Surat Al-Rad (الرعد) was revealed in Madinah (مدنية) with the important theme that: Truth (الحق) is always strong and deep-rooted (قوي راسخ) though it seems unperceivable by most people and falsehood (الباطل) is always weak and vulnerable though it seems widespread and overwhelming to most people.  The Surat presents three examples that support its theme with amazing clarity.  The first example is in Ayat 14, and it serves as the key to understanding the theme of the Surat:

لَهُ ۥ دَعۡوَةُ ٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ يَدۡعُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦ لَا يَسۡتَجِيبُونَ لَهُم بِشَىۡءٍ إِلَّا كَبَـٰسِطِ كَفَّيۡهِ إِلَى ٱلۡمَآءِ لِيَبۡلُغَ فَاهُ وَمَا هُوَ بِبَـٰلِغِهِۦ‌ۚ وَمَا دُعَآءُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ (١٤)

For Him (Allah) is the call of Truth and those whom they invoke apart from Him, do not respond to them but as the one who stretches his hand towards water so that it reaches his mouth, but in no way it will reach him.  And the supplication of the disbelievers (to false gods) is nothing but futile. (13:14)

There is only one call for truth, and this is the call to Allah, any call to others is falsehood and leads to nothing.  The image that is presented in this Ayat is of a person who is pursuing falsehood is like a person who looks in the water and extends his hand to water to get some to drink but nothing reaches his mouth either because his hands cannot reach the water to get some and even if he gets some, the water escapes from his hands.  As the water does not benefit the mouth, those who seek benefits from other than Allah, no benefit will ever reach them, as Allah says (وَمَا هُوَ بِبَـٰلِغِهِۦ‌) “in no way will it reach him“, and the same any supplication they make to their false gods brings nothing to them.

Falsehood is inevitably doomed, and truth shall always remain to be the real essence.   Ayat 17 presents to us two other examples of truth versus falsehood, Allah says:

أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬ فَسَالَتۡ أَوۡدِيَةُۢ بِقَدَرِهَا فَٱحۡتَمَلَ ٱلسَّيۡلُ زَبَدً۬ا رَّابِيً۬ا‌ۚ وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيۡهِ فِى ٱلنَّارِ ٱبۡتِغَآءَ حِلۡيَةٍ أَوۡ مَتَـٰعٍ۬ زَبَدٌ۬ مِّثۡلُهُ ۥ‌ۚ كَذَٲلِكَ يَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡحَقَّ وَٱلۡبَـٰطِلَ‌ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلزَّبَدُ فَيَذۡهَبُ جُفَآءً۬‌ۖ وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ فَيَمۡكُثُ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۚ كَذَٲلِكَ يَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَالَ (١٧)

“He (Allah) sends down water (rain) from the sky, and the valleys flow according to their measure, but the flood carries bulging scum on the surface.  A similar scum comes up from what we melt in the fire to make ornaments or other objects.  This is how Allah depicts the truth and falsehood.  As for scum, it goes to be thrown away while that which benefits people remains in the earth. This is how Allah sets forth the parables.”  (13:17)

The Ayat presents two illustrations showing that although truth is firm and deep rooted, it is often hidden by the fragile useless scum that float to the surface.   The first illustration provides the image of the pure rainwater that falls from the sky and flows in the valley carrying with it the good fortune to the people.  But, as the pure water flows in the valleys, worthless waste gathers on the water surface covering the pure water underneath it.   The second illustration is of the process of purifying a metal by melting it.  The impurities always rise to the surface covering the precious metal that remains below.

These two illustrations should make us extremely alert that falsehood will always try to attach itself to the truth and try to cover it.   However, the truth is deep-rooted even if we do not see it while falsehood is doomed even if it is more apparent and rises to the top.  Allah affirms that sooner or later the scum will eventually disappear, and the truth will prevail and stay to benefit mankind.

