The chronological place of this Sura and the general argument of Suras 10 to 15 has been described in the introduction to Sura 10.
The special argument of this Sura deals with that aspect of Allah's revelation of Himself to man and His dealings with him, which is concerned with certain contrasts which are here pointed out. There is the revelation to the Prophets, which comes in spoken words adapted to the language of the various men and groups of men to whom it comes; and there is the parallel revelation or Signs in the constant laws of external nature, on this earth and in the visible heavens. there is the contrast between recurring life and death already in the external world: Why should men disbelieve in the life after death? They mock at the idea of punishment because it is deferred: But can they not see Allah's power and glory in thunder and the forces of nature? All creation praises Him" It is the good that endures and the evil that is swept away like froth or scum. Not only in miracles but in the normal working of the world, are shown Allah's power and mercy. What is Punishment in this world, compared to that in the life to come? Even here there are Signs of the working of his law: Plot or plan as men will, it is Allah's Will that must prevail. This is illustrated in Joseph's story in the preceding Sura.
Summary.-The Book of Revelation is true, and is confirmed by the Signs to be seen in visible nature. Allah Who created such mighty forces in outer nature can raise up man again after death. Allah's knowledge is all-compassing: So are His power and goodness (Verses 1 to 18 and commentary C.114).
The righteous seek the pleasure of Allah and find Peace; the evil ones break His Law, cavil and dispute, and reject faith; the wrath of Allah will take them unawares, but in His own good time (Verses 19 to 31 and commentary C.115).
So was it with apostles before: They were mocked, but the mockers were destroyed, while the righteous rejoiced and were established (Verses 32 to 43 and commentary C.116).
C.114.-Verses 1 to 18)-Allah's Truth comes to man in revelation and in nature. How noble are His works! How sublime His government of the world! They all declare forth His glory! Yet man must strangely resist Faith, and ask to see the Signs of His power rather than the Signs of His Mercy! Doth not His knowledge search through the most hidden things? Are not Lightning and Thunder the Signs of His Might as well as of His Mercy? He alone is Worthy of praise, and His Truth will stand when all vanities pass away like scum on the torrent of Time.
13:1 SURA 13. Rad, or Thunder. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. A.L.M.R. These are the Signs (or Verses) of the Book: That which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord is the Truth; but most men believe not.
13:2 Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that ye can see; is firmly established on the Throne (of Authority); He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His Law)! Each one runs (its own course) for a term appointed. He doth regulate all affairs, explaining the Signs in detail that ye may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord.
13:3 And it is He Who spreads out the earth, and set thereon mountains standing firm, and (flowing) rivers: And fruit of every kind He made in pairs, two and two: He draweth the Night as a veil Over the Day. Behold, verily in these things there are Signs for those who consider!
13:4 And in the earth there are tracts (diverse through) 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 that others to eat. Behold, verily in these things there are Signs for those who understand!
13:5 If thou dost marvel (at their want of faith), strange is their saying: "When we are (actually) dust, shall we indeed then be in a creation renewed?" They are those who deny their Lord! They are those round whose necks will be yokes (of servitude): They will be Companions of the Fire, to dwell therein (for aye)!
13:6 They ask thee to hasten on the evil in preference to the good: Yet have come to pass, before them, (many) exemplary punishments! But verily thy Lord is full of forgiveness for mankind for their wrongdoing. And verily thy Lord is (also) strict in punishment.
13:7 And the Unbelievers sat: "Why is not a Sign sent down to him from his Lord?" But thou art truly a warner, and to every people a guide.
13:8 Section 2. Allah doth know what every female (womb) doth bear, by how much the wombs fall short (of their time or number) or do exceed. Every single thing is before His sight, in (due) proportion.
13:9 He knoweth the unseen and that which is open: He is the Great, the most High.
13:10 It is the same (to Him) whether any of you conceal his speech or declare it openly; whether he lie hid by night or walk forth freely by day.
13:11 For each (such person) 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 (with their own souls). But when (once) Allah willeth a people's punishment, there can be no turning it back, nor will they find, beside Him, any to protect.
13:12 It is He Who doth show you the lightning, by way both of fear and of hope: It is He Who doth raise up the clouds, heavy with (fertilizing) rain!
13:13 Nay, thunder repeateth His praises, and so do the angels, with awe: He flingeth the loud voiced thunderbolts, and therewith He striketh whomsoever He will -- yet these (are the men) who (dare to) dispute about Allah, with the strength of His power (supreme)!
13:14 For Him (alone) 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 mouths but it reaches them not: For the prayer of those without Faith is nothing but (futile) wandering (in the mind).
13:15 Whatever beings there are in the Heavens and the earth do prostrate themselves to Allah (acknowledging subjection), -- with goodwill or in spite of themselves: So do their shadows in the mornings and evenings.
13:16 Say: "Who is the Lord and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth?" say: "(It is) Allah." say: "Do ye then take (for worship) 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 (anything) 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."
