"fatal rain" - 25:40 (Surah Al Furqan)

[Ruhi_Rose]

 



"And indeed they have passed by the township whereon was rained the fatal rain. Can it be that they have not seen it?  Nay, but they are not expecting resurrection."   25:40.


As-Salam Alaykum and peace dear folks.

Would anyone have an idea what the "fatal rain" refers to?   

And, I would presume it is some region north of the Arabian peninsula, right?

[N. Truth Seeker]

Walaikum As-Salam Sister.   We cannot be sure, but "fatal rain" may allude to very heavy rainfall bringing lot of death, destruction and floods.  It may also refer to volcanic eruption spewing lava far and wide.  Some commentators have surmised that it means 'rain of stones.'   This is also possible, alluding to hailstones falling during heavy rains and thunderstorms. 

It's also hard to confirm the precise geographical location.  A. A. Maududi surmises the reference is to the people of Lot.  But the Quran has not confirmed the community nor the location.  Maududi also mentions that the "people of Hijaz while traveling to Palestine and Syria, passed by its ruins and heard the horrible stories of its destruction."  This certainly must be true.  Pickthall, in his commentary, mentions that likely the geographical location was the region near the Dead Sea.  And the travelling trade route from Arabia to Palestine, Syria and Lebanon - which were popular trade destinations from Arabia - goes right past the Dead Sea.   So I think most likely it refers to the Dead Sea region.  Only Allah knows best;  and also in regard to the name of the community, Allah knows best.   But the ruins of that community after they were destroyed for their disobedience was clear to view.  This is what the first sentence of this Ayat (in question form) refers to. The disbelievers did not believe in the Hereafter.  So they did not focus on these ruins neither did they take them seriously as a warning.  They just past by as careless onlookers with wandering minds, unlike a sincere believer who thinks deep, reflects, sees the remnants of such events as indication of truth providing insight to realities beyond earthly world.  This is the reference of the second sentence of this Ayat.

This map will make it easier to understand.


Ancient map showing trade route (in green) of travellers from Arabia
to Palestine, Syria and Lebanon passing by the Dead Sea.

[Ruhi_Rose]

Plenty of thanks brother.   Very logically and articulately explained.  Mash'Allah.

I've heard hailstones can be destructive, right?    Are hailstones weather-related, I mean, typical of cold or warm weather?

[N. Truth Seeker]

Usually in warm weather but also in mild winters.   Happens during thunderstorms and heavy rain.  Hail season is generally during the warmer months when thunderstorms develop.  They are quite common in northern Middle Eastern countries during mild winter season when rain, gusty weather and thunderstorms occur quite frequently.

Hailstones are formed by layers of water that freeze in large storm clouds.  They eventually fall on the ground when they become too heavy to remain in the clouds or sometimes if there is not much wind in the atmosphere to push them back into the clouds.  But usually they fall when they are too heavy.  Hail is formed when droplets of water freeze into ice in upper layer of thunderstorm clouds and thus called hailstones.   Alhumdulilah.   Some are small, some are quite large or very large, between 5 mm and 15 cm in diameter.  Sometimes round, sometimes with jagged edges.  If large hailstones fall on people and animals, yes, they can cause severe injury or even death.

[Ruhi_Rose]

I see.  Subhan'Allah.  Thanks again brother.    

[N. Truth Seeker]

Very welcome sister.