These examples highlight an important lesson that one should not be deceived by appearance and fooled by the outward façade. However, one should search behind it.  This is a message that can be recognized from the name of the Surat: “Al-Rad” (Thunder). Thunder has outward signs of scary sound but brings rain with goodness to mankind and it also hymns the praise and glory of Allah, Allah says:

وَيُسَبِّحُ ٱلرَّعۡدُ بِحَمۡدِهِۦ وَٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ مِنۡ خِيفَتِهِۦ وَيُرۡسِلُ ٱلصَّوَٲعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِہَا مَن يَشَآءُ وَهُمۡ يُجَـٰدِلُونَ فِى ٱللَّهِ وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ ٱلۡمِحَالِ (١٣)

“The thunder hymns His praise and (so do) the angels for awe of Him. He sends the thunder-bolts and strikes with them whom He wills, yet they (the disbelievers) dispute about Allah, and He is mighty and Severe in punishment. (13:13)

The message conveyed by the thunder is that you should be careful not to be fooled by appearances but rather search deep inside because while the thunder is sign of upcoming rain, it can also be accompanied by thunderbolts that are part of the forces that Allah can use to destroy the transgressors. There are many accounts of people who transgressed in their argument regarding the essence of Allah and those who plotted to assassinate the prophet (PBUH) and Allah punished them by thunderbolts that burned them.

Surat Al-Rad starts by emphasizing the fact that the book (The Quran) that Allah revealed to prophet Mohammad (PBUH) is the truth:

تِلْكَ ايَـٰتُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَٱلَّذِى أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبّكَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ.

“These are the Verses of the Book (the Quran), and that which has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, but most people do not believe.” (13:1)

 Allah gives glad tiding to those who follow Allah’s call which is the message of truth and a grave warning to those who reject the truth and follow falsehood:

لِلَّذِينَ ٱسۡتَجَابُواْ لِرَبِّہِمُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ‌ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَمۡ يَسۡتَجِيبُواْ لَهُ ۥ لَوۡ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعً۬ا وَمِثۡلَهُ ۥ مَعَهُ ۥ لَٱفۡتَدَوۡاْ بِهِۦۤ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ لَهُمۡ سُوٓءُ ٱلۡحِسَابِ وَمَأۡوَٮٰهُمۡ جَهَنَّمُ‌ۖ وَبِئۡسَ ٱلۡمِهَادُ (١٨)

“For those who answered their Lord’s Call is a life of bliss. But those who did not answer His Call (shall be in such a plight that) even if they possess all that is in the earth and even twice as much, they will offer it to save themselves. For them there will be a terrible reckoning. Their dwelling place will be Hell which is indeed an evil place to rest.” (13:18)

The Surat directs people who deny Ayat Allah in His recited Book (the Quran) to Ayat Allah in His seen book (the universe) to see the truth:

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى رَفَعَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ بِغَيۡرِ عَمَدٍ۬ تَرَوۡنَہَا‌ۖ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِ‌ۖ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ‌ۖ كُلٌّ۬ يَجۡرِى لِأَجَلٍ۬ مُّسَمًّ۬ى‌ۚ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلۡأَمۡرَ يُفَصِّلُ ٱلۡأَيَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّكُمۡ تُوقِنُونَ (2).

“Allah is He Who raised up the heavens without seen pillars, then He established Himself up on the Throne; and He subjugated the sun and the moon, each one running to an appointed term. He manages all affairs, elaborating the signs (revelations) so that you may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord.” (13:2)

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى مَدَّ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَجَعَلَ فِيہَا رَوَٲسِىَ وَأَنۡہَـٰرً۬ا‌ۖ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٲتِ جَعَلَ فِيہَا زَوۡجَيۡنِ ٱثۡنَيۡنِ‌ۖ يُغۡشِى ٱلَّيۡلَ ٱلنَّہَارَ‌ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ (3).

“And it is He Who expanded the earth and placed therein firm anchors (mountains) and rivers and of every kind of fruits He made two pairs.  He envelops the daytime with the night.  Verily, in these are Ayat (signs) for people who think.” (13:3).

