سُوْرَةُ الرَّعْدِ
Surah Ar-Ra'd (13) — Ayah 2
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى رَفَعَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ۖ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّ يَجْرِى لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ ﴿2﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Allâh is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see. Then, He rose above (Istawâ) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty). He has subjected the sun and the moon (to continue going round), each running (its course) for a term appointed. He manages and regulates all affairs; He explains the Ayât (proofs, evidence, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that you may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱللَّهُ
al-lahu
Allah
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
(is) the One Who
رَفَعَ
rafaʿa
raised
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
بِغَيْرِ
bighayri
without
عَمَدٍۢ
ʿamadin
pillars
تَرَوْنَهَا ۖ
tarawnahā
that you see
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
ٱسْتَوَىٰ
is'tawā
He established
عَلَى
ʿalā
on
ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ
l-ʿarshi
the Throne
وَسَخَّرَ
wasakhara
and subjected
ٱلشَّمْسَ
l-shamsa
the sun
وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ
wal-qamara
and the moon
كُلٌّۭ
kullun
each
يَجْرِى
yajrī
running
لِأَجَلٍۢ
li-ajalin
for a term
مُّسَمًّۭى ۚ
musamman
appointed
يُدَبِّرُ
yudabbiru
He arranges
ٱلْأَمْرَ
l-amra
the matter
يُفَصِّلُ
yufaṣṣilu
He details
ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ
l-āyāti
the Signs
لَعَلَّكُم
laʿallakum
so that you may
بِلِقَآءِ
biliqāi
in the meeting
رَبِّكُمْ
rabbikum
(with) your Lord
تُوقِنُونَ
tūqinūna
believe with certainty
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf
Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
2. 1. The meaning of "Istawa 'ala al-'Arsh" has already been explained before, that it refers to Allah's settling upon the Throne. This is the position of the Muhaddithin; they do not interpret it figuratively, as some other groups do with this and other attributes of Allah. However, the Muhaddithin say that its modality cannot be described, nor can it be likened to anything. (لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ البَصِيرُ) Ash-Shura.
2. 2. One meaning of this is that these will continue to function by Allah's command until a fixed time, i.e., until the Day of Resurrection, as He said: (وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَا ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ) Ya-Sin. And the sun runs its course for a term appointed. Another meaning is that both the moon and the sun continue moving in their respective orbits; the sun completes its cycle in a year and the moon in a month, as He said: (وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ) Ya-Sin. We have determined phases for the moon. There are seven major planets, among which two are the moon and the sun. Here, only these two are mentioned because they are the largest and most important. When even these two are subject to Allah's command, then the other planets are even more so under His command. And when these are subject to Allah's command, they cannot be deities; the true deity is the One Who has subjugated them. Therefore, He said: (لَا تَسْجُدُوْا للشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوْا لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَهُنَّ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ اِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُوْنَ) 41. Fussilat: 37) Ha Mim As-Sajdah: Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon, but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if it is Him you worship. (ۙ وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ ۭ وَالنُّجُوْمُ مُسَخَّرٰتٌۢ بِاَمْرِهٖ) 16. An-Nahl: 12) Al-A'raf: The sun, the moon, and the stars are all subservient to His command.
2. 2. One meaning of this is that these will continue to function by Allah's command until a fixed time, i.e., until the Day of Resurrection, as He said: (وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَا ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ) Ya-Sin. And the sun runs its course for a term appointed. Another meaning is that both the moon and the sun continue moving in their respective orbits; the sun completes its cycle in a year and the moon in a month, as He said: (وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ) Ya-Sin. We have determined phases for the moon. There are seven major planets, among which two are the moon and the sun. Here, only these two are mentioned because they are the largest and most important. When even these two are subject to Allah's command, then the other planets are even more so under His command. And when these are subject to Allah's command, they cannot be deities; the true deity is the One Who has subjugated them. Therefore, He said: (لَا تَسْجُدُوْا للشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوْا لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَهُنَّ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ اِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُوْنَ) 41. Fussilat: 37) Ha Mim As-Sajdah: Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon, but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if it is Him you worship. (ۙ وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ ۭ وَالنُّجُوْمُ مُسَخَّرٰتٌۢ بِاَمْرِهٖ) 16. An-Nahl: 12) Al-A'raf: The sun, the moon, and the stars are all subservient to His command.
