Surah Ar-Ra'd

Ta'awwudh · Seeking Refuge

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytani ar-rajim. I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

The Name · Bismillah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Rahim. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

✦

The Surah · Ar-Ra'd

﴾١﴿ الٓمٓر ۚ تِلْكَ ءَايَٰتُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ ۗ وَٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Alif-Laaam-Meeem-Raa; tilka Aayaatul Kitaab; wallazee unzila ilaika mir Rabbikal haqqu wa laakinna aksaran naasi laa yu'minoon

Alif Lam Mim Ra. These are the verses of the Book. What has been sent down to you from your Lord is the truth, but most people do not believe.

﴾٢﴿ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى رَفَعَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍۢ تَرَوْنَهَا ۖ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّۭ يَجْرِى لِأَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى ۚ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ ٱلْءَايَٰتِ لَعَلَّكُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ

Allaahul lazee raf'as samaawaati bighairi 'amadin tarawnahaa summas tawaa 'alal 'Arshi wa sakhkharash shamsa walqamara kulluny yajree li ajalim musammaa; yudabbirul amra yufassilil Aayaati la'allakum biliqaaa'i Rabbikum tooqinoon

Allah is the One who raised the heavens without pillars that you can see, then established Himself above the Throne, and made the sun and the moon subject, each running for a stated term. He directs the affair and explains the verses in detail, so that you may be certain of meeting your Lord.

﴾٣﴿ وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى مَدَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَأَنْهَٰرًۭا ۖ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ جَعَلَ فِيهَا زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۖ يُغْشِى ٱلَّيْلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

Wa Huwal lazee maddal arda wa ja'ala feehaa rawaasiya wa anhaaraa; wa min kullis samaraati ja'ala feehaa zawjainis yaini Yughshil lailan nahaar; inna fee zaalika la aayaatil liqawminy yatafakkaroon

And He is the One who spread the earth and placed in it firm mountains and rivers, and of every fruit He made two pairs. He covers the night with the day. In that are signs for a people who reflect.

﴾٤﴿ وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ قِطَعٌۭ مُّتَجَٰوِرَٰتٌۭ وَجَنَّٰتٌۭ مِّنْ أَعْنَٰبٍۢ وَزَرْعٌۭ وَنَخِيلٌۭ صِنْوَانٌۭ وَغَيْرُ صِنْوَانٍۢ يُسْقَىٰ بِمَآءٍۢ وَٰحِدٍۢ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهَا عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍۢ فِى ٱلْأُكُلِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَعْقِلُونَ

Wa fil ardi qita'um muta jaawiraatunw wa jannaatum min a'naabinw wa zar'unw wa nakheelun sinwaanunw wa ghairu sinwaaniny yusqaa bimaaa'inw waahid; wa nufaddilu ba'dahaa 'alaa ba'din fil-ukul; inna fee zaalika la aayaatil liqawminy ya'qiloon

And in the earth are neighboring plots, and gardens of grapevines, and crops, and palm trees growing in clusters and singly, watered with one water. And We favor some of them over others in what may be eaten. In that are signs for a people who reason.

﴾٥﴿ وَإِن تَعْجَبْ فَعَجَبٌۭ قَوْلُهُمْ أَءِذَا كُنَّا تُرَٰبًا أَءِنَّا لَفِى خَلْقٍۢ جَدِيدٍ ۗ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ ٱلْأَغْلَٰلُ فِىٓ أَعْنَاقِهِمْ ۖ وَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَٰلِدُونَ

Wa in ta'jab fa'ajabun qawluhm 'a-izaa kunna turaaban 'a-inna lafee khalqin jadeed; ulaaa 'ikal lazeena kafaroo bi Rabbihim wa ulaaa'ikal aghlaalu feee a'naaqihim wa ulaa'ika Ashaabun Naari hum feehaa khaalidoon

And if you are amazed, then their saying is amazing: “When we are dust, will we really be in a new creation?” Those are the ones who disbelieved in their Lord, and those will have shackles on their necks, and those are the companions of the Fire, remaining in it.

