What does “Islam” mean? The word الإسلام [Islam] is an infinitive word derived from س ل م [silm] root in if‘al pattern and used as noun and infinitive. The word silm means “release/keeping away; and to be distant from fear, doubt, trouble, lack of peace, unhappiness, fight, war, pain, suffering, material and spiritual inconveniences, weakness and decaying, and all the negativities.” This word is also the root of salim, selam, teslim, Islam etc. The word’s “Islam” form means “strengthening” [removal from problems, worries, fear, unhappiness, fights, wars, and similar negative things]. Hence, the religion Islam means the “the religion that strengthens humans [entire range of principles that protects and secures people by putting a distance between them and problems, worries, war, weakness, spiritual illness, unhappiness, and similar things].”

1. 1
SURAH AR-RA’AD (THE THUNDER)
MEDINAN PERIOD
Division: 587
1Alif/1, Lam/30, Mim/30, Ra/200.381 These are the Ayat of the Scripture. That
which has been revealed to you by your Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the
Sustainer] is the Truth/reality. But most of the people do not believe.
2-4Allah is the One Who erected the Heavens without pillars, then established
His dominion over the Greatest Throne,382 made the sun and the moon to
prostrate/created them so creatures may avail. –All of which flows to a predetermined
deadline.- He governs all affairs, expounds the Ayat so you may believe in the day
when you will meet your Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer].
And He is the One Who extended the Earth and created therein mountains standing
tight and rivers. And He created all fruits in pairs. He enshrouds the day with the
night. Surely, there are evidence/signs in this for a people who can contemplate. And
He created neighboring continents that are irrigated with the same rain, grapevines,
crops, split or non-split date palms. And We raised some of them over others in
fruits, taste and smell. Surely, there are evidence/signs in this for a people who
reason.
(96/13; Ar-Ra’d-1-4)
Division: 588
5And if you marvel at these, then the most astounding is their statement: “Shall
we be resurrected with a new creation after we have become soil?”. These are those
who disbelieve in their Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]. And
they have iron shackles around their necks. And they are the Companions of the Fire
and they shall abide there eternally.
6And they ask you to hasten the evil before the good. But before them have
punishments passed away, leaving traces for them. Truly, your Rabb [Lord, the
Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] forgives your evil deeds. And surely, severe is
the wrath/questioning of your Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the
Sustainer]. 7And the blasphemers; those who consciously deny the Divinity of Allah
and the fact that He is Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] say:
“Why has no evidence/sign been sent down to him?”. You are but a warner. And
there is a guide for every people.
(96/13; Ar-Ra’d/5-7)

2. 2
Division: 589
8Allah knows “what each female gestates and what wombs increase or
decrease”. And everything with Him is by measure.
9Allah is the One Who knows the unseen, the unheard, the unfelt, the past and
the future and that which is manifest, He is the Most Exalted, the Sublime.
10The same are the ones who hide the word and the ones who disclose it and
the ones who hide in the night and the ones who go out during the day.
11There are observers for each person, supervising and protecting from between
their hands and from their behind –as an affair of Allah-. Basically, unless a people
alters that which is in their very souls, Allah will not alter anything. And if Allah
casts evil upon a people, nothing can prevent it. And there are no helpers, guides and
protectors for them from among the subordinates of Allah.
12He is the One Who shows you the lightning casting fear and hope in you and
emerges the rain laden clouds.
13Thunder exonerates Him from all deficiencies with His praise, and forces of
the nature also exonerate Him out of fear. And He sends down lightning to hit
whomever He pleases. They struggle with Allah. But severe is the hit of Allah.
14Invitation of the Truth is only with Him. Those who associate others with
Him, those subordinates of Him whom they supplicate; they cannot respond to them
with anything. They are like the one who opens his palms to direct water into his
mount although there is no water. And prayers of the infidels; those who consciously
deny the Divinity of Allah and the fact that He is Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the
Nurturer, the Sustainer] are in perversion.
15And those who are in the Heavens and on the Earth and their shadows
prostrate and submit only to Allah.
(96/13; Ar-Ra’d/8-15)
Division: 590
16Say: “Who is Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] of the
Heavens and the Earth?”. Say: “Allah!”. Say: “Do you adopt subordinates of Allah
who are not able to avail even themselves as your helpers, guides and protectors?”.
Say: “Can the blind and the seeing be equal? Or the darkness and the light?”. OR
have they found partners to Allah who can create like Him and their creations

