Al-Qur'an Surah Ar-Ra'd Verse 2

Mufti Taqi Usmani

Allah is the One who raised the heavens without pillars that you can see them. Then He positioned Himself on the Throne and subjugated the sun and the moon, each one of them running to an appointed time. He manages all matters, elaborating the signs, so that you may be sure of meeting your Lord.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

It is Allah Who has raised the heavens without pillars—as you can see—then established Himself on the Throne. He has subjected the sun and the moon, each orbiting for an appointed term. He conducts the whole affair. He makes the signs clear so that you may be certain of the meeting with your Lord.

Ruwwad Translation Center

It is Allah Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see, then He rose over the Throne. He subjected the sun and the moon, each running its course for an appointed term. He governs all affairs, and explains the signs in detail, so that you may be certain of the meeting with your Lord.

A. J. Arberry

God is He who raised up the heavens without pillars you can see, then He sat Himself upon the Throne. He subjected the sun and the moon, each one running to a term stated. He directs the affair; He distinguishes the signs; haply you will have faith in the encounter with your Lord.

Abdul Haleem

It is God who raised up the heavens with no visible supports and then established Himself on the throne; He has subjected the sun and the moon each to pursue its course for an appointed time; He regulates all things, and makes the revelations clear so that you may be certain of meeting your Lord;

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Allah it is who hath raised the heavens without pillars that ye can see, then He established Himself on the throne, and subjected the sun and the moon, each running unto a period determined. He disposeth the affair, and detaileth the signs, that haply of the meeting with your Lord ye may be convinced.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that ye can see; is firmly established on the throne (of authority); He has subjected the sun and the moon (to his Law)! Each one runs (its course) for a term appointed. He doth regulate all affairs, explaining the signs in detail, that ye may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord.

Abul Ala Maududi

It is Allah Who has raised the heavens without any supports that you could see, and then He established Himself on the Throne (of Dominion). And He it is Who has made the sun and the moon subservient (to a law), each running its course till an appointed term. He governs the entire order of the universe and clearly explains the signs that you may be firmly convinced about meeting your Lord.

Ahmed Ali

It is God who raised the skies without support, as you can see, then assumed His throne, and enthralled the sun and the moon (so that) each runs to a predetermined course. He disposes all affairs, distinctly explaining every sign that you may be certain of the meeting with your Lord.

Ahmed Raza Khan

It is Allah Who raised up the heavens without columns for you to observe, then (in the manner befitting His Majesty) established Himself upon the Throne (of control), then subjected the sun and the moon; each one runs for up to an appointed term; Allah plans the works and explain the signs in detail, so that you may believe in meeting with your Lord.

Ali Quli Qarai

It is Allah who raised the heavens without any pillars that you see, and then presided over the Throne. He disposed the sun and the moon, each moving for a specified term. He directs the command, [and] elaborates the signs that you may be certain of encountering your Lord.

Ali Ünal

God it is Who has raised the heavens without pillars you can see, then He established Himself on the Supreme Throne; and He made the sun and the moon subservient to His command, each running its course for a term appointed by Him. He directs all affairs (as the sole Ruler of creation); He sets out in detail the signs and proofs of the truth and the relevant Revelations included in the Book, that you may have certainty in the meeting with your Lord (on Judgment Day).

Amatul Rahman Omar

Allâh is He Who raised up the heavens without any pillars that you can see, and He occupied the throne (of sovereignty). And He made the sun and the moon subservient (to you), each one of these (planets) pursues its course for a specified term. He regulates all affairs (of this universe). He explains in detail His Messages so that you may have firm conviction of the meeting with your Lord.

English Literal

God (is) who raised the skies/space without pillars/posts/columns (that) you see/understand it, then He aimed to/tended to/sat on on the throne , and He manipulated/subjugated the sun and the moon each passes/orbits to a named/identified (specified) term/time, He plans/regulates the order/command/matter/affair, He details/explains/clarifies the verses/evidences , maybe/perhaps you, with meeting your Lord, you be sure/certain.

Faridul Haque

It is Allah Who raised up the heavens without columns for you to observe, then (in the manner befitting His Majesty) established Himself upon the Throne (of control), then subjected the sun and the moon; each one runs for up to an appointed term; Allah plans the works and explain the signs in detail, so that you may believe in meeting with your Lord.

Hamid S. Aziz

ALIF LAM MIM RA. These are the signs (or verses) of the Book; that which is sent down to you from your Lord is the truth; but most people believe not.

Hilali & Khan

Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see. Then, He Istawa (rose above) 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 regulates all affairs, explaining the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that you may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

I, Allah, am the Best Knower, the Seer. These are verses of the Book. And that which is revealed to thee from thy Lord is the Truth, but most people believe not.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you see, and He is firm in power and He made the sun and the moon subservient (to you); each one pursues its course to an appointed time; He regulates the affair, making clear the signs that you may be certain of meeting your Lord.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Allah it is Who raised up the heavens without visible supports, then mounted the Throne, and compelled the sun and the moon to be of service, each runneth unto an appointed term; He ordereth the course; He detaileth the revelations, that haply ye may be certain of the meeting with your Lord.

Muhammad Sarwar

God is the One Who raised the heavens without a pillar as you can see. Then He established his control over the realm and made the sun and moon subservient to Him. Each of them will remain in motion for an appointed time. He regulates all affairs and explains the evidence (of His existence) so that perhaps you will be certain of your meeting with your Lord.

