Ar-Ra"d - The Thunder
Arabic Name: الرَّعْد
Urdu Name: گرج
Type: Madani
Serial Number: 13
Revelation Order: 96
Total Verses: 43
Parah: 13
Rukus: 6
Sajda: 15
Share Verse Art
Arabic
Arabic + English
Arabic (Wide)
Arabic + Urdu
Free for personal & educational use with attribution
Quick Facts about this Verse
Surah
Ar-Ra"d
Revealed
Madani
Position
Juz 13
Explore this Verse
Verse Meaning
According to the consensus of classical scholars, verse 13:14 of Surah Ar-Ra'd is a foundational statement on Tawheed (divine unity) in worship and supplication. Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that the phrase 'lahu da'watul haqq' (to Him is the true call) refers exclusively to the worship of Allah alone, encapsulated in the testimony 'La ilaha illallah' (There is no god but Allah). This verse contrasts the guaranteed reality of calling upon Allah with the absolute futility of invoking any other being. The core of the verse is a powerful and multi-layered parable. It likens those who pray to false deities to a desperately thirsty person stretching out their hands to water, hoping it will reach their mouth, but it never does. Scholars like Mujahid and Ali ibn Abi Talib, as cited in classical tafsirs, have interpreted this image in several ways: as someone trying to call water from a distance, attempting to grasp a mere reflection, or simply being unable to hold water in open palms. The synthesis of these interpretations reveals a profound insight: shirk (polytheism) is not just incorrect, it is an act of utter irrationality and self-deception, as futile and unfulfilling as trying to drink from an illusion. This imagery powerfully conveys that any supplication directed to other than Allah is lost, misguided, and ultimately leads to nothing but ruin, as emphasized by the concluding phrase, 'And the supplication of the disbelievers is only in error.'
Questions for Reflection
The Parable's Imagery
Al-Tabari and Al-Qurtubi cite multiple interpretations of the man stretching his hands to water (calling from afar, grasping a reflection, etc.). Which of these images most powerfully resonates with you as a depiction of futility? Contemplate a time you placed hope in something other than Allah and how it felt like that specific image.
Personal 'Da'wah'
Ibn Kathir and Ibn Abbas define 'Da'watul Haqq' as the call of 'La ilaha illallah'. Beyond your words, what do your actions 'call upon' day-to-day? Where do you invest your ultimate energy, worry, and hope? How can you better align your life's 'call' with the 'True Call'?
The State of Misguidance
The verse concludes that the call of the disbelievers is 'in ضَلَالٍ' (dalal - misguidance/error). Al-Saadi explains this is because the act itself is futile. Contemplate the exhaustion and frustration of the person in the parable. How does this verse redefine 'misguidance' not just as a state of disbelief, but as a state of perpetual, exhausting, and fruitless effort?
Practical Applications
Conduct a 'Dua Audit' by reflecting on whom or what you turn to first in moments of need—is it truly Allah, or do you implicitly rely on people, wealth, or status?
Apply this when facing career uncertainty, health challenges, or relationship issues, consciously redirecting your first plea to Allah alone.
Memorize and visualize the parable of the thirsty person whenever tempted to place ultimate trust in worldly means.
Use this visualization before a critical business meeting, a medical appointment, or when feeling anxious about the future to anchor your trust in Allah.
Begin every supplication by consciously affirming the 'Da'watul Haqq'—the truth that only Allah is worthy of the call—to purify your intention.
Before asking for anything, whether in formal prayer or a spontaneous moment, take a breath and reaffirm this foundational truth.
Hidden Gem
The synthesis of the scholars' tafsir reveals a profound spiritual truth: the opposite of 'Da'watul Haqq' isn't just a false call, but a state of 'being lost' (dalal). Al-Tabari's linguistic analysis of the parable shows an action with no result, while Al-Saadi's theological insight shows a prayer with no destination. The combination reveals that shirk is a spiritual state of being fundamentally disconnected from cause and effect, reality, and purpose—a state of utter lostness.
Scroll to see more verses or use the dropdown in the breadcrumb to jump to any verse
Common Questions
2 more questions available in the full page