Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim.

In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn . The Only Owner of the Day of Recompense. You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help. Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace , not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray .

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13: (Al-Ra 'd)- Thunder

No. of Rukus-6
No. of verses-43
No. of Sajdahs-1 (15th Ayah)

Sūrat ar-Raʻd (Arabic: سورة الرعد‎‎, "The Thunder") is the 13th sura of theQur'an, composed of 43 verses. It has Muqattat (Quranic initials) المر(Alif. Lam. Mim. Ra or ALMR). The goal of the Sura: the power of truth and falsehood weakness It decides the oneness of God, the message, the judgment day, and the penalty. The Sura revolves around an important axis that the right is clear between power, and stability, and between weakness, and wrongness no matter how showed, and raised on the right by its false glitter. We should not be deceived by the false glitter of falsehood because it is inevitably fleeting and stays right shined his light on the entire universe.

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About-

Opinions differ about its being Makki or Madani Surah.  According to some authorities it is Makki with the exception of few verses and according to others it is Madani except few verses revealed in Makkah.  It seems its time period is closer to the Hijrah.  The Surah has 43 verses in 6 sections.

The basic theme of the Surah is divine guidance.  Allah has created this whole universe. He knows what is in the wombs and every thing is under His knowledge.  He sent His prophets and guides to all people for their guidance and now the Last Messenger has come.

Introduction to the Sections

Allah's signs in nature.Allah knows everything; the whole universe praises Him.  Those who have eyes can see the truth. The truth has an abiding power.The faithful and unfaithful, their characters and their ends.The comfort of the hearts is in the remembrance of Allah.  Those who deny Allah, no signs or miracles can help them.People in the past also denied Allah's Prophets and laughed at them, but what were their ends.Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.  The witness is Allah and all those who have the knowledge of the Scriptures of Allah.

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Benefits of Surah Ra’d-

There are 43 ayaat in this Surah and it is ‘makki’ though someMufassireen (those who have written commentaries of the Holy Qur’an) say that the last verse of this Surah was revealed in Madinah. In fact, some even go as far as saying that the whole of this Surah is‘madani’ except for two verses.

The Holy Prophet (a.s.) has been quoted as saying that whoever recites this Surah will be made from among those who fulfil their promise to Allah (S.w.T.) and they will be given reward which is ten times the number of sins they have committed.

It is narrated that Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) has said that if a mu’minrecites this Surah often, he will be taken to Jannah without having to give the long and detailed accounts for his deeds on Earth. He will also be allowed to intercede on behalf of his relatives and friends.

If this Surah is written at night, after the time for Isha prayers, under a candle’s light, and then hung outside the door of a tyrant ruler’s palace, then the ruler will perish and so will his control over the people. His army and his supporters will betray him and nobody will listen to him.

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Lesson's-

The Content of Surah Ar-Ra‘d

As was mentioned aforetime, Meccan suras were revealed at the beginning of the call of the Prophet of Islam (S), when the hostile pagans seriously opposed to accept the Faith. Then these suras are mostly upon the issues of belief, specially invitation to Monotheism, struggling against idolatry, and proving the Resurrection.

While the Medinite suras, which were reveled after the expansion of Islam and the formation of the Islamic government, explain the Divine ordinances and religious social rules, according to the needs of the society.

This Surah, which is among the Meccan suras, also follows the same line. After making allusions to the legitimacy and greatness of the Qur’an, it refers to monotheism and states the secrets of creation which are the signs of the existence of the Pure Essence of Allah.

Then the Qur’an, in this Surah, discusses about Resurrection and the new life of mankind in Hereafter, as well as the Divine Court of Justice on the Reckoning Day. It completes this introduction of Monotheism and Resurrection by pointing to the responsibilities and duties of people.

Once again, it returns to the issue of Monotheism. Then it gives examples in order to make the right and wrong known. They are some manifest and sensible examples which are understandable for all.

In view of the fact that the ultimate worldly fruit of belief in Monotheism and Resurrection is the very constructive and practical programs, following these discussions, it invites people to; fulfilling the promise, union of kindred, patience and perseverance, spending out in charity secretly and openly, and leaving revenge.

And, finally, the content of this Surah guides people to search the depths of events in history through showing them the painful end of the disobedient nations in the past.

Thus, Surah Ar-Ra‘d begins with some verses concerning Faith and convictions, and ends with introducing the deeds and activities which are helpful in the formation of human character.

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Subject Matter

The opening verse of the surah sets out its theme. It unequivocally declares that the teaching of Muhammad (peace be on him) is the truth and those who do not believe in it are clearly in error. This theme permeates the whole surah. In a variety of ways the discourse focuses on showing the truth of Islam's major doctrines, God's unity, the Hereafter, and prophethood. The moral and spiritual benefits accruing from belief in these truths are explained and the disadvantages which ensue from rejecting them are also set out in detail The surah also demonstrates that unbelief is tantamount to sheer stupidity and ignorance.

