Ar-Ra'd, ( ), or the Thunder, is the 13th chapter (sūrah) of the Qur'an, composed of 43 verses (āyāt). It has Muqattat (Quranic initials) المر (Alif. Lam. Mim. Ra or ALMR). Verse 15 contains a prostration symbol ۩: ۝ Whatsoever is in heaven and on earth worshippeth GOD, voluntarily or of force; and their shadows also, morning and evening. ۩ This sūrah is concerned with the oneness of God, the message, the Day of judgement, and the penalty. The sūrah revolves around an important axis that what is truth is clear through power and stability; what is falsehood is clear through its weakness. The verses call upon people to not be deceived by the glitter of falsehood because it is inevitably fleeting, while the truth shines throughout the entire universe. The name of the sūrah is from the word (Ar-Ra'd) (Thunder) in the 13th ayat. Summary 1 The infidels reject the Quran 2-4 God manifests himself to man in his works 5 The unbelievers deny the resurrection 6 Their punishment 7 Threatened judgments sure to come to pass 8 Unbelievers demand a sign 9-12 God is omniscient 12 God's purposes are unchangeable 13-14 Thunder and lightning indicates the unceasing works of angels who regulate the clouds and rains in their task given by God. Ibn Taymiyyah in his work, Majmu al-Fatwa al-Kubra, quoted the Marfu Hadith transmitted by Ali ibn abi Thalib, that Ra'd were the name of group of angels who herded the dark clouds like a shepherd. Ali further narrated that thunder (Ra'dan ) is the growling voices of those angels while herding the clouds, while lightning strikes (Sawa'iq ) are a device used by those angels in gathering and herding the raining clouds. Al-Suyuti narrated from the Hadith transmitted from Ibn Abbas about the lightning angels, while giving further commentary that hot light produced by lightning (Barq ) was the emitted light produced from a whip device used by those angels. Saudi Grand Mufti Abd al-Aziz Bin Baz also ruled the sunnah practice of reciting Sura Ar-Ra'd, Ayah 13| whenever a Muslim hears thunder, as this was practiced according to the Hadith tradition narrated by Zubayr ibn al-Awwam. ۩ 15 Idolaters invoke their gods in vain 16-17 All nature worships the Creator 18 The separation of infidels from true believers typified in the flowing stream and the melting metal 19-22 True believers described 23-24 Their reward 25