• Mockers at the truth given respite but shall be requited and brought low

• The disbelievers shall be chastised in this world as well as in the hereafter and the punishment for them in the hereafter will certainly be more grievous and lasting

Ar-Ra’d (The Thunder) Verses 32 – 37

وَلَقَدِ اسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ

And indeed were mocked at the apostles before thee, but I gave respite unto those who disbelieved, then I seized them; How then was My requital? (13:32)

أَفَمَنْ هُوَ قَائِمٌ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ وَجَعَلُوا لِلَّهِ شُرَكَاءَ قُلْ سَمُّوهُمْ أَمْ تُنَبِّئُونَهُ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ فِي الْأَرْضِ أَمْ بِظَاهِرٍ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ بَلْ زُيِّنَ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مَكْرُهُمْ وَصُدُّوا عَنِ السَّبِيلِ وَمَنْ يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ

What! Is He then who standeth (present) over every soul (and knoweth) what it doeth, (like the one otherwise)? And yet ascribe1they partners unto God! Say thou (O’ Our Apostle Muhammad!) “Name2them!” Is it that ye inform Him of what He knoweth not in the earth, Or is it (just) a show of words? Nay! But their contrivance are made to appear fairseeming unto those who disbelieve, and they kept back (thereby) from the (right) are path; and whom He (God) leaveth to stray, for him there shall be no guide.” (13:33)

لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَلَعَذَابُ الْآخِرَةِ أَشَقُّ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَاقٍ

For them is a torment in the life of this world, and surely the torment of hereafter is more grievous, and for them shall not be against God any protector. (13:34)

مَثَلُ الْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي وُعِدَ الْمُتَّقُونَ تَجْرِي مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ أُكُلُهَا دَائِمٌ وَظِلُّهَا تِلْكَ عُقْبَى الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا وَعُقْبَى الْكَافِرِينَ النَّارُ

The similitude of the garden (of bliss) promised unto the righteous; is that there flow beneath it rivers; there fruits are everlasting and its shade (too): This is the requital of those who guard (themselves) against evil, and the requital of the disbelievers is the (Hell) fire. (13:35)3

وَالَّذِينَ آتَيْنَاهُمُ الْكِتَابَ يَفْرَحُونَ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمِنَ الْأَحْزَابِ مَنْ يُنْكِرُ بَعْضَهُ قُلْ إِنَّمَا أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَلَا أُشْرِكَ بِهِ إِلَيْهِ أَدْعُو وَإِلَيْهِ مَآبِ

And those whom We have given the Book rejoice in what hath been sent down unto thee, and of the clans4are some who deny a part of it; Say thou: “Verily, I am only commanded that I should serve (only) God; and I associate not (aught) with Him; Unto Him (only) do I invite (ye all) and unto Him (only) is my return.” (13:36)

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَنْزَلْنَاهُ حُكْمًا عَرَبِيًّا وَلَئِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ بَعْدَ مَا جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ وَلَا وَاقٍ

And thus have We sent it (the Qur’an) (a true) authority5in (the) Arabic (language); and if followeth thou6their (vain) desires after what hath come unto thee of the knowledge, there shall not be for thee besides7God any guardian or a protector. (13:37)8

• 1. Make.
• 2. This is a challenge meaning that God has his Excellent names corresponding to His attributes - can such names be assigned to those associated with Him by the disbelievers - Or if it be said that the excellent names are celestial and the names of the associated ones are of Terrestrial nature hence not known to God, which also will be nonsense & absurd. (A.P.).
• 3. This passage, throws light on the figurative expression of the Qur’an regarding Paradise & Hell and the life hereafter. Refer to verse 13:35. (A.P.).
• 4. Confederates Allies – Tribes.
• 5. Arabic: ‘Hukum’ - also wisdom.
• 6. The Prophet addressed for the people.
• 7. Also against. Refer to verse 3:144.
• 8. This enlightens the ignorant ones who would think that the messenger of God should have a peculiar way of life other than the usual human course of life. This is to tell such wrongly thinking men that the messengers of God are also human in all respects. The only distinction is that their movement, physical or mental is always under the Divine revelation and the permission from the Lord. It is not for them to act as they wished or as the people demand it from them. They act only as they are bidden by the Lord.