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
فَجَعَلْنَـٰهَا نَكَـٰلًا لِّمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا وَمَوْعِظَةً لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
And We made it a deterrent punishment for those who were present and those who succeeded [them] and a lesson for those who fear Allāh.
أَوَكُلَّمَا عَـٰهَدُوا۟ عَهْدًا نَّبَذَهُۥ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُم ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Is it not [true] that every time they took a covenant a party of them threw it away? But, [in fact], most of them do not believe.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ
Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world [in exchange] for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided.
وَلِكُلٍّ وِجْهَةٌ هُوَ مُوَلِّيهَا ۖ فَٱسْتَبِقُوا۟ ٱلْخَيْرَٰتِ ۚ أَيْنَ مَا تَكُونُوا۟ يَأْتِ بِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
For each [religious following] is a [prayer] direction toward which it faces. So race to [all that is] good. Wherever you may be, Allāh will bring you forth [for judgement] all together. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.