Surah Al-Baqarah (2:19)

اَوۡ كَصَيِّبٍ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ فِيۡهِ ظُلُمٰتٌ وَّرَعۡدٌ وَّبَرۡقٌ ۚ يَجۡعَلُوۡنَ اَصَابِعَهُمۡ فِىۡۤ اٰذَانِهِمۡ مِّنَ الصَّوَاعِقِ حَذَرَ الۡمَوۡتِؕ وَاللّٰهُ مُحِيۡطٌۢ بِالۡكٰفِرِيۡنَ‏ ۝

Aw kasayyibin mina assama-ifeehi thulumatun waraAAdun wabarqunyajAAaloona asabiAAahum fee athanihim mina assawaAAiqihathara almawti wallahu muheetunbilkafireen

Or it is like a rainstorm from the sky within which is darkness, thunder and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps in dread of death. But Allāh is encompassing of the disbelievers.

Tadabbur (Reflection)

Theme of the Ayat

The Parable of the Storm: Truth arrives mixed with fear and warning.

The Insight

The storm represents the terrifying trials and warnings of Islam, with the lightning being the fleeting moments of truth that reach them. Faith often comes with fear and struggle. Do not let the warnings (thunder) paralyze you, but use the moments of conviction (lightning) to take steps forward, knowing truth is often terrifying to the unprepared soul.