These Ayat and many others clearly indicate that Allah has sent to mankind two revelations, the verbal one which is the recited book (the Qur’an) (الكتاب المقروء) and this book demands that Muslims as well as non-Muslims to study and ponder on the physical revelation, the seen book (الكتاب المنظور) which is the universe.   Both revelations, the recited book and the seen book confirm each other.  And both lead those who are endowed with intellect to know that Allah is the creator of the universe, and He is the revealer of the Quran.

The Surat continues with presenting the seen book (the universe), and how it leads to recognizing the greatness of the Creator.

وَفِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ قِطَعٌ۬ مُّتَجَـٰوِرَٲتٌ۬ وَجَنَّـٰتٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَعۡنَـٰبٍ۬ وَزَرۡعٌ۬ وَنَخِيلٌ۬ صِنۡوَانٌ۬ وَغَيۡرُ صِنۡوَانٍ۬ يُسۡقَىٰ بِمَآءٍ۬ وَٲحِدٍ۬ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعۡضَہَا عَلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأُڪُلِ‌ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٲلِكَ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّقَوۡمٍ۬ يَعۡقِلُونَ (٤)

“And in the earth are neighboring tracts and gardens of vineyards and plantation and date-palms, like and unlike, all of them are irrigated with the same water. And we have made some of them better in taste from others. Surely in that are signs for a people who have intellect.” (13:4)

 After Allah directs the skeptics to the physical universe to see His power of creation and His sovereignty over the universe; He exposes the disconnect in their thinking and the lack of logic in their argument. He then declares his ultimate warning to them:

وَإِن تَعۡجَبۡ فَعَجَبٌ۬ قَوۡلُهُمۡ أَءِذَا كُنَّا تُرَٲبًا أَءِنَّا لَفِى خَلۡقٍ۬ جَدِيدٍ‌ۗ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ بِرَبِّہِمۡ‌ۖ وَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ ٱلۡأَغۡلَـٰلُ فِىٓ أَعۡنَاقِهِمۡ‌ۖ وَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ‌ۖ هُمۡ فِيہَا خَـٰلِدُونَ (٥)

‘”And if you wonder (at those who deny Alah’s message), then wondrous is their saying: “When we are dust, are we then be (raised) in a new creation?” They are those who have disbelieved in their Lord, and they are those who will have shackles around their necks. They are the people of the Fire to abide therein forever.”  (13:5).

Then, the Surat shifts the focus to Allah’s power to harmonize opposing permutations in the universe such as empty and full; secret and open; fear and hope; willingness and unwillingness; benefit and harm; increase and decrease, etc.   The Surat lists about 32 of these opposites such as:

ٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مَا تَحۡمِلُ ڪُلُّ أُنثَىٰ وَمَا تَغِيضُ ٱلۡأَرۡحَامُ وَمَا تَزۡدَادُ‌ۖ وَڪُلُّ شَىۡءٍ عِندَهُ ۥ بِمِقۡدَارٍ (٨)

“Allah knows what every female bears, and by how much the wombs fall short (of their time or number) or exceed. Everything with Him is in (due) proportion. (13:8)

سَوَآءٌ۬ مِّنكُم مَّنۡ أَسَرَّ ٱلۡقَوۡلَ وَمَن جَهَرَ بِهِۦ وَمَنۡ هُوَ مُسۡتَخۡفِۭ بِٱلَّيۡلِ وَسَارِبُۢ بِٱلنَّہَارِ (١٠)

“It is the same (to Him) whether any person conceals his speech or speaks aloud, and whether he hides by night or walks out in the day.” (13:10)

 هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُرِيڪُمُ ٱلۡبَرۡقَ خَوۡفً۬ا وَطَمَعً۬ا وَيُنشِئُ ٱلسَّحَابَ ٱلثِّقَالَ (١٢)

“He is the One who shows you the lightning, as a fear (for travelers) and as a hope (for rain). And He is the One Who forms the heavy clouds.” (13:12)