3. 3
seemed similar to them? Say: “Allah is the Creator of all things. And He is the One
and the Only, the Most Exalted and the Overwhelming”.
17Allah has sent down a water from the Heavens and valleys flooded according
to their capacity. Then the flood has loaded with a floating foam. There is a similar
foam on gems or that which you melt over fire to benefit. –Thus exemplifies Allah
the Truth and the superstition.- Then the foam is removed and that which avails
people remains. Thus exemplifies Allah.
18”The most beautiful” is for those who follow their Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher,
the Nurturer, the Sustainer]. And as for those who do not follow Him; if they had all
that which is on the Earth the same amount once more, they would certainly have
given it as ransom. And they are the ones for whom will be the worst account. And
their final destination is Jahannah [Hell]. How an evil destination it is!
19-24Then, is the one who knows that which has been revealed to you from your
Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] is the Truth equal to the one
who is blind to this? Surely, only those who are able to comprehend;
those who are faithful to their promises to Allah and who do not break their
covenants,
those who combine that which Allah wished to be combined; the faith and the
good deed,
those who awe at their Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]
with respect, love and knowledge and who fear the evil of their accounts,
those who have patience in order to obtain the acceptance of their Rabb [Lord,
the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer],
those who perform salat [support financially and spiritually; establish and
maintain institutions that enlighten the community],
those who openly or secretly spend the blessings We bestow upon them for the
cause of Allah
and those who eliminate evil with good take the admonition and contemplate.
For them are the consequence of this home; the gardens of Eden. They, the righteous
from among their ancestors, wives and descendants shall abide into the gardens of
Eden. And the forces in charge/harbinger Ayat shall enter upon them from every
gate: “Peace be upon you for that upon which you have had patience! How beautiful
is the consequence of this home!”.

4. 4
25And as for those who break their promise after they have been given their
“solemn covenant” swearing unto Allah and separate/interrupt that which Allah
commands to be combined; faith and deeds and make mischief on the Earth; for them
is the curse of Allah. And the evil home will be for them either.
26And Allah extends or restricts His blessings upon whomever He pleases. But
they rejoice over the convenience of the simple worldly life. However, the simple
worldly life is just an earning in Akhirat [Afterlife].
27-29,31And the infidels; those who consciously deny the Divinity of Allah and
the fact that He is Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] say: “Had
there been a Qur’an with which mountains are moved, the Earth is split open or the
dead are made to speak then why had evidence/a sign not been sent down upon
him..?”. Say: “Surely, Allah averts whomever He pleases and guides those who are
devout; those who believe and whose hearts are assured, eliminating all questions in
their minds by remembering Allah”. Open your eyes! Hearts can only be assured by
remembering Allah; eliminating all the questions in your minds. Those who believe
and do good deeds; only for them are the Tuba [Bliss/tree of blessedness in Jannah
[Heaven/Paradise]]; all the good, good tidings and a beautiful destination. In fact, the
whole command belongs to Allah. Have the believer still not understood that had
Allah wished so, He would certainly have guided all humankind. Those who deny;
they shall be hit by a calamity or a trouble will be sent down close to their lands for
what they do until the promise of Allah will come. Surely, Allah never breaks His
promise nor fails to fulfill in timely manner.383
(96/13; Ar-Ra’d/16-29, 31)
Division: 591
30Thus We have made you a messenger for a people with a leader, before
whom many people with a leader have passed away, so you may recite them that
which We have revealed to you while they disbelieve Rahman [Allah; The One Who
is Most Merciful Towards His Creations on the Earth]. Say: “Rahman [Allah; The
One Who is Most Merciful Towards His Creations on the Earth] is my Rabb [Lord,
the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer], there is no god but Him. I rely only unto
Him for my affairs, and I will return only to Him”.
32Surely, those messengers before you were all ridiculed. And I gave respite to
the infidels; those who deny My Divinity and the fact that I am Rabb [Lord, the
Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer]. Then I seized them. Behold! How severe is
My wrath!
38Surely, We have sent many prophets before you. And We gave them wives
and descendants [sons and daughters] as well. It is not possible for a prophet to bring

