It is He who makes the lightning flash for fear and hope, and raises massive clouds.
It is He Who shows you the lightning, for fear and for hope, and raises the heavy clouds.
It is He who shows you the lightning, for fear and hope, and produces the heavy clouds;
HE IT IS who displays before you the lightning, to give rise to [both] fear and hope, and calls heavy clouds into being;
He It is who sheweth the lightning unto you for fear and for desire, and bringeth up the clouds heavy.
It is He who shows you the lightning, as a fear (for travellers) and as a hope (for those who wait for rain). And it is He Who brings up (or originates) the clouds, heavy (with water).
It is He who shows you the lightening, causing fear and hope. And He produces the heavy clouds.
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.
It is He Who shows you the lightning, as a fear and as a hope. And it is He Who brings up the clouds, heavy (with water).
He it is Who showeth you the lightning, a fear and a hope, and raiseth the heavy clouds.
It is He who shows you the lightning, inspiring fear and hope, and He produces the clouds heavy [with rain].
It is He who shows you the lightning, for fear and hope, and Who produces laden clouds.
It is He who shows you lightening, [causing] fear and aspiration, and generates the heavy clouds.
It is God who flashes lightning to frighten you and to give you hope. It is He who forms the heavy clouds.
He it is Who shows you the lightning causing fear and hope and (Who) brings up the heavy cloud.
Huwa alla<u>th</u>ee yureekumu albarqa khawfan wa<u>t</u>amaAAan wayunshio a<b>l</b>ssa<u>ha</u>ba a<b>l</b>ththiq<u>a</u>l<b>a</b>
It is He who shows you the lightning, inspiring fear and hope, and gathers up the heavy clouds;
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 (fertilising) rain!
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُرِيكُمُ ٱلْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنشِئُ ٱلسَّحَابَ ٱلثِّقَالَ
It is He who shows you, O people, the lightning, inspiring in you both fear of the lightning bolts and hope of rain. It is He who forms the clouds laden with rain water.
It is He who shows you, O people, the lightning, inspiring in you both fear of the lightning bolts and hope of rain. It is He who forms the clouds laden with rain water.
<p>After that, it was said in verse 12: هُوَ الَّذِي يُرِ‌يكُمُ الْبَرْ‌قَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنشِئُ السَّحَابَ الثِّقَالَ. It means that it is Allah Ta` ala Who makes you see the lightening and the thunder which can become a matter of fear for human beings lest it may destroy what it strikes. Then, it has a dimension of hope too by raising expectations that rains may follow the thunder, rains which support animal and human lives. And then, He is the One who lifts heavy and huge clouds up from the surface of the sea as the monsoons and carries these water-laden clouds post-haste through the atmosphere to places near and far off and has them deliver their rains over lands He chooses in accordance with His decree and corresponding to the measure determined by Him.</p>
After that, it was said in verse 12: هُوَ الَّذِي يُرِ‌يكُمُ الْبَرْ‌قَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنشِئُ السَّحَابَ الثِّقَالَ. It means that it is Allah Ta` ala Who makes you see the lightening and the thunder which can become a matter of fear for human beings lest it may destroy what it strikes. Then, it has a dimension of hope too by raising expectations that rains may follow the thunder, rains which support animal and human lives. And then, He is the One who lifts heavy and huge clouds up from the surface of the sea as the monsoons and carries these water-laden clouds post-haste through the atmosphere to places near and far off and has them deliver their rains over lands He chooses in accordance with His decree and corresponding to the measure determined by Him.
