Clouds, Thunder and Lightning are Signs of Allah's Power
Allah states that He has full power over Al-Barq (lightning), which is the bright light that originates from within clouds. Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn `Abbas once wrote to Abu Al-Jald asking about the meaning of Al-Barq, and he said that it is water. Qatadah commented on Allah's statement,
[خَوْÙÂًا وَطَمَعًا]
(as a fear and as a hope.) "Fear for travelers, for they feel afraid of its harm and hardship, and hope for residents, awaiting its blessing and benefit and anticipating Allah's provisions.'' Allah said next,
[وَيÙÂنْشÙÂىء٠السَّØÂَابَ الثّÙÂقَالَ]
(And it is He Who brings up the clouds, heavy.) meaning, He originates the clouds that are heavy and close to the ground because of being laden with rain. Mujahid said that this part of the Ayah is about clouds that are heavy with rain. Allah's statement,
[وَيÙÂسَبّÙÂØÂ٠الرَّعْد٠بÙÂØÂَمْدÙÂهÙÂ]
(And Ar-Ra'd (thunder) glorifies and praises Him), is similar to His other statement,
[وَإÙÂن مّÙÂن شَىْء٠إÙÂلاَّ يÙÂسَبّÙÂØÂ٠بÙÂØÂَمْدَهÙÂ]
(And there is not a thing but glorifies His praise.) [17:44] Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibrahim bin Sa`d said, "My father told me that he was sitting next to Hamid bin `Abdur Rahman in the Masjid. A man from the tribe of Ghifar passed and Hamid sent someone to him to please come to them. When he came, Hamid said to me, `My nephew! Make space for him between me and you, for he had accompanied Allah's Messenger .' When that man came, he sat between me and Hamid and Hamid said to him, `What was the Hadith that you narrated to me from the Messenger of Allah ' He said, `A man from Ghifar said that he heard the Prophet say, i
«إÙÂنَّ اللهَ يÙÂنْشÙÂىء٠السَّØÂَابَ ÙÂَيَنْطÙÂق٠أَØÂْسَنَ النّÙÂطْقÙÂ، وَيَضْØÂَك٠أَØÂْسَنَ الضَّØÂÙÂك»
(Verily, Allah originates the clouds, and they speak in the most beautiful voice and laugh in the most beautiful manner.) It appears, and Allah has the best knowledge, that the cloud's voice is in reference to thunder and its laughter is the lightning. Musa bin `Ubaydah narrated that Sa`d bin Ibrahim said, "Allah sends the rain and indeed, none has a better smile than it, nor more comforting voice. Its smile is lightning and its voice is thunder.''