﴾٦﴿ وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِمُ ٱلْمَثُلَٰتُ ۗ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍۢ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ ظُلْمِهِمْ ۖ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ

Wa yasta'jiloonaka bis saiyi'ati qablal hasanati wa qad khalat min qablihimul masulaat; wa inna Rabbaka lazoo maghfiratil linnaasi 'alaa zulmihim wa inna Rabbaka lashadeedul 'iqaab

And they ask you to hasten the evil before the good, when examples have already passed before them. Your Lord holds forgiveness for people despite their wrongdoing, and your Lord is severe in punishment.

﴾٧﴿ وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُنذِرٌۭ ۖ وَلِكُلِّ قَوْمٍ هَادٍ

Wa yaqoolul lazeena kafaroo law laaa unzila 'alaihi Aayatum mir Rabbih; innamaaa anta munzirunw wa likulli qawmin haad

And those who disbelieve say, “Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?” You are only a warner, and for every people there is a guide.

﴾٨﴿ ٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَحْمِلُ كُلُّ أُنثَىٰ وَمَا تَغِيضُ ٱلْأَرْحَامُ وَمَا تَزْدَادُ ۖ وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍ عِندَهُۥ بِمِقْدَارٍ

Allaahu ya'lamu maa tahmilu kullu unsaa wa maa tagheedul arhaamu wa maa tazdaad, wa kullu shai'in 'indahoo bimiqdaar

Allah knows what every female carries, and what the wombs lose and what they gain. And everything with Him is by measure.

﴾٩﴿ عَٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَٰدَةِ ٱلْكَبِيرُ ٱلْمُتَعَالِ

'Aalimul Ghaibi wash shahaadatil Kaabeerul Muta'aal

The Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Great, the Most High.

﴾١٠﴿ سَوَآءٌۭ مِّنكُم مَّنْ أَسَرَّ ٱلْقَوْلَ وَمَن جَهَرَ بِهِۦ وَمَنْ هُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍۭ بِٱلَّيْلِ وَسَارِبٌۢ بِٱلنَّهَارِ

Sawaaa'um minkum man asarral qawla wa man jahara bihee wa man huwa mustakhfim billaili wa saaribum binnahaar

It is the same among you, whoever conceals his speech and whoever says it openly, and whoever hides by night and moves about by day.

﴾١١﴿ لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَٰتٌۭ مِّنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ يَحْفَظُونَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا۟ مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ ۗ وَإِذَآ أَرَادَ ٱللَّهُ بِقَوْمٍۢ سُوٓءًۭا فَلَا مَرَدَّ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِۦ مِن وَالٍ

Lahoo mu'aqqibaatum mim baini yadaihi wa min khalfihee yahfazoonahoo min amril laah; innal laaha laa yughaiyiru maa biqawmin hattaa yughaiyiroo maa bianfusihim; wa izaaa araadal laahu biqawmin sooo'an falaa maradda lah; wa maa lahum min dooniheeminw waal

For him are successive angels before him and behind him, guarding him by the command of Allah. Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. And when Allah intends harm for a people, there is no turning it back, and they have no protector besides Him.

﴾١٢﴿ هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُرِيكُمُ ٱلْبَرْقَ خَوْفًۭا وَطَمَعًۭا وَيُنشِئُ ٱلسَّحَابَ ٱلثِّقَالَ

Huwal lazee yureekumul barqa khawfanw wa tama'anw wa yunshi'us sahaabas siqaal

He is the One who shows you the lightning, causing fear and hope, and raises the heavy clouds.

﴾١٣﴿ وَيُسَبِّحُ ٱلرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِۦ وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ مِنْ خِيفَتِهِۦ وَيُرْسِلُ ٱلصَّوَٰعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِهَا مَن يَشَآءُ وَهُمْ يُجَٰدِلُونَ فِى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ ٱلْمِحَالِ

Wa yusabbihur ra'du bihamdihee walmalaaa'ikatu min kheefatihee wa yursilus sawaa'iqa fa yuseebu bihaa mai yashaaa'u wa hum yujaadiloona fil laahi wa Huwa shadeedul mihaal

And the thunder glorifies Him with praise, and the angels from awe of Him. And He sends the thunderbolts and strikes with them whom He wills, while they dispute about Allah. And He is severe in force.