<h2 class="title">Clouds, Thunder and Lightning are Signs of Allah's Power</h2><p>Allah states that He has full power over Al-Barq (lightning), which is the bright light that originates from within clouds. Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn `Abbas once wrote to Abu Al-Jald asking about the meaning of Al-Barq, and he said that it is water. Qatadah commented on Allah's statement,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا</div><p>(as a fear and as a hope.) "Fear for travelers, for they feel afraid of its harm and hardship, and hope for residents, awaiting its blessing and benefit and anticipating Allah's provisions." Allah said next,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَيُنْشِىءُ السَّحَابَ الثِّقَالَ</div><p>(And it is He Who brings up the clouds, heavy.) meaning, He originates the clouds that are heavy and close to the ground because of being laden with rain. Mujahid said that this part of the Ayah is about clouds that are heavy with rain. Allah's statement,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَيُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ</div><p>(And Ar-Ra'd (thunder) glorifies and praises Him), is similar to His other statement,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدَهِ</div><p>(And there is not a thing but glorifies His praise.) 17:44 Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibrahim bin Sa`d said, "My father told me that he was sitting next to Hamid bin `Abdur Rahman in the Masjid. A man from the tribe of Ghifar passed and Hamid sent someone to him to please come to them. When he came, Hamid said to me, `My nephew! Make space for him between me and you, for he had accompanied Allah's Messenger .' When that man came, he sat between me and Hamid and Hamid said to him, `What was the Hadith that you narrated to me from the Messenger of Allah ' He said, `A man from Ghifar said that he heard the Prophet say, i</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">«إِنَّ اللهَ يُنْشِىءُ السَّحَابَ فَيَنْطِقُ أَحْسَنَ النُّطْقِ، وَيَضْحَكُ أَحْسَنَ الضَّحِك»</div><p>(Verily, Allah originates the clouds, and they speak in the most beautiful voice and laugh in the most beautiful manner.) It appears, and Allah has the best knowledge, that the cloud's voice is in reference to thunder and its laughter is the lightning. Musa bin `Ubaydah narrated that Sa`d bin Ibrahim said, "Allah sends the rain and indeed, none has a better smile than it, nor more comforting voice. Its smile is lightning and its voice is thunder."</p><h2 class="title">Supplicating to Allah upon hearing Ar-Ra`d (Thunder)</h2><p>Imam Ahmad recorded that Salim bin `Abdullah narrated that his father said that the Messenger of Allah used to say upon hearing the thunder and thunderbolts,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">«اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَقْتُلْنَا بِغَضَبِكَ، وَلَا تُهْلِكْنَا بِعَذَابِكَ، وَعَافِنَا قَبْل ذَلِك»</div><p>(O Allah! Do not kill us with Your anger, nor destroy us with Your torment, and save us before that." This Hadith was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, Al-Bukhari in his book Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, An-Nasa'i in `Amal Al-Yawm wal-Laylah, and Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak. When `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr used to hear thunder, he would stop talking and would supplicate, "All praise is to He Whom Ar-Ra`d (thunder) glorifies and praises, and so do the angels because of His awe." He would then say, "This is a stern warning to the people of earth." Malik collected this Hadith in Al-Muwatta', and Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">«قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: لَوْ أَنَّ عَبِيدِي أَطَاعُونِي لَأَسْقَيْتُهُمُ الْمَطَرَ بِاللَّيْلِ، وَأَطْلَعْتُ عَلَيْهِمُ الشَّمْسَ بِالنَّهَارِ، وَلَمَا أَسْمَعْتُهُمْ صَوْتَ الرَّعْد»</div><p>(Your Lord, the Exalted and Most High, said, `Had My servants obeyed Me, I would have given them rain by night and the sun by day, and would not have made them hear the sound of the Ra`d (thunder).') Allah's statement,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَيُرْسِلُ الصَّوَعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِهَا مَن يَشَآءُ</div><p>(He sends the thunderbolts, and therewith He strikes whom He wills,) indicates that He sends thunderbolts as punishment upon whom He wills, and this is why thunderbolts increase as time comes