يُرْسِلِ ٱلسَّمَآءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا 11
Translations
He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers
Transliteration
Yursil al-sama'a 'alaykum midrar
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah sending down rain abundantly upon the people as a blessing and sign of His mercy. Noah is presenting this as one of the benefits of obedience to Allah—that He would send continuous, abundant rainfall (midrar means flowing/abundant rain) to nourish their crops and sustain their livelihood. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that this was part of Noah's message offering his people material prosperity alongside spiritual guidance, demonstrating Allah's bounty for those who believe.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Noah's sermon to his people, where he outlines the blessings Allah would grant them if they abandoned idolatry and embraced monotheism. The surah records Noah's 950-year mission of preaching to his people, and this particular verse represents his appeal using both spiritual and material incentives—showing that faith leads to worldly blessing alongside eternal reward.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'When the sky sends down rain, the cattle lift their tails toward it' (Tirmidhi). This relates to the theme of rain as a sign of Allah's mercy and provision. Additionally, the Qur'an states elsewhere (Qur'an 22:63) that Allah sends down rain and makes things grow, reinforcing this theme throughout Islamic teaching.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that obedience to Allah brings both spiritual fulfillment and material prosperity, encouraging believers to trust that following divine guidance leads to comprehensive blessings in both this life and the hereafter. It reminds us to recognize rain and natural abundance as signs of Allah's favor, motivating gratitude and continued faithfulness.
Related Ayahs
وَخَلَقْنَا لَهُم مِّن مِّثْلِهِۦ مَا يَرْكَبُونَ
And We created for them from the likes of it that which they ride.
فَنَادَىٰهَا مِن تَحْتِهَآ أَلَّا تَحْزَنِى قَدْ جَعَلَ رَبُّكِ تَحْتَكِ سَرِيًّا
But he called her from below her, "Do not grieve; your Lord has provided beneath you a stream.
وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ وَٱلنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَٰتٌۢ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
And He has subjected for you the night and day and the sun and moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason.
وَنَزَّلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً مُّبَـٰرَكًا فَأَنۢبَتْنَا بِهِۦ جَنَّـٰتٍ وَحَبَّ ٱلْحَصِيدِ
And We have sent down blessed rain from the sky and made grow thereby gardens and grain from the harvest