13:17 Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder)

شبّه تعالى الهدى الذي أنزله على رسوله لحياة القلوب والأرواح، بالماء الذي أنزله لحياة الأشباح، وشبّه ما في الهدى من النفع العام الكثير الذي يضطر إليه العباد، بما في المطر من النفع العام الضروري، وشبه القلوب الحاملة للهدى وتفاوتها بالأودية التي تسيل فيها السيول، فواد كبير يسع ماء كثيرا، كقلب كبير يسع علما كثيرا، وواد صغير يأخذ ماء قليلا، كقلب صغير، يسع علما قليلا، وهكذا. وشبه ما يكون في القلوب من الشهوات والشبهات عند وصول الحق إليها، بالزبد الذي يعلو الماء ويعلو ما يوقد عليه النار من الحلية التي يراد تخليصها وسبكها، وأنها لا تزال فوق الماء طافية مكدرة له حتى تذهب وتضمحل، ويبقى ما ينفع الناس من الماء الصافي والحلية الخالصة. كذلك الشبهات والشهوات لا يزال القلب يكرهها، ويجاهدها بالبراهين الصادقة، والإرادات الجازمة، حتى تذهب وتضمحل ويبقى القلب خالصا صافيا ليس فيه إلا ما ينفع الناس من العلم بالحق وإيثاره، والرغبة فيه، فالباطل يذهب ويمحقه الحق { إِنَّ الْبَاطِلَ كَانَ زَهُوقًا } وقال هنا: { كَذَلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ } ليتضح الحق من الباطل والهدى والضلال.