﴾١٤﴿ لَهُۥ دَعْوَةُ ٱلْحَقِّ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَسْتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَىْءٍ إِلَّا كَبَٰسِطِ كَفَّيْهِ إِلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَٰلِغِهِۦ ۚ وَمَا دُعَآءُ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ

Lahoo da'watul haqq; wallazeena yad'oona min doonihee laa yastajeeboona lahum bishai'in illaa kabaasiti kaffaihi ilal maaa'i liyablugha faahu wa maa huwa bibaalighih; wa maa du'aaa'ul aafireena illaa fee dalaal

To Him is the call of truth. And those they call upon besides Him do not answer them at all, except like one stretching his hands toward water so that it may reach his mouth, and it never reaches it. And the call of the disbelievers is only in error.

﴾١٥﴿ وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ طَوْعًۭا وَكَرْهًۭا وَظِلَٰلُهُم بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْءَاصَالِ ۩

Wa lillaahi yasjudu man fis samaawaati wal ardi taw 'anw wa karhanw wa zilaaluhum bilghuduwwi wal aasaal

And to Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and their shadows, in the mornings and the afternoons.

✦

﴾١٦﴿ قُلْ مَن رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ ۚ قُلْ أَفَٱتَّخَذْتُم مِّن دُونِهِۦٓ أَوْلِيَآءَ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ لِأَنفُسِهِمْ نَفْعًۭا وَلَا ضَرًّۭا ۚ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِى ٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْبَصِيرُ أَمْ هَلْ تَسْتَوِى ٱلظُّلُمَٰتُ وَٱلنُّورُ ۗ أَمْ جَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ شُرَكَآءَ خَلَقُوا۟ كَخَلْقِهِۦ فَتَشَٰبَهَ ٱلْخَلْقُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۚ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ خَٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ وَهُوَ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّٰرُ

Wul mar Rabbus samaawaati wal ard; qulillaah; qul afattakhaztum min dooniheee awliyaaa'a laa yamlikoona li anfusihim naf'anw wa laa darraa; qul hal yastawil a'maa wal baseeru am hal tastawiz zulumaatu wannoor; am ja'aloo lillaahi shurakaaa'a khalaqoo kakhalqihee fatashaa bahal khalqu 'alaihim; qulil laahu Khaaliqu kulli shai'inw wa Huwal Waahidul Qahhar

Say, “Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?” Say, “Allah.” Say, “Then have you taken protectors besides Him who hold no benefit or harm for themselves?” Say, “Is the blind equal to the seeing, or is darkness equal to light?” Or have they assigned partners to Allah who created as He created, so that the creation seemed alike to them? Say, “Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Dominant.”

﴾١٧﴿ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌۢ بِقَدَرِهَا فَٱحْتَمَلَ ٱلسَّيْلُ زَبَدًۭا رَّابِيًۭا ۚ وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِى ٱلنَّارِ ٱبْتِغَآءَ حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَٰعٍۢ زَبَدٌۭ مِّثْلُهُۥ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْحَقَّ وَٱلْبَٰطِلَ ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَآءًۭ ۖ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَضْرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْأَمْثَالَ

Anzala minas samaaa'i maaa'an fasaalat awdiyatum biqadarihaa fahtamalas sailu zabadar raabiyaa; wa mimmmaa yooqidoona 'alaihi fin naarib tighaaa'a bilyatin aw mataa'in zabadum misluh; kazaalika yadribul laahul haqqa wal baatil; fa ammaz zabadu fa yazhabu jufaaa'aa; wa ammaa maa yanfa'un naasa fa yamkusu fil ard; kazaalika yadribul laahul amsaal

He sends down water from the sky, and valleys flow according to their capacity, and the torrent carries rising foam. And from what they heat in the fire, seeking ornaments or tools, comes foam like it. In this way Allah presents truth and falsehood. As for the foam, it goes away as scum, and as for what benefits people, it remains in the earth. In this way Allah presents examples.

﴾١٨﴿ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَهُۥ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًۭا وَمِثْلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لَٱفْتَدَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ ۚ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلْحِسَابِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ

Lillazeenas tajaaboo lirabbihimul husnaa; wallazeena lam yastajeeboo lahoo law anna lahum maa fil ardi jamee'anw wa mislahoo ma'ahoo laftadaw bih; ulaaa'ika lahum sooo'ul hisaab; wa maawaahum Jahannamu wa bi'sal mihaad

For those who answered their Lord is the best. And those who did not answer Him, if they had everything on the earth and the like of it with it, they would offer it as ransom. Those will have a terrible reckoning, and their refuge is Hell. What an evil resting place.

