A Critical Study of the Narrative-Interpretive Phrase of “Al-Ra'd-u Malakun” in Islamic Scholars’ Thought (Case Study: Surah Al-Ra'd: 13)

Pointing out the meaning of “ra'd” and especially “tasbīh” in Surah al-Ra'd: 13, the early narrative and interpretive sources have discussed the issue in a variety of different views and approaches. One of these views is the meaning of “malak” for “ra'd” that has been supported by the Shiite and Sunni scholars, due to the existence of some proving hadiths. The believers in the naturalness of the phenomenon of “ra'd” (thunder) as well as those who have interpreted hadiths in this regard, have been called heretics by extremists. In addition, it is not possible to achieve a correct understanding of the verse 13 of Surah al-Ra'd without examining the narrations, especially the popular narrative phrase of “Al-Ra'd-u Malakun” and without analyzing the Qur’anic teachings in expressing the nature and function of other similar natural phenomena of “ra'd” in the world. Findings show that most of the narrative reports in this regard have been quoted in the class of Followers. The words of the Followers end mainly to Ibn Abbas, the famous Companion. In addition to being mawqūf, such reports contain weak and unknown narrators in their sanads, which degrade their authenticity. Examining these narrations after presenting them on the Qur’an and taking an analytical look at other sayings of Ahl al-Bayt (AS), indicates that the idea of scholars who consider “ra'd” as a natural phenomenon is more correct, although this view does not mean denying the angels’ role in affairs of the world.