The purpose of the discourse is not confined to merely pursuing people intellectually. It also aims to create in people the impulse to embrace the truth. The invitation to the truth has not simply been made on the basis of logical reasoning and argumentation. An appeal to the hearts of people is also made and in a variety of ways. They are warned about God's severe chastisement if they reject the truth, and are promised rich rewards if they believe in the truth and act righteously. Earnest appeals emanating from sympathy and compassionate concern are made to people to give up their obduracy and embrace the true faith.

In the course of the discourse, the objections against Islam that were commonly made by its opponents are refuted without specifically mentioning any of them. Similarly, the doubts that people themselves entertained or which the opponents of Islam put in their minds regarding Islam are removed. Special attention is also paid to men of faith. A word of consolation and encouragement is offered to them for after a prolonged period of strenuous struggle they were on the verge of exhaustion and had begun to look for Divine intervention and support.

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Central Theme

The first verse enunciates the main theme of this Surah, that is, "The Message of Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him) is the very Truth, but it is the fault of the people that they are rejecting it." This is the pivot on which the whole Surah turns. This is why it has been shown over and over again in different ways that the basic components of the Message -- Tauhid, Resurrection and Prophet-hood-are a reality: therefore they should believe sincerely in these for their own moral and spiritual good. They have been warned that they shall incur their own ruin if they reject them, for kufr by itself is sheer folly and ignorance. Moreover, the aim of the Surah is not merely to satisfy the minds but also to appeal to the hearts to accept the Faith. Therefore it does not merely put forward logical arguments in support of the truth of the Message and against the people's wrong notions, but at appropriate intervals it makes frequent use of sympathetic and earnest appeals to win over their hearts by warning them of the consequences of kufr and by holding out the happy rewards of Faith so that the foolish people should give up their obduracy.

Besides this, the objections of the opponents have been answered without any mention of them, and those doubts which are proving a hindrance in the way of the Message or were being created by the opponents have been removed. At the same time, the Believers; who had been passing through long and hard ordeal and were feeling tired, and waiting anxiously for Allah's succour, have been comforted and filled with hope and courage.

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Hadith's-

Umar said: "the messenger of Allah is overcome by pain and you have the Quran, the book of Allah is sufficient for us". So  Ahlul Bayt differed in their Opinions and disputed

There was no one among the Ahlul Bayt in the room at that precise point in time when the Prophet asked for writing materials. 

As for the Quran being sufficient, clearly it is wrong.

If the Quran was enough, the caliph would not ask for Imam Ali's help repeatedly.

So the narration is a fabrication which say ahlulbayt differed. In all versions this is mentioned. Or shias understanding of ahlulbayt is very limited.

Its not wrong. Read sermon of last pilgrimage, Prophet s.a.w.w also said only Quran. Moreover, the statement of Umar a.s is for others in the room, not directed to prophet and in some other versions it is posed as a questions to others, not as a statement.

Same Quran says help each other in goodness.

Let me tell you Imam Ali a.s was also there and his opinion was also same as of Umar a.s. Read following narration which is also from same Bukhari and also narrated by the same Ibn Abbas r.a.

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas:

'Ali bin Abu Talib came out of the house of the Prophet (ﷺ) during his fatal ailment. The people asked ('Ali), "O Abu Hasan! How is the health of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) this morning?" 'Ali said, "This morning he is better, with the grace of Allah." Al-'Abbas held 'Ali by the hand and said, "Don't you see him (about to die)? By Allah, within three days you will be the slave of the stick (i.e., under the command of another ruler). By Allah, I think that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) will die from his present ailment, for I know the signs of death on the faces of the offspring of 'Abdul Muttalib. So let us go to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to ask him who will take over the Caliphate. If the authority is given to us, we will know it, and if it is given to somebody else we will request him to recommend us to him. " 'Ali said, "By Allah! If we ask Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) for the rulership and he refuses, then the people will never give it to us. Besides, I will never ask Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) for it." Sahih al-Bukhari 6266

This one narration clear many doubts and misconceptions.

1. Ali a.s had no idea that prophet s.a.w.w is going to die from this ailment. He a.s said "This morning he is better, with the grace of Allah.

2. It was Abbas r.a, uncle of prophet, who said prophet s.a.w.w will not survive from this ailment.

3. It was Abbas r.a who was eager to ask from Prophet s.a.w.w about caliphate, about who will rule after him. It also proves that ghadir wasnt about appointment of caliphate. otherwise whats the point in asking again from prophet in privacy.

4. Ali a.s refused and said I will not ask. So he himself was unaware about the fact that he himself was made caliph and successor at ghadir in front of thousands. "By Allah! If we ask Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) for the rulership and he refuses, then the people will never give it to us. Besides, I will never ask Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) for it."

5. Actually it was some peoples like Abbas r.a who wanted prophet to write for them. So prophet s.a.w.w asked for pen and paper.

6. Opinion of ALi a.s was same as of Umar a.s and others, who did not asked or wanted prophet to write a document.

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