اشتملت هذه الآية الكريمة على مثلين مضروبين للحق في ثباته وبقائه والباطل في اضمحلاله وفنائه فقال تعالى " أنزل من السماء ماء " أي مطرا " فسالت أودية بقدرها " أي أخذ كل واحد بحسبه فهذا كبير وسع كثيرا من الماء وهذا صغير فوسع بقدره وهو إشارة إلى القلوب وتفاوتها فمنها ما يسع علما كثيرا ومنها ما لا يتسع لكثير من العلوم بل يضيق عنها " فاحتمل السيل زبدا رابيا " أي فجاء على وجه الماء الذي سال في هذه الأودية زبد عال عليه هذا مثل وقوله " ومما يوقدون عليه في النار ابتغاء حلية أو متاع " الآية هذا هو المثل الثاني هو ما يسبك في النار من ذهب أو فضة ابتغاء حلية أي ليجعل حلية أو نحاسا أو حديدا فيجعل متاعا فإنه يعلوه زبد منه كما يعلو ذلك زبد منه " كذلك يضرب الله الحق والباطل " أي إذا اجتمعا لا ثبات للباطل ولا دوام له كما أن الزبد لا يثبت مع الماء ولا مع الذهب والفضة ونحوهما مما يسبك فى النار بل يذهب ويضمحل ولهذا قال " فأما الزبد فيذهب جفاء " أى لا ينتفع به بل يتفرق ويتمزق ويذهب في جانبي الوادي ويعلق بالشجر وتنسفه الرياح وكذلك خبث الذهب والفضة والحديد والنحاس يذهب ولا يرجع منه شيء ولا يبقى إلا الماء وذلك الذهب ونحو ينتفع به ولهذا قال " وأما ما ينفع الناس فيمكث في الأرض كذلك يضرب الله الأمثال " كقوله تعالى " وتلك الأمثال نضربها للناس وما يعقلها إلا العالمون " وقال بعض السلف كنت إذا قرأت مثلا من القرآن فلم أفهمه بكيت على نفسي لأن الله تعالى يقول " وما يعقلها إلا العالمون " قال علي بن أبي طلحة عن ابن عباس في قوله تعالى " أنزل من السماء ماء فسالت أودية بقدرها " الآية هذا مثل ضربه الله احتملت منه القلوب على قدر يقينها وشكها فأما الشك فلا ينفع معه العمل وأما اليقين فينفع الله به أهله وهو قوله " فأما الزبد " وهو الشك " فيذهب جفاء وأما ما ينفع الناس فيمكث في الأرض " وهو اليقين وكما يجعل الحلى في النار فيؤخذ خالصه ويترك خبثه في النار فكذلك يقبل الله اليقين ويترك الشك وقال العوفي عن ابن عباس قوله " أنزل من السماء ماء فسالت أودية بقدرها فاحتمل السيل زبدا رابيا " يقول احتمل السيل ما في الوادي من عود ودمنة " ومما يوقدون عليه في النار " فهو الذهب والفضة والحلية والمتاع والنحاس والحديد فللنحاس والحديد خبث فجعل الله مثل خبثه كزبد الماء فأما ما ينفع الناس فالذهب والفضة وأما ما ينفع الأرض فما شربت من الماء فأنبتت فجعل ذاك مثل العمل الصالح يبقى لأهله والعمل السيء يضمحل عن أهله كما يذهب هذا الزبد وكذلك الهدى والحق جاءا من عند الله فمن عمل بالحق كان له وبقي كما بقي ما ينفع الناس في الأرض وكذلك الحديد لا يستطاع أن يعمل منه سكين ولا سيف حي يدخل في النار فتأكل خبثه ويخرج جيده فينتفع به فكذلك يضمحل الباطل فإذا كان يوم القيامة وأقيم الناس وعرضت الأعمال فيزيغ الباطل ويهلك وينتفع أهل الحق بالحق وهكذا روي في تفسيرها عن مجاهد والحسن البصري وعطاء وقتادة وغير واحد من السلف والخلف وقد ضرب سبحانه وتعالى في أول سورة البقرة للمنافقين مثلين ناريا ومائيا وهما قوله " مثلهم كمثل الذي استوقد نارا فلما أضاءت ما حوله " الآية ثم قال " أو كصيب من السماء فيه ظلمات ورعد وبرق " الآية وهكذا ضرب للكافرين في سورة النور مثلين " أحدهما "قوله " والذين كفروا أعمالهما كسراب " الآية والسراب إنما يكون في شدة الحر ولهذا جاء في الصحيحين فيقال لليهود يوم القيامة فما تريدون ؟ فيقولون أي ربنا عطشنا فاسقا فيقال ألا تردون ؟ فيردون النار فإذا هي كسراب يحطم بعضها بعضا ثم قال تعالى في المثل الآخر " أو كظلمات في بحر لجي " الآية وفي الصحيحين عن أبي موسى الأشعري رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال " إن مثل ما بعثني الله به من الهدى والعلم كمثل غيث أصاب أرضا فكان منها طائفة قبلت الماء فأنبتت الكلأ والعشب الكثير وكانت منها أجادب أمسكت الماء فنفع الله بها الناس فشربوا ورعوا وسقوا وزرعوا وأصابت طائفة منها أخرى إنما هي قيعان لا تمسك ماء ولا تنبت كلأ فذلك مثل من فقه في دين الله ونفعه الله بما بعثني ونفع به فعلم وعلم ومثل من لم يرفع بذلك رأسا ولم يقبل هدى الله الذي أرسلت به " فهذا مثل مائي.وقال في الحديث الآخر الذي رواه الإمام أحمد: حدثنا عبد الرزاق حدثنا معمر عن همام بن منبه قال: هذا ما حدثنا أبو هريرة عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أنه قال " مثلي ومثلكم كمثل رجل استوقد نارا فلما أضاءت ما حولها جعل الفراش وهذه الدواب التي يقعن في النار يقعن فيها وجعل يحجزهن ويغلبنه فيقتحمن فيها - قال - فذلكم مثلي ومثلكم أنا آخذ بحجزكم عن النار هلم عن النار فتغلبوني فتقتحمون فيها " وأخرجاه في الصحيحين أيضا فهذا مثل ناري.