to an end. Al-Hafiz Abu Al-Qasim At-Tabarani narrated that Ibn `Abbas said that Arbad bin Qays bin Juzu' bin Julayd bin Ja`far bin Kulab, and `Amir bin At-Tufayl bin Malik came to Al-Madinah to the Messenger of Allah and sat where he was sitting. `Amir bin At-Tufayl said, "O Muhammad! What will you give me if I embrace Islam" The Messenger of Allah said,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">«لَكَ مَا لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَعَلَيْكَ مَا عَلَيْهِم»</div><p>(You will have the rights and duties of all Muslims.) `Amir bin At-Tufayl said, "Will you make me your successor if I embrace Islam" The Messenger of Allah said,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">«لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ لَكَ وَلَا لِقَوْمِكَ، وَلَكِنْ لَكَ أَعِنَّةَ الْخَيْل»</div><p>(That is not your right, nor your people's right. However, I could appoint you a commander of the horsemen (i.e., war).) `Amir said, "I am already the commander of the horsemen of Najd (in the north of Arabia). Give me control over the desert and you keep the cities." The Messenger of Allah refused. When these two men were leaving the Messenger of Allah , `Amir said, "By Allah! I will fill it (Al-Madinah) with horses and men (hostile to Muslims)." The Messenger of Allah replied,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">«يَمْنَعُكَ الله»</div><p>(Rather, Allah will prevent you. ) When `Amir and Arbad left, `Amir said, "O Arbad! I will keep Muhammad busy while talking to him, so you can strike him with the sword. Verily, if you kill Muhammad, the people (Muslims) will agree to take blood money and will hate to wage war over his murder. Then we will give them the blood money." Arbad said, "I will do that," and they went back to the Messenger . `Amir said, "O Muhammad! Stand next to me so that I can talk to you." The Messenger stood up, and they both stood next to a wall talking to each other. Arbad wanted to grab his sword, but his hand froze when it touched the sword's handle and he could not take the sword out of its sheath. Arbad did not strike the Messenger as `Amir suggested, and the Messenger of Allah looked at Arbad and realized what he was doing, so he departed. When Arbad and `Amir left the Messenger of Allah and arrived at Al-Harrah of Waqim area, they dismounted from their horses. However, Sa`d bin Mu`adh and Usayd bin Hudayr came out saying, "Come, O enemies of Allah! May Allah curse you." `Amir asked, "Who is this with you, O Sa`d" Sa`d said, "This is Usayd bin Hudayr." They fled until they reached the Riqm area, where Allah struck Arbad with a bolt of lightning and he met his demise. As for `Amir, he went on until he reached the Kharim area, where Allah sent an open ulcer that struck him. During that night, `Amir took refuge in a woman's house, from Banu Salul. `Amir kept touching his open ulcer and saying, "An ulcer as big as a camel's hump, while I am at the house of a woman from Bani Salul, seeking to bring my death in her house!" He rode his horse, but he died while riding it headed to his area. Allah sent down these Ayat (13:8-11) in their case,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَحْمِلُ كُلُّ أُنثَى</div><p>(Allah knows what every female bears) until,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَمَا لَهُمْ مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَالٍ</div><p>(..and they will find besides Him no protector.) Ibn `Abbas commented, "The angels in succession, guard Muhammad, peace be upon him, by the command of Allah." He next mentioned the demise of Arbad by Allah's command, reciting this Ayah,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَيُرْسِلُ الصَّوَعِقَ</div><p>(He sends the thunderbolts,)" Allah said next,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَهُمْ يُجَـدِلُونَ فِى اللَّهِ</div><p>(yet they (disbelievers) dispute about Allah.) they doubt Allah's greatness and that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الْمِحَالِ</div><p>(And He is Mighty in strength and Severe in punishment.) Allah's torment is severe against those who rebel against Him, defy Him and persist in disbelief, according to the Tafsir of Ibn Jarir At-Tabari. There is a similar Ayah in the Qur'an,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَمَكَرُواْ مَكْراً وَمَكَرْنَا مَكْراً وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ - فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَـهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ </div><p>(So they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. Then see how was the end of their plot! Verily, We destroyed them and their nation all together.)27:50-51 `Ali bin Abi Talib said that,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الْمِحَالِ</div><p>(And He is Mighty in strength and Severe in punishment (Al-Mihal)), means, His punishment is severe.</p>
