وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَرْسَلَ ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ بُشْرًۢا بَيْنَ يَدَىْ رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۚ وَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً طَهُورًا 48
Translations
And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy [i.e., rainfall], and We send down from the sky pure water
Transliteration
Wa huwa alladhī arsala al-riyāḥa bushran bayna yaday raḥmatihi wa anzalnā min al-samāʾi māʾan ṭahūran
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's mercy through natural phenomena: He sends winds as heralds announcing the coming of rain, which is a manifestation of His compassion toward His creation. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir emphasize that the winds (riyāḥ) serve as signs (āyāt) preceding rainfall, and the water (māʾ) described as pure (ṭahūr) is essential for life, agriculture, and ritual purification. The sequence illustrates the divine system of mercy where wind brings cool air and moisture, preparing the earth for the blessed rain that sustains all living beings.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Furqan (The Criterion), a Meccan surah that emphasizes Allah's oneness, His signs in creation, and responses to Meccan objections. It appears within a passage highlighting the signs of Allah's power and mercy in the natural world, strengthening believers' faith through observable phenomena.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said: 'The wind is one of the signs of Allah. When you see it, do not curse it, but ask Allah for the good it brings and seek refuge with Allah from its evil.' (Sunan Ibn Mājah and Sunan Abī Dāwūd). Additionally, Aʿishah reported that the Prophet would become anxious when the wind blew. (Sahih Bukhari 1032)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to recognize Allah's mercy in everyday natural occurrences and to develop gratitude and mindfulness of His sustaining power. By observing how Allah sends winds to prepare the earth for life-giving rain, believers are reminded to trust in His providence and to see the interconnectedness of His creation as evidence of His wisdom and compassion.