Two Parables proving that Truth remains and Falsehood perishes

This honorable Ayah contains two parables which affirm that truth remains and increases, while falsehood diminishes and perishes. Allah said,

أَنزَلَ مِنَ الْسَّمَآءِ مَآءً

(He sends down water from the sky,) He sends rain,

فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌ بِقَدَرِهَا

(and the valleys flow according to their measure,) each valley taking its share according to its capacity, for some valleys are wider and can retain more water than others which are small and thus retain smaller measures of water. This Ayah indicates that hearts differ, for some of them can retain substantial knowledge while others cannot entertain knowledge, but rather are bothered by knowledge,

فَاحْتَمَلَ السَّيْلُ زَبَدًا رَّابِيًا

(but the flood bears away the foam that mounts up to the surface) of the water that ran down the valleys; this is the first parable. Allah said next,

وَمِمَّا يُوقِدُونَ عَلَيْهِ فِى النَّارِ ابْتِغَآءَ حِلْيَةٍ أَوْ مَتَـعٍ

(and (also) from that (ore) which they heat in the fire in order to make ornaments or utensils...) This is the second parable, whereas gold and silver ore is heated with fire to make adornments with it, and iron and copper ore are heated to make pots and the like with it. Foam also rises to the surface of these ores, just as in the case with water,

كَذَلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْحَقَّ وَالْبَـطِلَ

(thus does Allah (by parables) show forth truth and falsehood.) when they both exist, falsehood does not remain, just as foam does not remain with the water or the gold and silver ores which are heated in fire. Rather, foam dissipates and vanishes,

فَأَمَّا الزَّبَدُ فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَآءً

(Then, as for the foam it passes away as scum upon the banks,) for it carries no benefit and dissipates and scatters on the banks of the valley. The foam also sticks to trees or is dissipated by wind, just as the case with the scum that rises on the surface of gold, silver, iron and copper ores; it all goes away and never returns. However, water, gold and silver remain and are used to man's benefit. This is why Allah said next,

وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِى الاٌّرْضِ كَذلِكَ يَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الاٌّمْثَالَ

(while that which is for the good of mankind remains in the earth. Thus Allah sets forth parables.) Allah said in a similar Ayah,

وَتِلْكَ الاٌّمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَآ إِلاَّ الْعَـلِمُونَ

(And these similitudes We put forward for mankind; but none will understand them except those who have knowledge.) 29:43 Some of the Salaf (rightly guided ancestors) said, "When I would read a parable in the Qur'an that I could not comprehend, I would cry for myself because Allah the Exalted says,

وَمَا يَعْقِلُهَآ إِلاَّ الْعَـلِمُونَ

(But none will understand them except those who have knowledge.)" 29:43 `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported that `Abdullah bin `Abbas commented on Allah's statement,

أَنَزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَالَتْ أَوْدِيَةٌ بِقَدَرِهَا

(He sends down water from the sky, and the valleys flow according to their measure,) "This is a parable that Allah has set; the hearts carry knowledge from Him, and certainty according to the amount of doubt. As for doubt, working good deeds does not benefit while it exists. As for certainty, Allah benefits its people by it, hence Allah's statement,

فَأَمَّا الزَّبَدُ

(Then, as for the foam), which refers to doubt,

فَيَذْهَبُ جُفَآءً وَأَمَّا مَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ فَيَمْكُثُ فِى الاٌّرْضِ

(it passes away as scum upon the banks, while that which is for the good of mankind remains in the earth.) in reference to certainty. And just as when jewelry is heated in fire and is rid of its impurity, which remains in the fire, similarly Allah accepts certainty and discards doubt."

