أَوْ كَصَيِّبٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَاتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ يَجْعَلُونَ أَصَابِعَهُمْ فِي آذَانِهِمْ مِنَ الصَّوَاعِقِ حَذَرَ الْمَوْتِ وَاللَّهُ مُحِيطٌ بِالْكَافِرِينَ ﴿19﴾ يَكَادُ الْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَارَهُمْ كُلَّمَا أَضَاءَ لَهُمْ مَشَوْا فِيهِ وَإِذَا أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُوا وَلَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ﴿20﴾ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُوا رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿21﴾

﴾19﴿Aw kasaiyibim minas samaaa'i feehi zulumaatunw wa ra'dunw wa barq, yaj'aloona asaabi'ahum feee aazaanihim minas sawaa'iqi hazaral mawt' wallaahu muheetum bilkaafireen
﴾20﴿Yakaadul barqu yakhtafu absaarahum kullamaaa adaaa'a lahum mashaw feehi wa izaaa azlama 'alaihim qaamoo; wa law shaaa'al laahu lazahaba bisam'ihim wa absaarihim; innal laaha 'alaa kulli shai'in Qadeer
﴾21﴿Yaaa aiyuhan naasu'budoo Rabbakumul lazee khalaqakum wallazeena min qablikum la'allakum tattaqoon

﴾19﴿ Or their condition is like a heavy rainstorm from the sky, within which are darkness, thunder, and lightning. They place their fingers in their ears against the thunderclaps out of fear of death, but Allah encompasses the disbelievers (in His knowledge and power)
﴾20﴿ The lightning almost snatches away their sight. Whenever it gives them light, they walk in it, but when darkness falls upon them, they stand still. If Allah willed, He could take away their hearing and their sight. Indeed, Allah has power over all things
﴾21﴿ O people, worship your Lord alone—the One who created you and those before you—so that you may be saved (from polytheism and the fire of Hell)

[19] This second parable is for the hypocrites in belief. It is like a rainstorm from above, in which there is darkness, thunder, and lightning, and beneath it some people are trapped, placing their fingers in their ears out of fear of the thunderclap. In the same way, the Quran is revealed from the heavens, containing refutations of various forms of disbelief, polytheism, and hypocrisy, as well as the light of monotheism and faith. The hypocrites, when they hear the Quran's condemnation of hypocrisy and polytheism, block their ears to avoid being inclined toward monotheism. “Or like a rainstorm” — the word “or” indicates variation, meaning another type of people is being described. “Rainstorm” refers to a swift, heavy rain that includes the three mentioned elements, and it typically represents spring rain. “And Allah encompasses the disbelievers” means He surrounds them with His knowledge, power, and punishment—just as people under the storm cannot protect themselves from lightning by blocking their ears, the hypocrites cannot escape the punishment of Allah by turning away from the Quran.
[20] This third parable reflects the behavior of the hypocrite. It is like walking when lightning flashes and standing still when darkness returns. In the same way, the clarity of the proofs of monotheism confounds people, and the arguments of idolaters become powerless before it. This is like lightning, which gives hypocrites some worldly benefit, prompting them to accept Islam. But when those worldly gains are no longer achieved, they turn away from Islam. This is also mentioned in Surah Al-Hajj (verse 11), Surah An-Nur (verse 45), and Surah An-Nisa (verse 73). “If Allah willed, He could take away” means that people who do not make use of their hearing and sight are warned by Allah. A similar idea is found in Surah Ya-Sin (verses 66–67). “Indeed, Allah has power over all things” refers to everything possible—Allah has the power to create it and control it after creation.
[21] The second section extends to verse 39. Its summary is as follows: it begins with the declaration of monotheism in worship, supported by five rational proofs—one internal (relating to the soul and inner world), and four external (relating to the visible world: above, below, and everything in between). Then it affirms the truthfulness of the Messenger and the Quran, followed by warnings of the Hereafter and glad tidings, then answers to questions regarding parables mentioned in the Quran and the attributes of those who object meaninglessly. After that, four universal blessings are described. In verse 21, the core message is a call to reject associating partners in worship, supported by rational evidence from within the human soul. “Worship your Lord” is the call of the Quran and all the prophets (peace be upon them). Worship here means obedience with complete humility, combined with the belief in the divinity of the One being worshipped (believing Him to be the controller and knower of the unseen). This includes inner, physical, financial acts of worship, and obedience to divine commands. “And those before you” means your ancestors and even your false gods were in need of Allah for their creation. “So that you may be saved” — in the Quran, “so that” (la‘alla) means “in order that,” and here, taqwa refers to either its literal meaning (protection from punishment) or its legal meaning (piety and mindfulness of Allah).