 وَلِلَّهِ يَسۡجُدُ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ طَوۡعً۬ا وَكَرۡهً۬ا وَظِلَـٰلُهُم بِٱلۡغُدُوِّ وَٱلۡأَصَالِ ۩ (١٥)

“And to Allah falls in prostration whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and so do their shadows in the mornings and in the afternoons” (13:15)

قُلۡ مَن رَّبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ‌ۚ قُلۡ أَفَٱتَّخَذۡتُم مِّن دُونِهِۦۤ أَوۡلِيَآءَ لَا يَمۡلِكُونَ لِأَنفُسِهِمۡ نَفۡعً۬ا وَلَا ضَرًّ۬ا‌ۚ قُلۡ هَلۡ يَسۡتَوِى ٱلۡأَعۡمَىٰ وَٱلۡبَصِيرُ أَمۡ هَلۡ تَسۡتَوِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتُ وَٱلنُّورُ‌ۗ أَمۡ جَعَلُواْ لِلَّهِ شُرَكَآءَ خَلَقُواْ كَخَلۡقِهِۦ فَتَشَـٰبَهَ ٱلۡخَلۡقُ عَلَيۡہِمۡ‌ۚ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ خَـٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَهُوَ ٱلۡوَٲحِدُ ٱلۡقَهَّـٰرُ (١٦)

“Say: “Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?” Say: “Allah.”  Say: “Have you then taken as protectors others than Him, those that possess no power to cause benefit or harm even to themselves?” Say: “Is the blind equal to the one who sees? Or darkness equal to light?  Or have they ascribed such partners with Allah who created the like of His creation, so that the creation (which they made and His creation) seemed alike to them.” Say: “Allah is the Creator of all things, He is the One, the Almighty.” (13:16)

ٱللَّهُ يَبۡسُطُ ٱلرِّزۡقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ وَيَقۡدِرُ‌ۚ وَفَرِحُواْ بِٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَمَا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَا فِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَـٰعٌ۬ (٢٦)

“Allah increases the provision for whom He wills, and decreases (it for whom He wills).  They are happy with the worldly life, while the worldly life compared with the Hereafter is nothing but a little enjoyment.” (13:26)

يَمۡحُواْ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَيُثۡبِتُ‌ۖ وَعِندَهُ ۥۤ أُمُّ ٱلۡڪِتَـٰبِ (٣٩)

“Allah wipes off what He wills and affirms (what He wills). And with Him is the Mother Book (the Preserved Tablet, Al-Lauh Al-Mahfuz).” (13:39)

All these Ayat illustrate the power of Allah by His physically recognizable revelations through the universe that we live in, Allah strikes a far more amazing example to emphasize the importance of His revealed words in His Recited Book, Allah says:

وَلَوۡ أَنَّ قُرۡءَانً۬ا سُيِّرَتۡ بِهِ ٱلۡجِبَالُ أَوۡ قُطِّعَتۡ بِهِ ٱلۡأَرۡضُ أَوۡ كُلِّمَ بِهِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ‌ۗ بَل لِّلَّهِ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ جَمِيعًا‌ۗ أَفَلَمۡ يَاْيۡـَٔسِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ أَن لَّوۡ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَهَدَى ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعً۬ا‌ۗ (٣١)

“ Had it been required for the Quran to cause the mountains to move, or the earth to be torn asunder, or the dead to speak, (they would not believe). In fact, every decision rests only with Allah.  Are the believers not satisfied with the fact that if Allah willed, He could have guided all mankind?” (13:31)

This Ayah means that should there be anything that could move mountains or make earth travel or give life to the dead, it would be this Quran. The Ayah simply signifies that this amazing universe can only be moved by this Quran. Why!  Because The Quran embodies the whole truth.

By reflecting on Surat Al-Rad, it will not only direct us to the truth, but it will also make us alert to ensure that we are not misled by falsehood no matter how high it rises because falsehood is ultimately fragile and rootless. Unfortunately, people are often deceived by the glamour and the widespread of falsehood despite its despicable forms such as injustice, oppression, deceit, cheating, pornography, etc.   But no matter how long falsehood lasts and how powerful it may appear; truth will always be victorious.