﴾١٩﴿ أَفَمَن يَعْلَمُ أَنَّمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ٱلْحَقُّ كَمَنْ هُوَ أَعْمَىٰٓ ۚ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَلْبَٰبِ

Afamai ya'lamu annamaaa unzila ilaika mir Rabbikal haqqu kaman huwa a'maa; innamaa yatazakkaru ulul albaab

Is one who knows that what was sent down to you from your Lord is the truth like one who is blind? Only those of understanding take heed,

﴾٢٠﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ يُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا يَنقُضُونَ ٱلْمِيثَٰقَ

Allazeena yoofoona bi'ahdil laahi wa laa yanqu doonal meesaaq

those who fulfill the covenant of Allah and do not break the pledge,

﴾٢١﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَآ أَمَرَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦٓ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ وَيَخَافُونَ سُوٓءَ ٱلْحِسَابِ

Wallazeena yasiloona maaa amaral laahu bihee an yoosala wa yakhshawna Rabbahum wa yakhaafoona sooo'al hisaab

and those who join what Allah has commanded to be joined, and fear their Lord, and are afraid of a terrible reckoning,

﴾٢٢﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا۟ ٱبْتِغَآءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَأَنفَقُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقْنَٰهُمْ سِرًّۭا وَعَلَانِيَةًۭ وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِٱلْحَسَنَةِ ٱلسَّيِّئَةَ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى ٱلدَّارِ

Wallazeena sabarub tighaaa'a Wajhi Rabbihim wa aqaamus Salaata wa anfaqoo mimmaa razaqnaahum sirranw wa 'alaaniyatanw wa yadra'oona bilhasanatis saiyi'ata ulaaa'ika lahum 'uqbad daar

and those who were patient, seeking the Face of their Lord, and established the prayer, and spent from what We provided them, secretly and openly, and who repel evil with good. Those will have the good outcome of the home,

﴾٢٣﴿ جَنَّٰتُ عَدْنٍۢ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَن صَلَحَ مِنْ ءَابَآئِهِمْ وَأَزْوَٰجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّٰتِهِمْ ۖ وَٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن كُلِّ بَابٍۢ

Jannaatu 'adniny yadkhuloonahaa wa man salaha min aabaaa'ihim wa azwaajihim wa zurriyyaatihim walmalaaa'ikatu yadkhuloona 'alaihim min kulli baab

gardens of perpetual residence, which they enter along with the righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their descendants. And the angels enter upon them from every gate.

﴾٢٤﴿ سَلَٰمٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ ۚ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى ٱلدَّارِ

Salaamun 'alaikum bimaa sabartum; fani'ma 'uqbad daar

Peace be upon you for what you endured. Excellent is the outcome of the home.

﴾٢٥﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مِيثَٰقِهِۦ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَآ أَمَرَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦٓ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۙ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلدَّارِ

Wallazeena yanqudoona 'Ahdal laahi mim ba'di meesaaqihee wa yaqta'oona maaa amaral laahu biheee ai yoosala wa yufsidoona fil ardi ulaaa'ika lahumul la'natu wa lahum sooo'ud daar

And those who break the covenant of Allah after its confirmation, and cut what Allah commanded to be joined, and spread corruption in the earth, upon them is the curse, and they will have the evil home.

﴾٢٦﴿ ٱللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقْدِرُ ۚ وَفَرِحُوا۟ بِٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَمَا ٱلْحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنْيَا فِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَٰعٌۭ

Allaahu yabsutur rizqa limai yashaaa'u wa yaqdir; wa farihoo bilhayaatid dunyaa wa mal hayaatud dunya fil Aakhirati illaa mataa'

Allah extends provision for whom He wills and restricts it. And they rejoiced in the life of this world, and the life of this world beside the hereafter is only a brief enjoyment.

﴾٢٧﴿ وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَةٌۭ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُضِلُّ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَهْدِىٓ إِلَيْهِ مَنْ أَنَابَ

Wa yaqoolul lazeena kafaroo law laaa unzila 'alaihi Aayatum mir Rabbih; qul innal laaha yudillu mai yashaa'u wa yahdeee ilaihi man anaab

And those who disbelieve say, “Why has a sign not been sent down to him from his Lord?” Say, “Allah leaves astray whom He wills, and guides to Himself whoever turns back,”

﴾٢٨﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ

Allazeena aamanoo wa tatma'innu quloobuhum bizikril laah; alaa bizikril laahi tatma'innul quloob

those who believed and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Truly, hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah.

