13. Surah Ar Ra'd, Medina 96

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

عَالِمُ الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ الْكَبِيرُ الْمُتَعَالِ ﴿٩﴾

13: 9.     He knoweth the Unseen and that which is open:

He is the Great, the Most High.

C1814. A verse of matchless rhythm in Arabic.

وَيُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ ...

13: 13.  Nay,

thunder repeateth His praises,

C1819. Nay, thunder itself, which may frighten you, is but a tame and beneficent force before Him, declaring His praises, like the rest of creation.

THUNDER thus aptly gives the name to this Surah of contrasts, where what we may think terrible is shown to be really a submissive instrument of good in Allah's hands.

... وَالْمَلاَئِكَةُ مِنْ خِيفَتِهِ...

and so do the angels, with awe:

C1820. And the angels, whom we think to be beautiful creatures of power and glory nearest to Allah, yet feel reverence and awe even as they praise His Holy Name.

...وَيُرْسِلُ الصَّوَاعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِهَا مَن يَشَاء وَهُمْ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي اللّهِ...

He flingeth the loud-voiced thunderbolts, and therewith He striketh whomsoever He will... Yet these (are the men) who (dare to) dispute about Allah,

...وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الْمِحَالِ ﴿١٣﴾

with the strength of His power (supreme)!

C1821. Who is puny man, to call Allah in question?

Cf. some variations on this theme in the Book of Job, e.g. chapters 38 to 41.

Other Versions:

13: 9

Asad ……..the One far above anything that is or could ever be

[note 21 God’s attribute al-mutaal which occurs in the Quran only in this one instance, denotes His infinite exaltedness above anything existing or potential....also ..above anything that could be circumscribed by human definitions.]

Pickthall He is the Knower of the invisible and the visible, the Great, the High Exalted.

Transliteration 'A_limul gaibi wasy syaha_datil kabirul muta'a_l(i).

13: 13

Asad ……And yet, they stubbornly argue about God, not withstanding [all evidence] that He alone has the power to contrive whatever His unfathomable wisdom wills!

Pickthall The thunder hymneth His praise and (so do) the angels for awe of Him. He launcheth the thunder bolts and smiteth with them whom He will while they dispute (in doubt) concerning Allah, and He is mighty in wrath.

Transliteration Wa yusabbihur ra'du bi hamdihi wal mala_'ikatu min khifatih(i), wa yursilus sawa_'iqa fa yusibu biha_ may yasya_'u wa hum yuja_dilu_na filla_h(i), wa huwa syadidul miha_l(i).

[asad note 29: …….the expression “shaded al-mihal (which occurs in the Quran once