13:17 He 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, form that (ore) which they heat in the fire, to make ornaments or utensils therewith, there is a scum likewise. Thus doth Allah (by parables) 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 doth Allah set forth parables.
13:18 For those who respond to their Lord, are (all) 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, (in vain) would they offer it for ransom. For them will the reckoning be terrible: There abode will be Hell, -- What a bed of misery!
C.115.-(Verses 19 to 31)-The seeing and the blind are not alike: Nor are those blessed with Faith and those without. The former seek Allah, and attain peace and blessedness in their hearts, and a final Home of rest: The latter are in a state of Curse, and their wisdom postpones retribution, it is for a time. His promise never fail: It will come to pass in His own good time. In all things it is for Him to command.
13:19 Section 3. Is then one who doth know that that which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord is the Truth, like one who is blind? It is those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition; --
13:20 Those who fulfill the Covenant of Allah and fail not in their plighted word;
13:21 Those who join together those things which Allah hath commanded to be joined, hold their Lord in awe, and fear the terrible reckoning;
13:22 Those who patiently persevere, seeking the countenance of their Lord; establish regular prayers; spend, out of (the gifts) We have bestowed for their sustenance, secretly and openly; and turn off Evil with good: For such there is the final attainment of the (Eternal) Home, --
13:23 Gardens 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 (with the salutation):
13:24 "Peace unto you for that ye persevered in patience! Now how excellent is the final Home!"
13:25 But 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!
13:26 Allah doth enlarge, or grant by (strict) measure, the Sustenance (which He giveth) to whomso He pleaseth. (The worldly) rejoice in the life of this world: But the life of this world is but little comfort in the Hereafter.
13:27 Section 4. The Unbelievers say: "Why is not a Sign sent down to him from his Lord?" Say: "Truly Allah leaveth, to stray, whom He will; but He guideth to Himself those who turn to Him in penitence, --
13:28 "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.
13:29 "For those who believe and work righteousness, is (every) blessedness, and a beautiful place of (final) return."
13:30 Thus have We sent thee amongst a People before whom (long since) have (other) Peoples (gone and) passed away; in order that thou mightest rehearse unto them what We send down unto thee by inspiration; yet do they reject (Him), 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!"
13:31 If there were a Koran with which mountains were moved, or the earth were cloven asunder, or the dead were made to speak, (this would be the one!) But, truly, the Command is with Allah in all things! Do not the Believers know, that, had Allah (so) willed, He could have guided all mankind (to the Right)? But the Unbelievers, -- never will disaster cease to seize them for their (ill) deed, Or to settle close to their homes, until the promise of Allah come to pass, for, verily, Allah will not fail in His promise.
C.116.-(Verses 32 to 43)-The mockery of Allah's apostles is an old game of the world. But Allah's Truth will come to its own good time. The End of the righteous is their Home of Bliss, and they rejoice in the revelations they receive. The Messengers of Allah take their due share in the life of the world; they win through by Allah's grace against all the plots of the world. Their witness is from Allah, through His revelation.
13:32 Section 5. Mocked were (many) apostles before thee: But I granted respite to the Unbelievers, and finally I punish them: Then how (terrible) was My requital!
13:33 Is then He Who standeth over every soul (and knoweth) all that it doth, (like any others)? And yet they ascribe partners to Allah. Say: "But name them! Is it that ye will inform Him of something He knoweth not on earth, or is it (just) a show of words?" Nay! To those who believe not, their pretence seems pleasing, but they are kept back (thereby) from the Path. And those whom Allah leaves to stray, no one can guide.
13:34 For 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.
13:35 The 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.
13:36 Those to whom We have given the Book rejoice at what hath been revealed unto thee: 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."
13:37 Thus have We revealed it to be a judgment of authority in Arabic. Wert thou to follow their (vain) desires after the knowledge which hath reached thee, then wouldst thou find neither protector nor defender against Allah.
13:38 Section 6. We did send apostles before thee, and appointed for them wives and children: And it was never the part of an apostle to bring a Sign except as Allah permitted (or commanded). For each period is a Book (revealed).
13:39 Allah doth blot out or confirm what He pleaseth: With Him is the Mother of the Book.
13:40 Whether We shall show thee (within thy lifetime) part of what We promised them or take to ourselves thy soul (before it is all accomplished). -- Thy duty is to make (the Message) reach them: It is Our part to call them to account.
13:41 See they not that We gradually reduce the land (in their control) from its outlying borders? (Where) Allah commands, there is none to put back His command: And He is Swift in calling to account.
13:42 Those before them did (also) devise plots; but in all things the master planning is Allah's. He knoweth the doings of every soul: And soon will the Unbelievers know who gets Home in the End.
13:43 The Unbelievers say: "No apostle art thou." Say: "Enough for a witness between me and you is Allah, and such as have knowledge of the Book."
