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And the thunder - this is an angel, who is in charge of the clouds, driving them, [while he] constantly, proclaims His praise, that is, he says, 'Glory be to Allahu ta’ālā through His praise' (subhāna'Llāh wa-bi-hamdihi), and so too the angels, proclaim His praise, in awe of Him, that is, of Allahu ta’ālā. He unleashes the thunderbolts - these are a fire which issues forth from the clouds - and smites with them whom He will, such that it burns [that person]: this was revealed regarding a man to whom the Prophet "sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam" had sent someone to invite [to Islam] and who said, 'Who is the Messenger (rasūl) of Allahu ta’ālā? And what is Allahu ta’ālā? Is He [made] of gold, or of silver, or of copper?', whereupon a thunderbolt came down on him and blew off the top of his head; yet they, that is, the disbelievers, dispute, argue with the Prophet "sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam" , about Allahu ta’ālā, though He is great in might, in power, or in [the severity of His] retribution.