Clouds, Thunder and Lightning are Signs of Allah's PowerAllah states that He has full power over Al-Barq (lightning), which is the bright light that originates from within clouds. Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn `Abbas once wrote to Abu Al-Jald asking about the meaning of Al-Barq, and he said that it is water. Qatadah commented on Allah's statement,خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا(as a fear and as a hope.) "Fear for travelers, for they feel afraid of its harm and hardship, and hope for residents, awaiting its blessing and benefit and anticipating Allah's provisions." Allah said next,وَيُنْشِىءُ السَّحَابَ الثِّقَالَ(And it is He Who brings up the clouds, heavy.) meaning, He originates the clouds that are heavy and close to the ground because of being laden with rain. Mujahid said that this part of the Ayah is about clouds that are heavy with rain. Allah's statement,وَيُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ(And Ar-Ra'd (thunder) glorifies and praises Him), is similar to His other statement,وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلاَّ يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدَهِ(And there is not a thing but glorifies His praise.) 17:44 Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibrahim bin Sa`d said, "My father told me that he was sitting next to Hamid bin `Abdur Rahman in the Masjid. A man from the tribe of Ghifar passed and Hamid sent someone to him to please come to them. When he came, Hamid said to me, `My nephew! Make space for him between me and you, for he had accompanied Allah's Messenger .' When that man came, he sat between me and Hamid and Hamid said to him, `What was the Hadith that you narrated to me from the Messenger of Allah ' He said, `A man from Ghifar said that he heard the Prophet say, i«إِنَّ اللهَ يُنْشِىءُ السَّحَابَ فَيَنْطِقُ أَحْسَنَ النُّطْقِ، وَيَضْحَكُ أَحْسَنَ الضَّحِك»(Verily, Allah originates the clouds, and they speak in the most beautiful voice and laugh in the most beautiful manner.) It appears, and Allah has the best knowledge, that the cloud's voice is in reference to thunder and its laughter is the lightning. Musa bin `Ubaydah narrated that Sa`d bin Ibrahim said, "Allah sends the rain and indeed, none has a better smile than it, nor more comforting voice. Its smile is lightning and its voice is thunder."Supplicating to Allah upon hearing Ar-Ra`d (Thunder)Imam Ahmad recorded that Salim bin `Abdullah narrated that his father said that the Messenger of Allah used to say upon hearing the thunder and thunderbolts,«اللَّهُمَّ لَا تَقْتُلْنَا بِغَضَبِكَ، وَلَا تُهْلِكْنَا بِعَذَابِكَ، وَعَافِنَا قَبْل ذَلِك»(O Allah! Do not kill us with Your anger, nor destroy us with Your torment, and save us before that." This Hadith was recorded by At-Tirmidhi, Al-Bukhari in his book Al-Adab Al-Mufrad, An-Nasa'i in `Amal Al-Yawm wal-Laylah, and Al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak. When `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr used to hear thunder, he would stop talking and would supplicate, "All praise is to He Whom Ar-Ra`d (thunder) glorifies and praises, and so do the angels because of His awe." He would then say, "This is a stern warning to the people of earth." Malik collected this Hadith in Al-Muwatta', and Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad. Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,«قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: لَوْ أَنَّ عَبِيدِي أَطَاعُونِي لَأَسْقَيْتُهُمُ الْمَطَرَ بِاللَّيْلِ، وَأَطْلَعْتُ عَلَيْهِمُ الشَّمْسَ بِالنَّهَارِ، وَلَمَا أَسْمَعْتُهُمْ صَوْتَ الرَّعْد»(Your Lord, the Exalted and Most High, said, `Had My servants obeyed Me, I would have given them rain by night and the sun by day, and would not have made them hear the sound of the Ra`d (thunder).') Allah's statement,وَيُرْسِلُ الصَّوَعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِهَا مَن يَشَآءُ(He sends the thunderbolts, and therewith He strikes whom He wills,) indicates that He sends thunderbolts as punishment upon whom He wills, and this is why thunderbolts