﴾٢٩﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ طُوبَىٰ لَهُمْ وَحُسْنُ مَـَٔابٍۢ

Allazeena aamanoo w a'amilus saalihaati toobaa lahum wa husnu ma aab

Those who believed and did righteous deeds, for them is a good state and a good place of return.

﴾٣٠﴿ كَذَٰلِكَ أَرْسَلْنَٰكَ فِىٓ أُمَّةٍۢ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهَآ أُمَمٌۭ لِّتَتْلُوَا۟ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَوْحَيْنَآ إِلَيْكَ وَهُمْ يَكْفُرُونَ بِٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ۚ قُلْ هُوَ رَبِّى لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ مَتَابِ

Kazaalika arsalnaaka feee ummatin qad khalat min qablihaaa umamul litatluwa 'alaihimul lazeee awhainaaa ilaika wa hum yakfuroona bir Rahmaaan; qul Huwa Rabbee laaa ilaaha illaa Huwa Rabbee laaa ilaaha illaa Huwa 'alaihi tawakkaltu wa ilaihi mataab

In the same way We sent you to a nation before which other nations had passed, so that you may recite to them what We revealed to you, while they disbelieve in the Most Gracious. Say, “He is my Lord. There is no god but Him. Upon Him I rely, and to Him is my return.”

﴾٣١﴿ وَلَوْ أَنَّ قُرْءَانًۭا سُيِّرَتْ بِهِ ٱلْجِبَالُ أَوْ قُطِّعَتْ بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضُ أَوْ كُلِّمَ بِهِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۗ بَل لِّلَّهِ ٱلْأَمْرُ جَمِيعًا ۗ أَفَلَمْ يَا۟يْـَٔسِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ أَن لَّوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَى ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا ۗ وَلَا يَزَالُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ تُصِيبُهُم بِمَا صَنَعُوا۟ قَارِعَةٌ أَوْ تَحُلُّ قَرِيبًۭا مِّن دَارِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِىَ وَعْدُ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱلْمِيعَادَ

Wa law anna Quraanan suyyirat bihil jibaalu aw qutti'at bihil ardu aw kullima bihil mawtaa; bal lillaahil amru jamee'aa; afalam yai'asil lazeena aamanooo al law yashaaa 'ullaahu lahadan naasa jamee'aa; wa laa yazaalul lazeena kafaroo tuseebuhum bimaa sana'oo qaari'atun aw tahullu qareebam min daarihim hatta yaatiya wa'dul laah; innal laaha laa yukhliful mee'aad

And if there were a Quran by which the mountains were moved, or the earth was cut apart, or the dead were spoken to. Rather, the command belongs entirely to Allah. Have those who believed not realized that, had Allah willed, He would have guided all people? And disaster will not cease to strike those who disbelieved, for what they did, or to land close to their homes, until the promise of Allah comes. Allah does not fail in the promise.

﴾٣٢﴿ وَلَقَدِ ٱسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍۢ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ

Wa laqadis tuhzi'a bi Rusulim min qablika fa amlaitu lillazeena kafaroo summa akhaztuhum fakaifa kaana 'iqaab

And messengers before you were mocked, so I gave the disbelievers time, then I seized them. And how was My punishment?

﴾٣٣﴿ أَفَمَنْ هُوَ قَآئِمٌ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ ۗ وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ شُرَكَآءَ قُلْ سَمُّوهُمْ ۚ أَمْ تُنَبِّـُٔونَهُۥ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ أَم بِظَٰهِرٍۢ مِّنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ ۗ بَلْ زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مَكْرُهُمْ وَصُدُّوا۟ عَنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ ۗ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ ٱللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِنْ هَادٍۢ

Afaman Huwa qaaa'imun 'alaa kulli nafsim bimaa kasabat; wa ja'aloo illlaahi shurakaaa'a qul samoohum; am tunabbi'oona hoo bimaa laa ya'lamu fil ardi; am bizaahirim minal qawl; bal zuyyina lillazeena kafaroo makruhum wa suddoo 'anis sabeel; wa mai yudlilil laaahu famaa lahoo min haad;

Is the One who stands over every soul with what it has earned, like others? Yet they have assigned partners to Allah. Say, “Name them. Or do you inform Him of what He does not know in the earth, or of a mere show of speech?” Rather, their plotting has been made attractive to those who disbelieve, and they have been turned from the way. And whoever Allah leaves astray has no guide.

