[Parables in the Quran] Day 19 - Ayah 19

Sahih International

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 Allah is encompassing of the disbelievers.

 

  TAFSEER  

This Ayah is yet another parable given by Allah (swt) which describes how those hypocrites are that sometimes know the truth and doubt it at other times. When they suffer from doubt, confusion and disbelief, it's like the rain when it comes down during the darkness. This darkness refers to doubts, disbelief and hypocrisy. The term Thunder giver refers to the shocks that attack their hearts with fear. The hypocrites are usually full of anxiety and fear. The lighting is in reference to the light of the true faith that is sometimes felt in the hearts of the hypocrites. Their cautiousness doesn't benefit them because they are bound by Allah's will and decision. This verse explains the example for the hypocrites that pretend Islam and they conceal their actual belief. Islam doesn't benefit them since they don't truly believe in it. But instead they continue and increase in their misguidance moving around blindly. 

the "rainstorm from the sky" which is strong rain falling from the sky. But they do not benefit from the sky fall, rather they bring with it darkness, thunder and lighting, which are elements of destruction. These elements come with such intensity, such that they put their fingers or fingertips which is an metaphorical phrase given by using the part to mean the whole - in their ears afraid that their hearing will go form the loudness of the thunder and fearing for their life from the severity of the thunder sounds. They also fear the loss of their sight from the extreme brightness of the lightning. All this is due to the the terror and horrific falling of the rain that is darkness on top of darkness. They go in the brightness of the lightning but step away when it stops which puts them in the state of confusion. This ayah is the example showing the hypocrites lack of benefiting Islam despite it's greatness and they continue in the path of error. 

~H.T.A~

Also check out:

Surah Baqarah: Ayah 19-20 commentary