Falsehood does exist on a nation’s level as well as an individual’s level.   People can grow afraid of falsehood when they fail to perceive the fact that the end of falsehood is always defeat.  People may also be impressed by the temporary glamour of falsehood and try to imitate it.  We often see people thinking highly of a person having a lucrative business even when they know that it was built on theft, fraud, and deceit. Since this appears a common practice for achieving wealth and authority, some people deem there is no harm in following suit.

Surat Al-Rad reminds people that the power of falsehood, no matter how widespread or overt it is, is fragile and rootless and that no matter how long truth is masked and concealed by the forces of falsehood, it remains solid and deep-rooted.  Sooner or later the truth will prevail, and falsehoods will vanish and be defeated.

The confusion can happen when two falsehoods confront each other while every side is claiming that his side is the truth.  The Quran and the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) provide us with principles and practical applications so that we can identify the truth without being deceived by any claims. Islam is anchored on basic principles that are manifestation of truth and these are justice, truthfulness, humility, and mercy. Anything that violates these principles is shaded by falsehood.

There is nothing called half-truth in the sight of Allah. There is only full truth or falsehood.  People must abide by 100% of Allah’s commands to receive Allah’s support.  Allah gives grave warning to those who claim that they represent the truth because they are believers but skip some of Allah’s commands for expediency and thinking that some of these violations will accelerate their success. Allah says:

 أَفَتُؤۡمِنُونَ بِبَعۡضِ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ وَتَكۡفُرُونَ بِبَعۡضٍ۬‌ۚ فَمَا جَزَآءُ مَن يَفۡعَلُ ذَٲلِكَ مِنڪُمۡ إِلَّا خِزۡىٌ۬ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا‌ۖ وَيَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰٓ أَشَدِّ ٱلۡعَذَابِ‌ۗ وَمَا ٱللَّهُ بِغَـٰفِلٍ عَمَّا تَعۡمَلُونَ

“Do you believe in part of the scripture and disbelieve in others?  The reward for those who do so is shame in this life and the most grievous doom on the hereafter. For Allah is aware of what you do.” (Al-Baqara 2:85)

And Allah makes it clear that He does not change the condition of people unless they change themselves.  He says:

إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوۡمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُواْ مَا بِأَنفُسِہِمۡ‌ۗ

“Indeed, Allah does not change the condition of a people unless they change themselves:” (13:11)

A major oversight many Muslims do is that considering that performing the religious ritual such as prayers, fasting and Hajj are their ticket to paradise and ignore the fact that Allah never made such a promise.  Allah stated other priorities.  In Surat Al-Balad, Allah identifies the means for crossing the main barrier between man and paradise.  Allah says:

فَلَا ٱقۡتَحَمَ ٱلۡعَقَبَةَ (١١) وَمَآ أَدۡرَٮٰكَ مَا ٱلۡعَقَبَةُ (١٢) فَكُّ رَقَبَةٍ (١٣) أَوۡ إِطۡعَـٰمٌ۬ فِى يَوۡمٍ۬ ذِى مَسۡغَبَةٍ۬ (١٤) يَتِيمً۬ا ذَا مَقۡرَبَةٍ (١٥) أَوۡ مِسۡكِينً۬ا ذَا مَتۡرَبَةٍ۬ (١٦) ثُمَّ كَانَ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡمَرۡحَمَةِ (١٧) أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ أَصۡحَـٰبُ ٱلۡمَيۡمَنَةِ (١٨)

“Yet he has not made way across the barrier. (11) And what will make you know about the barrier? (12) (It is) Freeing a slave (anyone who is subjected to the oppression and humiliation of servitude to others.)  (13) Or feeding in a day of hunger. (14) A near orphan (near can be a result of relationship or location). (15) Or some poor wretch in misery. (16) Then he joins those who believed and advice each other to be patient and advice each other to be merciful. (17) They are those on the Right Hand (i.e., the dwellers of Paradise).” (Al-Balad 90:11-18)