﴾٣٤﴿ لَّهُمْ عَذَابٌۭ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَعَذَابُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ أَشَقُّ ۖ وَمَا لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَاقٍۢ

Lahum 'azaabun fil hayaatid dunyaa wa la'azaabul Aakhirati ashaaq, wa maa lahum minal laahi min-waaq

For them is punishment in the life of this world, and the punishment of the hereafter is harder, and they have no protector against Allah.

﴾٣٥﴿ مَّثَلُ ٱلْجَنَّةِ ٱلَّتِى وُعِدَ ٱلْمُتَّقُونَ ۖ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَٰرُ ۖ أُكُلُهَا دَآئِمٌۭ وَظِلُّهَا ۚ تِلْكَ عُقْبَى ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّقَوا۟ ۖ وَّعُقْبَى ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ ٱلنَّارُ

Masalul Jannatil latee wu'idal muttaqoona tajree min tahtihal anhaaru ukuluhaa daaa'imunw wa zilluhaa; tilka uqbal lazeenat taqaw wa 'uqbal kafireenan Naar

The likeness of the Garden promised to those mindful of Allah: rivers flow beneath it, its food is lasting and its shade. That is the outcome for those who were mindful, and the outcome for the disbelievers is the Fire.

﴾٣٦﴿ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاتَيْنَٰهُمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَمِنَ ٱلْأَحْزَابِ مَن يُنكِرُ بَعْضَهُۥ ۚ قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱللَّهَ وَلَآ أُشْرِكَ بِهِۦٓ ۚ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُوا۟ وَإِلَيْهِ مَـَٔابِ

Wallazeena aatainaa humul Kitaaba yafrahoona bimaa unzila ilaika wa minal Ahzaabi mai yunkiru ba'dah; qul innamaa umirtu an a'budal laaha wa laaa ushrika bih; ilaihi ad'oo wa ilaihi maab

And those to whom We gave the Book rejoice at what was sent down to you. And among the factions are those who reject part of it. Say, “I have only been commanded to worship Allah and not to associate anything with Him. To Him I call, and to Him is my return.”

﴾٣٧﴿ وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنزَلْنَٰهُ حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّۭا ۚ وَلَئِنِ ٱتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَآءَهُم بَعْدَمَا جَآءَكَ مِنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَلِىٍّۢ وَلَا وَاقٍۢ

Wa kazaalika anzalnaahu hukman 'Arabiyyaa; wa la'init taba'ta ahwaaa 'ahum ba'da maa jaaa'aka minal 'ilmi maa laka minal laahi minw waliyinw wa laa waaq

And in the same way We sent it down as a judgment in Arabic. And if you followed their desires after the knowledge that came to you, you would have against Allah no protector and no shield.

﴾٣٨﴿ وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًۭا مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَٰجًۭا وَذُرِّيَّةًۭ ۚ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَن يَأْتِىَ بِـَٔايَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍۢ كِتَابٌۭ

Wa laqad arsalnaa Rusulam min qablika wa ja'alnaa lahum azwaajanw wa zurriyyah; wa maa kaana lirasoolin ai yaatiya bi aayatin illaa bi iznil laah; likulli ajalin kitaab

And We sent messengers before you and gave them wives and offspring. And it was not for a messenger to bring a sign except by the permission of Allah. For every term there is a decree.

﴾٣٩﴿ يَمْحُوا۟ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَيُثْبِتُ ۖ وَعِندَهُۥٓ أُمُّ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ

Yamhul laahu maa yashaaa'u wa yusbitu wa 'indahooo ummul Kitaab

Allah erases what He wills and confirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book.

﴾٤٠﴿ وَإِن مَّا نُرِيَنَّكَ بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى نَعِدُهُمْ أَوْ نَتَوَفَّيَنَّكَ فَإِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْبَلَٰغُ وَعَلَيْنَا ٱلْحِسَابُ

Wa im maa nurriyannaka ba'dal lazee na'iduhum aw nata waffayannaka fa innamaa 'alaikal balaaghu wa 'alainal hisaab

And whether We show you part of what We promise them, or take you, upon you is only the delivery, and upon Us is the reckoning.

