أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَـٰتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصَـٰبِعَهُمْ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِم مِّنَ ٱلصَّوَٰعِقِ حَذَرَ ٱلْمَوْتِ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ مُحِيطٌۢ بِٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ 19
Translations
Or [it is] like a rainstorm from the sky within which is darkness, thunder and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps in dread of death. But Allāh is encompassing of the disbelievers.
Transliteration
Aw kasayyibin minas-sama'i fihi zulumat wa-ra'd wa-barq yaj'alun asabi'ahum fi adhanihim minas-sa'iqah hadhara al-mawt wa-Allahu muhit bi-al-kafireen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah uses the vivid metaphor of a rainstorm with darkness, thunder, and lightning to describe the spiritual state of disbelievers who fear the message of Allah. The image of people covering their ears in terror from lightning strikes illustrates how the disbelievers reject the Quran and divine signs out of fear and stubbornness. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this represents those who recognize the truth but deliberately turn away, and Allah emphasizes that He fully encompasses the disbelievers in His knowledge and control, ensuring accountability.
Revelation Context
This verse is part of Surah Al-Baqarah's broader section (2:15-20) describing the condition of hypocrites and disbelievers in Madinah during the early Islamic period. It follows the parable of the rain and precedes another metaphor about life and death, forming a thematic discussion on how the disbelievers respond to Allah's signs with fear and rejection.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Surah Al-Baqarah's theme of guidance versus misguidance. While no specific hadith directly references this verse, the general principle is supported by hadith collections emphasizing deliberate rejection of truth, such as statements in Sunan Ibn Majah about those who knowingly turn away from guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
Just as people protect themselves from physical danger, the disbelievers instinctively fear the signs of Allah, yet their deliberate turning away demonstrates that rejection of truth often stems from spiritual hardness rather than intellectual doubt. Modern believers should reflect that no amount of evasion can escape Allah's perfect knowledge and divine plan.
Related Ayahs
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُۥ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَّهُۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۗ مَن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يَشْفَعُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَىْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِۦٓ إِلَّا بِمَا شَآءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَـُٔودُهُۥ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْعَظِيمُ
Allāh - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursī extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ
And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith].
۞ إِنَّ ٱلصَّفَا وَٱلْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَآئِرِ ٱللَّهِ ۖ فَمَنْ حَجَّ ٱلْبَيْتَ أَوِ ٱعْتَمَرَ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْهِ أَن يَطَّوَّفَ بِهِمَا ۚ وَمَن تَطَوَّعَ خَيْرًا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ شَاكِرٌ عَلِيمٌ
Indeed, aṣ-Ṣafā and al-Marwah are among the symbols of Allāh. So whoever makes ḥajj [pilgrimage] to the House or performs ʿumrah - there is no blame upon him for walking between them. And whoever volunteers good - then indeed, Allāh is Appreciative and Knowing.
فَإِنِ ٱنتَهَوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
And if they cease, then indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.