Surah 13: The Thunder

Surah 13: The Thunder - Overview

Verses	Description
13:1-18	Nature proclaims the glory of God; Lightning and Thunder are Signs of His Might as well as of His Mercy
13:19-31	Those with Faith are like the seeing, and those without are like the blind; God's promise never fails
13:32-43	Men may mock, but God's Truth will come to its own; the world's plots have no power to defeat it

Introduction

The chronological place of this Surah and the general argument of Surah 10 to 15 has been described in the Introduction to Surah 10.

The special argument of this Surah deals with that aspect of God's revelation of Himself to man and His dealings with him, which is concerned with certain contrasts which are here pointed out. There is the revelation of the Prophets, which comes in spoken words adapted to the language of the various men and groups of men to whom it comes; and there is the parallel revelation or Signs in the constant laws of external nature, on this earth and in the visible heavens.

There is the contrast between recurring life and death already in the external world: why should men disbelieve in the life after death? They mock at the idea of punishment because it is deferred: but can they not see God's power and glory in thunder and the forces of nature? All creation praises Him: it is the good that endures and the evil that is swept away like froth or scum. Not only in miracles but in the normal working of the world, are shown God's power and mercy. What is Punishment in this world, compared to that in the life to come? Even here there are Signs of the working of His law: plot or plan as men will, it is God's Will that must prevail. This is illustrated in Joseph's story in the preceding Surah.

Summary

All Vanities Pass Away [13:1-18] God's Truth comes to man in revelation an in nature. How noble are His works! How sublime His government of the world! They all declare forth His glory! Yet man must strangely resist Faith, and ask to see the Signs of His power rather than the Signs of His Mercy! Doth not His knowledge search through the most hidden things? Are not Lightning and Thunder the Signs of His Might as well as of His Mercy? He alone is Worthy of praise, and His Truth will stand when all vanities pass away like scum on the torrent of Time.

With and Without [13:19-31] The seeing and the blind are not alike; nor are those blessed with Faith and those without. The former seek God, and attain peace and blessedness in their hearts, and a final Home of rest; the latter are in a state of Curse, and their End is terrible. If God in His wisdom postpones retribution, it is for a time. His promise never fails: it will come to pass in His own good time. In all things it is for Him to command.

3- So was it with Prophets before; they were mocked, but the mockers were destroyed, while the righteous rejoiced and were established. (13:32-43)

The Old Game of the World