The Qur'an and the Sunnah contain Parables that use Water and Fire

Allah has set two examples in the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah (chapter 2) about the hypocrites, one using fire and another using water. Allah said,

مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِى اسْتَوْقَدَ نَاراً فَلَمَّآ أَضَاءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ

(Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it illuminated all around him.) 2:17 then He said,

أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَـتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ

(Or like a rainstorm in the sky, bringing darkness, thunder, and lightning.) 2:19 Allah also has set two parables for the disbelievers in Surat An-Nur (chapter 24), one of them is,

وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَعْمَـلُهُمْ كَسَرَابٍ

(As for those who disbelieved, their deeds are like a mirage in a desert.)24:39 The mirage occurs during intense heat. It is recorded in the Two Sahihs that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«فَيُقَالُ لِلْيَهُودِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ: فَمَا تُرِيدُون؟ فَيَقُولُونَ: أَيْ رَبَّنَا عَطِشْنَا فَاسْقِنَا. فَيُقَالُ: أَلَا تَرِدُونَ؟ فَيَرِدُونَ النَّارَ فَإِذَا هِيَ كَسَرَابٍ يَحْطِمُ بَعْضُهَا بَعْضًا»

(It will be said to the Jews on the Day of Resurrection, "What do you desire" They will reply, "We need to drink, for we have become thirsty, O our Lord!" It will be said, "Will you then proceed to drink," and they will head towards the Fire, which will appear as a mirage, its various parts consuming the other parts.") Allah said in the second parable (in Surat An-Nur);

أَوْ كَظُلُمَـتٍ فِى بَحْرٍ لُّجِّىٍّ

(Or is like the darkness in a vast deep sea.)24:40 In the Two Sahihs it is recorded that Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«إِنَّ مَثَلَ مَا بَعَثَنِي اللهُ بِهِ مِنَ الْهُدَى وَالْعِلْمِ، كَمَثَلِ غَيْثٍ أَصَابَ أَرْضًا، فَكَانَ مِنْهَا طَائِفَةٌ قَبِلَتِ الْمَاءَ فَأَنْبَتَتِ الْكَلَأَ وَالْعُشْبَ الْكَثِيرَ، وَكَانَتْ مِنْهَا أَجَادِبُ أَمْسَكَتِ الْمَاءَ، فَنَفَعَ اللهُ بِهَا النَّاسَ، فَشَرِبُوا، وَرَعَوْا، وَسَقُوا، وَزَرَعُوا، وَأَصَابَتْ طَائِفَةً مِنْهَا أُخْرَى، إِنَّمَااِهيَ قِيعَانٌ لَا تُمْسِكُ مَاءً وَلَا تُنْبِتُ كَلَأً، فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُ مَنْ فَقُهَ فِي دِينِ اللهِ وَنَفَعَهُ اللهُ بِمَا بَعَثَنِي وَنَفَعَ بِهِ، فَعَلِمَ وَعَلَّمَ، وَمَثَلُ مَنْ لَمْ يَرْفَعْ بِذَلِكَ رَأْسًا وَلَمْ يَقْبَلْ هُدَى اللهِ الَّذِي أُرْسِلْتُ بِه»

(The example of guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which was fertile soil that absorbed the rain water and brought forth vegetation and grass in abundance. And another portion of it was hard, it held the rain water and Allah benefited the people with it and they utilized it for drinking, grazing, making their animals drink from it and for irrigation purposes. And another portion of it fell on barren land, which could neither hold the water nor bring forth vegetation. The first is the example of the person who comprehends Allah's religion and gets benefit, as well as benefiting others (from the knowledge and guidance) which Allah has revealed through me and learns and then teaches others. The last example is that of a person who does not care for it and does not embrace Allah's guidance revealed through me.) This parable uses water in it. In another Hadith that Imam Ahmad collected, Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,

«مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُكُمْ كَمَثَلِ رَجُلٍ اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّا أَضَاءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ، جَعَلَ الْفَرَاشُ وَهَذِهِ الدَّوَابُّ الَّتِي يَقَعْنَ فِي النَّارِ يَقَعْنَ فِيهَا، وَجَعَلَ يَحْجُزُهُنَّ وَيغْلِبْنَهُ فَيَقْتَحِمْنَ فِيهَا قَالَ : فَذَلِكُمْ مَثَلِي وَمَثَلُكُمْ، أَنَا آخِذٌ بِحُجَزِكُمْ عَنِ النَّارِ، هَلُمَّ عَنِ النَّارِ، فَتَغْلِبُونِي، فَتَقْتَحِمُونَ فِيهَا»

(My example and the example of you is like that of a person who lit a fire. When the fire illuminated his surroundings, butterflies and insects started falling into it, as they usually do, and he started swatting at them to prevent them from falling; but they overwhelmed him and kept falling into the fire. This is the parable of me and you, I am holding you by the waist trying to save you from the Fire, saying, "Go away from the Fire," yet you overwhelm me and fall into it.) The Two Sahihs also collected this Hadith. This is a parable using fire.

He then strikes a similitude of truth and falsehood saying He exalted be He sends down water rain from the sky whereat the valleys flow according to their measure according to their full capacity and the flood carries a scum that swells rising above it and this scum is the filth and the like that lies on the surface of the earth and from that which they smelt read tūqidūn ‘you smelt’ or yūqidūn ‘they smelt’ in the fire of the earth’s minerals such as gold silver or copper desiring seeking to make ornaments adornment or ware which is useful such as utensils when they the minerals are melted; there rises a scum the like of it that is the like of the scum of the flood and this latter scum consists of the impurities expelled by the bellows. Thus in the way mentioned God points out truth and falsehood that is He points out the similitude thereof. As for the scum of the flood and of the minerals smelted it passes away as dross useless refuse while that which is of use to mankind in the way of water and minerals lingers remains in the earth for a time likewise falsehood wanes and is eventually effaced even if it should prevail over the truth at certain times. Truth on the other hand is established and enduring. Thus in the way mentioned God strikes He makes clear similitudes.

Commentary

The outcome of both parables is that foam does appear prominent for a while on the real thing, but it finally gets to be thrown away and the real thing remains. Similar is the case of the false. Though the false may, for a short while, appear to have overcome the true, but the false is finally subdued and eliminated and that which is true remains and stands manifestly proven. (Tafsir A1-Jalalayn)

He sends down from heaven water, and the wadis flow in their measure, and the flood carries a swelling scum. And from that which they kindle in fire, wanting ornament or ware, arises a scum the like of it. Thus does God strike truth and falsehood. As for the scum, it van- ishes as jetsam, and what profits people abides in the earth. Abū Bakr WāsiṬī said that this verse is the pivot of knowledge of the Haqiqah and recognition. " The meaning is that He revealed from on high to the hearts and ears of the prophets and He in- spired the intellects and insights of the wise. " The majestic Unity, through the attribute of mercy and clemency, sent down from heaven to the messengers the true message and the pure revelation. They heard it with their ears and they perceived it with their hearts. In the same way He inspired the friends and threw the light of wis- dom into their hearts. And the wadis flow in their measure, that is, He made the hearts see in the measure of their capacity, life, and illumination. The hearts of the prophets became clear and bright through the light of revelation and messengerhood, and the hearts of the friends with the lamp of wisdom and recognition. In their measure, that is, each person in his own measure, in degrees and grades-one higher, one middling, one lower-the relative preference and disparity being apparent to everyone. About the messengers He says, " We made some of the prophets more excellent than others " [17:55]. About the friends He says, " They are degrees with God " [3:163]. One has messengerhood in ad- dition to prophethood, another has prophethood in addition to wisdom, another has recognition in addition to knowledge, another has tasting the Reality in addition to faith and bearing witness, another has the knowledge of certainty along with explication, another has the truth of certainty along with face-to-face vision. He gave to each person what was fitting, and He placed within each heart that for which there was room. And the flood carries a swelling scum, that is, He caused loss to those hearts with erroneous views, lowly lapses, and the wishes that Satan casts, what he steals from memory, his casting of slips.