• The faithful to their covenant and those who break it, can never be equal

• Those who spend benevolently in the way of God shall have the abode of perpetual bliss

• God it is Who amplifies and straitens the sustenance of His creatures

• The life of this world is nothing but a vain comfort

Ar-Ra’d (The Thunder) Verses 19 – 26

أَفَمَنْ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِنْ رَبِّكَ الْحَقُّ كَمَنْ هُوَ أَعْمَىٰ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ

Is then he1who knoweth that what hath been sent down unto thee from thy Lord is truth, like unto him who is blind (void of knowledge)? will bear in mind only those possessed of understanding, (13:19)2

الَّذِينَ يُوفُونَ بِعَهْدِ اللَّهِ وَلَا يَنْقُضُونَ الْمِيثَاقَ

Those who fulfil the covenant of God (which) they have plight ed unto (themselves) and break not their pledge, (13:20)

وَالَّذِينَ يَصِلُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَنْ يُوصَلَ وَيَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ وَيَخَافُونَ سُوءَ الْحِسَابِ

And those who join (establish) what God hath bidden to be joined (established) fear their Lord, and dread the terrible3reckoning. (13:21)

وَالَّذِينَ صَبَرُوا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِمْ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَأَنْفَقُوا مِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ سِرًّا وَعَلَانِيَةً وَيَدْرَءُونَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ السَّيِّئَةَ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمْ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ

And those who are patient (amidst trials) seeking the countenance4of their Lord, and establish prayer, and spend (benevolently) of what We have provided them with secretly and openly, and they turn away with good (even) evil for these is the (happy) attainment of the (Eternal) abode, (13:22)

جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ يَدْخُلُونَهَا وَمَنْ صَلَحَ مِنْ آبَائِهِمْ وَأَزْوَاجِهِمْ وَذُرِّيَّاتِهِمْ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يَدْخُلُونَ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنْ كُلِّ بَابٍ

The garden of perpetual bliss which they will enter and also the righteous among their parents, their spouses, and their offspring; and the angels shall enter unto them from every portal. (13:23)5

سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى الدَّارِ

“Peace (be) unto you (Saying) for that ye persevered in patience! (and now) how excellent is the sequel of the eternal abode.” (13:24)

وَالَّذِينَ يَنْقُضُونَ عَهْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مِيثَاقِهِ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَا أَمَرَ اللَّهُ بِهِ أَنْ يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمُ اللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوءُ الدَّارِ

And those who break the Covenant6with God after it is pledged and cut asunder what God hath bidden to be joined and make mischief7in the land, they, theirs shall be the curse and theirs shall be the terrible8abode. (13:25)

اللَّهُ يَبْسُطُ الرِّزْقَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَيَقْدِرُ وَفَرِحُوا بِالْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْآخِرَةِ إِلَّا مَتَاعٌ

God amplifieth the sustenance for whomsoever He willeth and straiteneth it (similarly); and rejoice they in the life of this world; and nothing is the life of this world as heareafter but means.910(13:26)

Commentary

Verse 19

Ibn Mardwaih, a reputed Sunni authority says that by the mention of ‘He that knows’ is meant

Ali Ibn Abi Talib.

Verse 21

Abu Ayyoob Ansari reports that once the Holy Prophet commanded a man saying:

1. Worship only God, by offering the prescribed prayers regularly.

2. Be God-fearing.

3. Do not associate anyone or anything with God.

4. Give the poor-rate.

5. Be well-disposed towards the relatives thou shalt ride the conveyance of Paradise.

Verse 22

‘Repelling evil with good’:

(1) Doing good to one who does evil to us.

(2) Pardoning the one who oppresses or commits aggression.

(3) Providing the one who deprives us of our legitimate rights.

(4) Meeting the one who non-cooperates with us.

(5) Be polite to the one who exercises anger against us.

(6) Wishing the one who abuses us.

(7) Seeking pardon or the forgiveness of the Lord, the moment any sin is committed. It is for such ones, is promised the happy heavenly abode.

Verses 23 - 24

When the true believers described in the preceding verse would be blessed with a blissful abode, the angels would enter through the different doors and convey the glad tidings and the salutation from God.

• 1. According to the reputed Sunni Scholar ‘Mardwaih’ - ‘he’ refers to the First Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib.
• 2. Refer to verse 13:16.
• 3. Literally Evil.
• 4. Pleasure.
• 5. The temporal relations mentioned here if they are strengthened by being associated is the ties of faith will continue also in the life hereafter. Otherwise not. Refer to verse 23:101.
• 6. Applicable to - or includes the Covenant taken at Ghadir Khumm. Refer to verse 3:67. For the ‘Mowaddat’ of the ‘Qurba’, refer to verse 42:23 (A.P.).
• 7. Refer to verses 47:22-23.
• 8. Literally Evil.
• 9. means for achievements in the hereafter.
• 10. of temporary amusements.