Background Information of Surah Ra’d
Surah Ar-Ra’d discusses how Allah reveals Himself to humanity through natural phenomena and prophetic revelations, emphasizing the dynamics of life, death, and resurrection.
It was revealed in Medina and consists of 43 verses.
Key Themes and Messages
Divine Revelation:
Through Creation: The Surah illustrates how Allah’s existence and attributes are manifested through the cycles of nature—such as life emerging in spring after the dormancy of winter.
Through Prophets: Reinforces the concept that Allah also communicates directly to mankind through the revelations given to prophets.
Human Skepticism and Divine Response:
Questions of Resurrection: Addresses the skeptics’ doubts about resurrection, highlighting their ignorance and mockery of the idea of being raised after death.
Demand for Signs: The disbelievers demand miraculous signs of Allah’s power, yet fail to see His signs in everyday phenomena like thunder and lightning which demonstrate His might and mercy.
Cosmic Praise and Moral Order:
Universal Praise: Describes how all creation inherently praises Allah, signaling a divine order and the natural inclination of the universe towards recognizing its Creator.
Endurance of Good: Stresses that good deeds have lasting value and contribute to the stability of creation, whereas evil is ultimately transient and doomed to failure.
Destiny of Believers and Disbelievers:
Rewards and Punishments: True believers who seek Allah’s pleasure and peace of mind will be rewarded with Paradise. In contrast, disbelievers bear the curse of Allah and face painful punishment in the hereafter.
Inevitability of Divine Will: Affirms that Allah’s decreed time for the destruction of the wicked is unchangeable, and human actions cannot alter this predetermined fate.
Perseverance of Messengers:
Historical Mockery of Prophets: Reflects on the historical pattern of prophets being mocked and ridiculed, asserting that Allah will ultimately vindicate His messengers and punish the scoffers.
Conclusion
Call to Reflection: Surah Ar-Ra’d calls for contemplation on the signs of Allah’s power and mercy present in the natural world and urges acceptance of His prophetic messages, warning of the serious consequences of disbelief and mockery.
Topical Analysis of Rukus
Ruku 1: Verses 1-7
Allah explains how He created the heavens, the sun and the moon, and the earth.
Allah speaks of the proofs and facts in the Qur’an that we can draw lessons from.
Allah speaks about the unbelievers’ words that is full of denial and foretells what will happen to them, and declares that he is forgiving despite everything.
Ruku 2: Verses 8-18
Allah talks about His knowledge and that no knowledge is hidden from him, with examples.
Allah talks about the angels that He has assigned to every human being, who are always with us, and their duties.
God speaks of thunder and lightning.
Allah explains what the prayers of the pagans to idols look like by giving an example and explains the fact that all beings obey Allah’s laws.
Allah gives His Prophet (pbuh) questions to ask to unbelievers, explains the truth and falsehood with an example, the destinations of believers and unbelievers are revealed, and the treasures that unbelievers will be willing to give in order to escape from Hell are explained.
Ruku 3: Verses 19-26
Allah explains the characteristics of people who believe and obey the laws that He has set. He talks about the place they will eventually reach and the words they will hear there. He also talks about people who are the exact opposite.
He talks about the cause of poverty and wealth in the world, and compares the blessings of the hereafter with the blessings of the world.
Ruku 4: Verses 27-31
Allah answers and talks about the unbelievers that demand miracles from the Prophet (pbuh).
The effect of remembering and commemorating Allah on man is explained.
Those who await believers in this world and in the hereafter are being explained.
Allah calls out to those who do not know and deny His name that is Rahman.
Ruku 5: Verses 32-37
Allah explains the fate of those who mock the prophets and calls out to those who equate Allah with idols and explains their fate aswell.
Allah describes the paradise that awaits those who serve Him.
Allah speaks about some people among the ‘People of the Book’ who deny certain verses from the Qur’an.
Allah talks about the Qur’an.
Ruku 6: Verses 38-43
Allah answers those who do not accept the prophethood of the Prophet (pbuh) by giving examples from the prophets who came before him and explains to the Prophet (pbuh) his main duty.
God is explaining that despite everything, His judgment will come true.
