Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of The Glorious Koran. An Explanatory Translation (1930)
who guard him by Allah’s command.1 Lo! Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts; and if Allah willeth misfortune for a folk there is none that can repel it, nor have they a defender beside Him.
12. He it is Who showeth you the lightning, a fear and a hope,2 and raiseth the heavy clouds.
13. The thunder hymneth His praise and (so do) the angels for awe of Him. He launcheth the thunder-bolts and smiteth with them whom He will while they dispute (in doubt) concerning Allah, and He is mighty in wrath.
14. Unto Him is the real prayer. Those unto whom they pray beside Allah respond to them not at all, save as (is the response to) one who stretcheth forth his hands toward water (asking) that it may come unto his mouth, and it will never reach it. The prayer of disbelievers goeth (far) astray.
15. And unto Allah falleth prostrate whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, as do their shadows in the morning and the evening hours.
16. Say (O Muhammad): Who is Lord of the heavens and the earth? Say: Allah! Say: Take ye then (others) beside Him for protectors, which, even for themselves, have neither benefit nor hurt? Say: Is the blind man equal to the seer, or is darkness equal to light? Or assign they unto Allah partners who created the like of His creation so that the creation (which they made and His creation) seemed alike to them? Sav: Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Almighty.
17. He sendeth down water from the sky, so that valleys flow according to their measure, and the flood beareth (on its
1 This is taken by some commentators to refer to “him who goeth freely in the daytime” in the previous verse. In that case it would read: “for whom are guards before him and behind him as if to guard him against Allah’s commandment.”
2 The fear is of the lightning, and the hope is of the rain.
