness, and the angels, too, celebrate His praise for awe of Him. He hurls thunderbolts, striking with them whom He wills while they are engaged in disputation concerning Allah. He is Mighty in His contriving.

This is not poetic exaggeration. In Qur’anic language: (1) Everything follows the role assigned to it, (2) 

Obedience to divine law is tasbīḥ,  (3) 

Thunder “glorifies” Allah by: (1) Obeying physical laws flawlessly, (2) Never rebelling, (3) Never deviating

Contrast with humans: (1) Nature obeys without ego, and (2) Humans resist despite understanding.

Thunderbolts and human dispute “He strikes with them whom He wills, yet they dispute about Allah.”

This is a sharp rebuke. That is while people witness uncontrollable power, death can strike unpredictably - that is Safety is never guaranteed.

Despite these immense display of power and might, people (specially the atheists) still: (1) Argue about God’s existence, (2) Demand absolute proof, and (3) Mock the notion of accountability

Here is the Qur’anic irony: Human beings debate sovereignty while standing inside it.

“Severe in power” — not cruelty, but reality “He is severe in power.”

This does not mean Allah is unjust. Rather it means (1) His power is not symbolic, (2) His laws are not negotiable, and that (3) His authority is not theoretical

Nature already demonstrates this severity:

The Divine power and might strikes in the form of Earthquakes, Storms, Death and Aging. None of these is in the power of the humans, who can never control these events nor delay. These would strike as and when Divinely desired, no one knows where, when and how. 

Here the Qur’an asks: If you accept severity in nature, why deny sovereignty behind it?

Lessons specifically for atheists

These verses challenge atheism without insults or theology-heavy arguments. It may be added that despite denying the existence of a Divine Beings Who controls every movement, the atheists are too struck with the awe and fear the destruction that may strike them.  It calls:

• You already live by fear and hope
• That is why you take (1) Safety measures, (2) Insurance, and look for the Weather forecasts so that you are not caught in a storm and get hurt.
• And yet you deny: (1) Moral accountability, (2) Ultimate meaning
• You trust unseen processes like electrons, gravity, probability But reject: (1) Unseen purpose and (2) Unseen will
• You debate God under God’s sky while being benefiting from order and protected by balance, yet being Threatened by the same system at the same time. The Qur’an’s critique is simple: Denial is not intellectual — it is moral hesitation.

Lessons for all of mankind

• Humility  - Power surrounds us at all times — yet we live as if autonomous.
• Gratitude - Rain is not guaranteed. Stability is not promised.
• Restraint - If nature obeys, rebellion is uniquely human — and uniquely dangerous.
• Reflection over argument - The Qur’an does not say they deny Allah — it says: “They dispute about Allah.” - that is Disputation replaces reflection when arrogance enters.

One-line Qur’anic summary

These verses do not aim to prove God mathematically. Rather these aim to wake the conscience. That is while mankind argues, forgetting that it lives inside a reality it did not create. 

This is what Al Qur'an is saying: Look at the sky before you argue about the One who governs it. Thus, let the Divine awe instill fear in us the Divine might and power  while at them same time being hopeful of His infinite mercy so that we are not struck by His destructive power and bowing to Him for His mercy to help us understand the Divine wisdom in everything that we see around us. 

You may refer to more Selected Verses from Sürah 13. Al Ra'd - The Thunder  already published.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may also refer to our exclusive reference page: Selected verses from selected Surahs of Al-Qurʾān for compiled verses from other surahs.

For verses on Selected Subjects, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject (Reference Page) to know more about what Qur'an says about specific subjects and our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. 

You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of Al-Qurʾān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, other sources which have been explored and views of other scholars have been incorporated while explaining meaning of a verse. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

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