increase as time comes to an end. Al-Hafiz Abu Al-Qasim At-Tabarani narrated that Ibn `Abbas said that Arbad bin Qays bin Juzu' bin Julayd bin Ja`far bin Kulab, and `Amir bin At-Tufayl bin Malik came to Al-Madinah to the Messenger of Allah and sat where he was sitting. `Amir bin At-Tufayl said, "O Muhammad! What will you give me if I embrace Islam" The Messenger of Allah said,«لَكَ مَا لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ وَعَلَيْكَ مَا عَلَيْهِم»(You will have the rights and duties of all Muslims.) `Amir bin At-Tufayl said, "Will you make me your successor if I embrace Islam" The Messenger of Allah said,«لَيْسَ ذَلِكَ لَكَ وَلَا لِقَوْمِكَ، وَلَكِنْ لَكَ أَعِنَّةَ الْخَيْل»(That is not your right, nor your people's right. However, I could appoint you a commander of the horsemen (i.e., war).) `Amir said, "I am already the commander of the horsemen of Najd (in the north of Arabia). Give me control over the desert and you keep the cities." The Messenger of Allah refused. When these two men were leaving the Messenger of Allah , `Amir said, "By Allah! I will fill it (Al-Madinah) with horses and men (hostile to Muslims)." The Messenger of Allah replied,«يَمْنَعُكَ الله»(Rather, Allah will prevent you. ) When `Amir and Arbad left, `Amir said, "O Arbad! I will keep Muhammad busy while talking to him, so you can strike him with the sword. Verily, if you kill Muhammad, the people (Muslims) will agree to take blood money and will hate to wage war over his murder. Then we will give them the blood money." Arbad said, "I will do that," and they went back to the Messenger . `Amir said, "O Muhammad! Stand next to me so that I can talk to you." The Messenger stood up, and they both stood next to a wall talking to each other. Arbad wanted to grab his sword, but his hand froze when it touched the sword's handle and he could not take the sword out of its sheath. Arbad did not strike the Messenger as `Amir suggested, and the Messenger of Allah looked at Arbad and realized what he was doing, so he departed. When Arbad and `Amir left the Messenger of Allah and arrived at Al-Harrah of Waqim area, they dismounted from their horses. However, Sa`d bin Mu`adh and Usayd bin Hudayr came out saying, "Come, O enemies of Allah! May Allah curse you." `Amir asked, "Who is this with you, O Sa`d" Sa`d said, "This is Usayd bin Hudayr." They fled until they reached the Riqm area, where Allah struck Arbad with a bolt of lightning and he met his demise. As for `Amir, he went on until he reached the Kharim area, where Allah sent an open ulcer that struck him. During that night, `Amir took refuge in a woman's house, from Banu Salul. `Amir kept touching his open ulcer and saying, "An ulcer as big as a camel's hump, while I am at the house of a woman from Bani Salul, seeking to bring my death in her house!" He rode his horse, but he died while riding it headed to his area. Allah sent down these Ayat (13:8-11) in their case,اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَحْمِلُ كُلُّ أُنثَى(Allah knows what every female bears) until,وَمَا لَهُمْ مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَالٍ(..and they will find besides Him no protector.) Ibn `Abbas commented, "The angels in succession, guard Muhammad, peace be upon him, by the command of Allah." He next mentioned the demise of Arbad by Allah's command, reciting this Ayah,وَيُرْسِلُ الصَّوَعِقَ(He sends the thunderbolts,)" Allah said next,وَهُمْ يُجَـدِلُونَ فِى اللَّهِ(yet they (disbelievers) dispute about Allah.) they doubt Allah's greatness and that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him,وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الْمِحَالِ(And He is Mighty in strength and Severe in punishment.) Allah's torment is severe against those who rebel against Him, defy Him and persist in disbelief, according to the Tafsir of Ibn Jarir At-Tabari. There is a similar Ayah in the Qur'an,وَمَكَرُواْ مَكْراً وَمَكَرْنَا مَكْراً وَهُمْ لاَ يَشْعُرُونَ - فَانظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـقِبَةُ مَكْرِهِمْ أَنَّا دَمَّرْنَـهُمْ وَقَوْمَهُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ (So they plotted a plot, and We planned a plan, while they perceived not. Then see how was the end of their plot! Verily, We destroyed them and their nation all together.)27:50-51 `Ali bin Abi Talib said that,وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الْمِحَالِ(And He is Mighty in strength and Severe in punishment (Al-Mihal)), means, His punishment is severe.