24 Preface وَمِن آياتِهِ يُريكُمُ البَرقَ خَوفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً فَيُحيي بِهِ الأَرضَ بَعدَ مَوتِها ۚ إِنَّ في ذٰلِكَ لَآياتٍ لِقَومٍ يَعقِلونَYusuf AliAnd among His Signs, He shows you the lightning, by way both of fear1 and of hope, and He sends down rain from the sky and with it gives life to the earth after it is dead: verily in that are Signs for those who are wise.See last note, item (5). Cf. 13:12. To cowards lightning and thunder appear as terrible forces of nature: lightning seems to kill and destroy where its irresistible progress is not assisted by proper lightning-conductors. But lightning is also a herald of rain-bearing clouds and showers that bring fertility and prosperity in their train. This double aspect is also symbolical of spiritual fears and hopes-fears lest we may not be found receptive or worthy of the irresistible perspicuous Message of God, and hopes that we may receive in the right spirit and be blessed by its mighty power of transformation to achieve spiritual well-being. Note that the repetition of the phrase “gives life to the earth after it is dead” connects this verse with verse 19 above: in other words, the Revelation, which we must receive with wisdom and understanding, is a Sign of God’s own power and mercy, and is vouchsafed in order to safeguard our own final Future.