Surah Ar-Ra'd (13) — Ayah 12

He it is who shows you the lightning, causing fear and hope, and He forms the heavy clouds [19].

[19] The weight of clouds laden with water can be estimated somewhat from this rain and somewhat from the area over which these clouds pour down. The air, which cannot bear even the weight of a light piece of paper and lets it fall to the ground, carries on its shoulders the weight of clouds containing millions of tons of water. Just imagining this gives an idea of Allah’s immense power. These water-filled clouds sometimes form in layers upon layers. There is an electric force present in this water. In some layers there is positive electricity, in others negative. When these clouds meet, a tremendous explosion and fiery flash is produced due to the attraction and repulsion of electricity. This fiery flash is called lightning or flashing electricity, and this explosion is called thunder or rumbling. The lightning is immediately visible to the people of the earth, but the thunder or rumbling is heard a few moments later, because the speed of sound is much less than the speed of light. Most of the time, this electricity is absorbed into the water of these clouds, and when it is produced in greater quantity or for some other reason falls to the earth, such falling electricity is called a sa‘iqah (pl. sawa‘iq). Therefore, when a person sees lightning flashing, he hopes that rain of mercy will fall, but he also fears that the terrible thunder might deafen him. That is why, during severe thunder, a person puts his fingers in his ears, and there is also the danger that lightning might strike and cause destruction. This is the explanation presented by our physicists and scientists. But according to Islamic belief, this thunder and lightning, etc., are not the result of natural laws. Rather, Allah Almighty has appointed angels to manage the affairs of the universe. They are the managers of affairs. The angel Mika’il is appointed over clouds and rain. He drives and moves the clouds, and drives them in the direction where Allah commands. Then the rain falls exactly where Allah wills. It is from the striking of the whip of this angel that thunder and lightning are produced, and the falling lightning also falls only where this angel is commanded by Allah, and where Allah intends its destruction. Thus: Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar ؓ says that when the Prophet ﷺ heard the sound of thunder, he would say: «اللہم لا تقتلنا بغضبك ولا تهلكنا بعذابك وعا فنا قبل ذٰلك» [ترمذي، ابواب الدعوات باب مايقول اذا سمع الرعد]
The extent of Allah Almighty’s control over the the raining of clouds, their movement, and their direction can be gauged from the following hadith. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said: A man was walking in the wilderness when he heard a voice from a cloud, as if someone was saying, “Go and water the garden of so-and-so.” The cloud moved to one side, then rained on a stony ground. A channel collected all that water. The man followed the water. Moving ahead, he saw a man correcting the channel with a spade to irrigate his garden. As soon as the channel was fixed, the rainwater reached there. The man who was following was greatly amazed at Allah’s power and asked the garden owner, “O servant of Allah! What is your name?” He gave the same name that the man had heard from the cloud. Now the garden owner asked the man, “O servant of Allah! Why do you ask my name?” He replied, “I heard this voice from the cloud whose water you are using to irrigate your field, ‘Go and water the garden of so-and-so.’ Your name was mentioned in it. Now tell me, what is that deed of yours because of which Allah is so merciful to you?” The garden owner said, “Now that you have heard this, I will tell you. From the produce of this garden, I give one third in charity, one third is for me and my family to eat, and one third I return to the garden (i.e., I spend it on the expenses of the next crop).” [مسلم، كتاب الزهد، باب فضل الانفاق على المساكين وابن السبيل]
Here the question arises that the polytheists also say that such-and-such angel or deity is the owner of clouds or rain, and such-and-such is the owner of death, and such-and-such is the owner of such-and-such work, so what is the difference between their beliefs and those of Muslims? The answer to this question is that the belief of the polytheists is that such-and-such angel or such-and-such deity is the god of clouds or rain, and can make it rain wherever he wishes. Accordingly, they try to worship him to please him or to avoid his wrath, and these angels or deities are made partners with Allah in the management of affairs. But according to Islamic belief, angels are not owners or independent, but obedient slaves and appointed servants of Allah. That is why in these verses Allah has clearly stated that both thunder and the angels glorify and sanctify Allah, and this is pure servitude and slavery, just as everything in the universe is engaged in the glorification and sanctification of Allah.