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evidence/a sign without the consent/knowledge of Allah. For each respite there is a
decree.
39Allah annihilates whomever He pleases and lets whomever He pleases intact.
The Mother of all Scriptures; the source of the knowledge is with Him.384
(96/13; Ar-Ra’ad/30, 32, 38-39)
Division: 592
33So, who is the one who stands upon/observes each soul with their earnings?
But they associate partners with Allah. Say: “Name them! Or will you inform Him
about that which He does not know on the Earth or about the word that is disclosed?
In fact, plots of the infidels; those who deny the Divinity of Allah and the fact that
He is Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] have been made
alluring to them so they have been averted from the righteous path. Whomever Allah
leads astray, there will be no guide for them.
34For them is a punishment in this simple worldly life. The punishment of
Akhirat [Afterlife], on the other hand, is certainly more severe. And there will be no-
one to protect them from the wrath of Allah.
(96/13; Ar-Ra’ad/33-34)
Division: 593
35Example of Jannah [Heaven/Paradise] that is promised to those who are
under the guardianship of Allah is as follows: Underneath of it rivers flow, its
blessings; fruits, colors, taste and shadows are eternal. This is the end of those who
are under the guardianship of Allah. End of the infidels; those who consciously deny
the Divinity of Allah and the fact that He is Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer,
the Sustainer] is the Fire.
(96/13; Ar-Ra’d/35)
Division: 594
36And those whom We have sent down a Scripture rejoice over that which We
have revealed to you. But among the opposing groups are those who manipulate a
part of them. Say: “I have been commanded only to worship Allah and refuse
associating partners with Him. I invite only to Him and to Him I will be returned”.
37Thus We have revealed the Qur’an in Arabic; a perfect law. And should you
follow their vain and transitory desires after the knowledge has come upon you, there
will be no “helper, guide nor protector” from Allah.

6. 6
40And if We should show you a part of that which We have promised to them
or remind you that which you did in the past and that which you failed to do while
being obliged to, your duty surely is to convey them. And Our duty is to conclude
accounts.385
(96/13; Ar-Ra’d/36-37, 40)
Division: 595
41And have they not seen that We have come to the Earth, reducing it from its
edges? Allah rules. There is no-one to forbid His rule. And He is swift in accounting.
42And those before them deceived as well. But it is upon Allah to disclose all
deceptions and punish. He knows what every man earns. The infidels; those who
consciously deny the Divinity of Allah and the fact that He is Rabb [Lord, the
Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer] shall know soon for whom is the consequence
of this home.
43And as for the blasphemers; those who consciously deny the Divinity of
Allah and the fact that He is Rabb [Lord, the Cherisher, the Nurturer, the Sustainer];
they say: “You are not the messenger”. Say: “Allah and the one who has the
knowledge of the Scripture are sufficient as witness between you and me”.
(96/13; Ar-Ra’d/41-43)
381 See Footnote No. 8.
382 See Footnotes No. 37 and 52.
383 Due to technical and semantic reasons, we rearranged this passage differently than the
Official Mushaf. For detailed information, see Tabyeen al-Qur’an.
384 See Footnote No. 353.
385 See Footnote No. 353.