﴾٤١﴿ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ أَنَّا نَأْتِى ٱلْأَرْضَ نَنقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا ۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَحْكُمُ لَا مُعَقِّبَ لِحُكْمِهِۦ ۚ وَهُوَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْحِسَابِ

Awalam yaraw annaa naatil arda nanqusuhaa min atraafihaa; wallaahu yahkumu laa mu'aqqiba lihukmih; wa Huwa saree'ul hisaab

Have they not seen that We come to the land, reducing it from its edges? And Allah judges, and there is no one to reverse His judgment. And He is swift in reckoning.

﴾٤٢﴿ وَقَدْ مَكَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْمَكْرُ جَمِيعًۭا ۖ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُ كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ ۗ وَسَيَعْلَمُ ٱلْكُفَّٰرُ لِمَنْ عُقْبَى ٱلدَّارِ

Wa qad makaral lazeena min qablihim falillaahil makru jamee'aa; ya'lamu maa taksibu kullu nafs; wa sa ya'lamul kuffaaru liman 'uqbad daar

And those before them plotted, but to Allah belongs all plotting. He knows what every soul earns, and the disbelievers will come to know for whom is the outcome of the home.

﴾٤٣﴿ وَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَسْتَ مُرْسَلًۭا ۚ قُلْ كَفَىٰ بِٱللَّهِ شَهِيدًۢا بَيْنِى وَبَيْنَكُمْ وَمَنْ عِندَهُۥ عِلْمُ ٱلْكِتَٰبِ

Wa yaqoolul lazeena kafaroo lasta mursalaa; qul kafaa billaahi shaheedam bainee wa bainakum wa man 'indahoo 'ilmul Kitaab

And those who disbelieve say, “You are not a messenger.” Say, “Allah is sufficient as a witness between me and you, and whoever has knowledge of the Book.”

The Tafsir · The Breakdown

What The Surah Means

Overview

What Remains After the Froth.

Ar-Ra'd holds two verses that a man could organize a life around, and they sit on either side of the same problem. Verse 11 states the law of change: Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. Verse 28 states where the stillness comes from: hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. One verse puts the responsibility for movement squarely on the man, and the other tells him the only place the restlessness stops. Between them, in verse 17, the surah gives the image that sorts everything else: a flood carrying foam on its surface, and metal in a fire throwing up the same foam, and the ruling on both. The foam goes. What benefits people stays in the ground.

Verses 1 to 16

Until They Change What Is in Themselves.

Verse 4 is a quiet argument that a farmer understands immediately. Neighboring plots, gardens and crops and palms, watered with one water, and We favor some of them over others in what may be eaten. Same soil, same rain, different fruit. The inputs being identical is the point. Something other than the conditions is deciding the outcome, and the verse leaves a man to draw the conclusion about more than agriculture. Verse 8 measures the reach of the knowledge involved. Allah knows what every female carries, and what the wombs lose and what they gain. And everything with Him is by measure. Bi-miqdar, in exact amount. Verse 10 then removes the distinction a man depends on. It is the same among you, whoever conceals his speech and whoever says it openly, and whoever hides by night and moves about by day. Private and public are the same file. Verse 11 opens with the escort. For him are successive angels before him and behind him, guarding him by the command of Allah. Mu'aqqibat, taking turns, a rotation. Then the sentence itself. Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves. Read the two halves precisely, because the wording is careful. What changes on the outside is their condition, ma bi-qawm. What has to change first is what is inside them, ma bi-anfusihim. The verse does not promise that inner change produces the outcome a man wants. It states that the outer state does not move until the inner one does. That is the order, and it is not negotiable, and it puts the first move in his hands and nowhere else. Verse 13 gives the surah its name in a line most people never notice. And the thunder glorifies Him with praise, and the angels from awe of Him. The loudest thing in the natural world is described as engaged in tasbih. Verse 14 then gives the picture of a man calling on anything else, and it is precise enough to be uncomfortable. Like one stretching his hands toward water so that it may reach his mouth, and it never reaches it. The water is real, he is thirsty, the gesture is sincere, and the arrangement does not work.

Verses 17 to 29

The Foam, and the Rest.