Qaribullah & Darwish

It is Allah who raised the heavens without pillars that you see. Then He willed to the Throne and subjected the sun and the moon, each pursuing an appointed course. He directs the affair. He makes plain His verses so that you will firmly believe in meeting your Lord.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see. Then, He rose above (Istawa) the `Arsh [Throne]. He has subjected the sun and the moon, each running (its course) for a term appointed. He manages and regulates all affairs; He explains the Ayat in detail, that you may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord.

Wahiduddin Khan

It was God who raised the heavens with no visible supports, and then established Himself on the throne; He has regulated the sun and the moon, so that each will pursue its course for an appointed time; He ordains all things and makes plain His revelations, so that you may be certain of meeting your Lord;

Talal Itani

God is He who raised the heavens without pillars that you can see, and then settled on the Throne. And He regulated the sun and the moon, each running for a specified period. He manages all affairs, and He explains the signs, that you may be certain of the meeting with your Lord.

Tafsir jalalayn

God is He Who raised up the heavens without visible supports (`amad is the plural of `imd, which is [the same as] an ustuwna, `a column'; and this [statement] is true, since there are no actual supports) then presided upon the Throne, a presiding befitting Him, and disposed, made subservient, the sun and the moon, each one, of them, moving, along its course, until [the conclusion of] an appointed time, that is, [until] the Day of Resurrection. He directs the command, He conducts the affairs of His Kingdom. He details, He expounds, the signs, the indications of His power, so that you, O people of Mecca, might be certain of the encounter with your Lord, through resurrection.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Clarifying Allah's Perfect Ability

Allah tells;

اللّهُ الَّذِي رَفَعَ السَّمَاوَاتِ


Allah is He Who raised the heavens,

Allah mentions His perfect ability and infinite authority, since it is He Who has raised the heavens without pillars by His permission and order. He, by His leave, order and power, has elevated the heavens high above the earth, distant and far away from reach. The heaven nearest to the present world encompasses the earth from all directions, and is also high above it from every direction.

The distance between the first heaven and the earth is five hundred years from every direction, and its thickness is also five hundred years.

The second heaven surrounds the first heaven from every direction, encompassing everything that the latter carries, with a thickness also of five hundred years and a distance between them of five hundred years. The same is also true about the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth and the seventh heavens.

Allah said,

اللَّهُ الَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَـوَتٍ وَمِنَ الاٌّرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ

It is Allah who has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof. (65;12)

Allah said next,

بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا

..without any pillars that you can see.

meaning, `there are pillars, but you cannot see them,'

according to Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, and several other scholars.

Iyas bin Mu`awiyah said,

"The heaven is like a dome over the earth,"

meaning, without pillars.

Similar was reported from Qatadah, and this meaning is better for this part of the Ayah, especially since Allah said in another Ayah,

وَيُمْسِكُ السَّمَأءَ أَن تَقَعَ عَلَى الاٌّرْضِ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ

He withholds the heaven from falling on the earth except by His permission. (22;65)

Therefore, Allah's statement,
تَرَوْنَهَا
(...that you can see), affirms that there are no pillars. Rather, the heaven is elevated (above the earth) without pillars, as you see.

This meaning best affirms Allah's ability and power.
Al-Istawa', Rising above the Throne

Allah said next,

ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ

Then, He rose above (Istawa) the Throne.

We explained the meaning of the Istawa' in Surah Al-A`raf (7;54), and stated that it should be accepted as it is without altering, equating, annulling its meaning, or attempts to explain its true nature. Allah is glorified and praised from all that they attribute to Him.
Allah subjected the Sun and the Moon to rotate continuously

Allah said,

وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ

كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لَاجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى

He has subjected the sun and the moon, each running (its course) for a term appointed.

It was said that the sun and the moon continue their course until they cease doing so upon the commencement of the Final Hour, as Allah stated,

وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا

And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). (36;38)

It was also said that the meaning is;

until they settle under the Throne of Allah after passing the other side of the earth. So when they, and the rest of the planetary bodies reach there, they are at the furthest distance from the Throne. Because according to the correct view, which the texts prove, it is shaped like a dome, under which is all of the creation. It is not circular like the celestial bodies, because it has pillars by which it is carried. This fact is clear to those who correctly understand the Ayat and authentic Hadiths. All the (praise is due to) Allah and all the favors are from Him.

Allah mentioned the sun and the moon here because they are among the brightest seven heavenly objects. Therefore, if Allah subjected these to His power, then it is clear that He has also subjected all other heavenly objects.

يُدَبِّرُ الَامْرَ

He manages and regulates all affairs;

Allah said in other Ayat,

لَا تَسْجُدُواْ لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُواْ لِلَّهِ الَّذِى خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ

Prostrate yourselves not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate yourselves to Allah Who created them, if you (really) worship Him. (41;37)

and,

وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالاٌّمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَـلَمِينَ

And (He created) the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His command. Surely, His is the creation and commandment. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of all that exists! (7;54)

Allah's statement next,

يُفَصِّلُ الايَاتِ لَعَلَّكُم بِلِقَاء رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ



He explains the Ayat in detail, that you may believe with certainty in the Meeting with your Lord.

means, He explains the signs and clear evidences that testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him. These evidences prove that He will resurrect creation if He wills, just as He started it