Verse 17 is one of the most complete parables in the Quran and it is built from two unrelated processes. First, water comes down and valleys flow according to their capacity, each one carrying what it can hold, and the torrent throws up rising foam. Second, metal heated in a fire to make ornaments or tools throws up the same kind of foam. Two entirely different operations, one from the sky and one from a forge, and both produce the same surface residue. Then the ruling. As for the foam, it goes away as scum, and as for what benefits people, it remains in the earth. Note where each ends up. The foam is on top, visible, loud, and it leaves. What is useful sinks and stays. And note the first clause again: valleys flow according to their capacity. Nobody is given a flood larger than his channel. Verses 20 through 24 then list the people of understanding, and one item in the list is easy to read past. Verse 21: those who join what Allah has commanded to be joined. The bonds a man is supposed to keep intact, kin first among them, named as a mark of intelligence rather than sentiment. Verse 22 adds the four that follow: patience sought for His Face specifically, the prayer established, spending done both secretly and openly, and repelling evil with good. And verse 24 gives what the angels say to them at the gates, and it names the one quality all of it required. Peace be upon you for what you endured. Bima sabartum. Not for what you achieved. Verse 26 then makes the comparison that resets a man's ambition. They rejoiced in the life of this world, and the life of this world beside the hereafter is only a brief enjoyment. Mata', a provision for a journey, the thing you carry to get through the trip rather than the destination. Verse 28 is the verse this surah is remembered for, and it is worth reading as a diagnosis. Those whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Truly, hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah. Tatma'inn, to settle, to stop moving around. The sentence is repeated inside the same verse, first as a description of those men and then as a general law, which is the Quran stating the finding and then stating that the finding is universal. Every restlessness a man treats with something else is being addressed here.

Verses 30 to 43

He Erases and Confirms.

Verse 31 imagines the sign they kept demanding and grants it in full. If there were a Quran by which the mountains were moved, or the earth was cut apart, or the dead were spoken to. And then it declines to finish the sentence, because the answer is already known: it would not have settled them. Verse 33 asks the question that should be read slowly. Is the One who stands over every soul with what it has earned, like others? Qa'imun ala kulli nafsin bima kasabat, standing over every soul with its record. Then the challenge to anyone who names a rival: Say, name them. The demand is not for an argument. It is for a list. Verse 38 removes a piece of false piety that has attached itself to religion in every century. And We sent messengers before you and gave them wives and offspring. Households, marriages, children. The men carrying revelation had families, and the verse states it as a defense of the Prophet, peace be upon him, against people who expected something less human. Verse 39 is the verse to hold when a man believes his situation is fixed. Allah erases what He wills and confirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book. Yamhu wa yuthbit. Things are struck out and things are established, and the record above all of it does not move. Verse 40 then divides the labor with total clarity, and it is the sentence that relieves anyone carrying a message. Upon you is only the delivery, and upon Us is the reckoning. The delivery is his job. The results are not his department, and were never assigned to him. Verse 43 closes the surah with the answer to men denying he was sent at all. Allah is sufficient as a witness between me and you, and whoever has knowledge of the Book.

Forty-Three Verses. Hearts Find Rest in the Remembrance of Allah.

The surah shows neighboring plots watered with one water producing different fruit, states that private and public are the same file, and then places the first move of any change inside a man rather than around him. It names thunder as glorification, shows a man reaching for water that never reaches his mouth, and gives the flood and the forge throwing up the same foam, with the ruling that the foam leaves and the useful thing stays in the ground. It lists the people of understanding, including those who keep intact the bonds they were commanded to keep, and has the angels greet them for what they endured rather than for what they achieved. And it closes by saying that things are erased and confirmed at will, and that delivery is a man's job while the reckoning is not.

The Practice

Take It Into the Week

Verse 11. Name the outer thing you have been waiting to change, and then name the inner thing that has to move first. Work on the second one this week.

Verse 17. Look at what you produced this month and separate the foam from what stayed in the ground. Cut one item of foam.

Verse 21. Identify the bond you have let go slack, kin first. Join it back this week.

آمِين

Prepared with discipline · Ameen

Verse-By-Verse · Test Yourself

The Quiz

Two questions per verse. Translation and a key Arabic word. Walk through it slow. The goal is comprehension, not speed.

Verse 41 / 12

The Verse

What does verse 4 note about neighboring plots of land?