الرحمن
Surah Ar-Rahman
The Beneficent · Surah 55 · Medinan · 78 verses
1ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ ١The Beneficent.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, ar-Rahman is the name of Allah whose mercy and blessings flow without end. The surah opens with this name and then goes on to count His blessings.2عَلَّمَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ ٢Hath made known the Qur’an.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the verse does not say whom He taught, because the point is the teaching itself: teaching Gabriel, the Prophet and the community are all part of this blessing.3خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ ٣He hath created man.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, though some say it means Adam or the Prophet, “man” here is mankind as a whole; the perfect human, to whom the Qur’an is taught, may also be meant.4عَلَّمَهُ ٱلۡبَيَانَ ٤He hath taught him utterance.InsightElmalılı explains “bayan” as man’s ability to express what is in his heart and mind clearly and beautifully, and to understand. The blessing of learning the Qur’an becomes possible through it.5ٱلشَّمۡسُ وَٱلۡقَمَرُ بِحُسۡبَانࣲ ٥The sun and the moon are made punctual.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the sun and moon run by exact reckoning; so people too should learn to reckon well, knowing a day of reckoning will come, and prepare for it.6وَٱلنَّجۡمُ وَٱلشَّجَرُ يَسۡجُدَانِ ٦The stars and the trees prostrate.InsightElmalılı explains “najm” as plants without a stem and “shajar” as trees with a trunk: they submit to Allah’s will. So people too should willingly submit to His commands.7وَٱلسَّمَآءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ ٱلۡمِيزَانَ ٧And the sky He hath uplifted; and He hath set the measure.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the sentence is built to draw attention first to the sky: “Look at the sky, He raised it.” Then comes the balance: measure and equilibrium.8أَلَّا تَطۡغَوۡاْ فِي ٱلۡمِيزَانِ ٨That ye exceed not the measure.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this means not overstepping the law and its limits, not acting without measure, and not exceeding in any material or moral weighing.9وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلۡوَزۡنَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ وَلَا تُخۡسِرُواْ ٱلۡمِيزَانَ ٩But observe the measure strictly, nor fall short thereof.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, in word and deed one must weigh with justice: not tipping the scale one way when weighing for yourself and the other way for others, but keeping its needle true.10وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَضَعَهَا لِلۡأَنَامِ ١٠And the earth hath He appointed for (His) creatures.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the earth being spread out below in this way is for the benefit of the creatures upon it.11فِيهَا فَٰكِهَةࣱ وَٱلنَّخۡلُ ذَاتُ ٱلۡأَكۡمَامِ ١١Wherein are fruit and sheathed palm-trees.InsightElmalılı explains “akmam” as the husk covering the blossom, the sheath: the date grows inside protective coverings.12وَٱلۡحَبُّ ذُو ٱلۡعَصۡفِ وَٱلرَّيۡحَانُ ١٢Husked grain and scented herb.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, grains like wheat and barley grow inside green leaves; when the leaves dry they become straw, so both the grain and the leaf are useful. Fragrant plants bring the spirit joy.13فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ١٣Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, denying a blessing is rejecting it with ingratitude: denying that it is a blessing, or that it comes from the Giver.14خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِن صَلۡصَٰلࣲ كَٱلۡفَخَّارِ ١٤He created man of clay like the potter’s.InsightElmalılı explains “salsal” as dry clay that rings when struck, and “fakhkhar” as well-fired pottery: man’s first origin is dry earth, so far from life.15وَخَلَقَ ٱلۡجَآنَّ مِن مَّارِجࣲ مِّن نَّارࣲ ١٥And the jinn did He create of smokeless fire.InsightElmalılı explains “jann” as jinn; if “man” here means Adam, “jann” means the father of the jinn.16فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ١٦Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.17رَبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقَيۡنِ وَرَبُّ ٱلۡمَغۡرِبَيۡنِ ١٧Lord of the two Easts, and Lord of the two Wests.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, He does not only create man and jinn; He is the Lord of every direction of existence and every stage of perfection.18فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ١٨Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.19مَرَجَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَيۡنِ يَلۡتَقِيَانِ ١٩He hath loosed the two seas. They meet.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “maraja” here means released; various explanations are given for the two seas, chief among them the sweet and salt waters of Surat al-Furqan.20بَيۡنَهُمَا بَرۡزَخࣱ لَّا يَبۡغِيَانِ ٢٠There is a barrier between them. They encroach not (one upon the other).InsightElmalılı explains “barzakh” as a barrier, a dividing limit between two things; in geography it is land between two seas. Here it is either that or a limit set by divine power.21فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٢١Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.22يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡهُمَا ٱللُّؤۡلُؤُ وَٱلۡمَرۡجَانُ ٢٢There cometh forth from both of them the pearl and coral-stone.23فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٢٣Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.24وَلَهُ ٱلۡجَوَارِ ٱلۡمُنشَـَٔاتُ فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ كَٱلۡأَعۡلَٰمِ ٢٤His are the ships displayed upon the sea, like banners.InsightElmalılı explains “munsha’at” as constructed: though people build ships, the ability and materials to build them are a blessing from Allah.25فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٢٥Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.26كُلُّ مَنۡ عَلَيۡهَا فَانࣲ ٢٦Everyone that is thereon will pass away.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, everyone on earth will flow away into extinction and die, just as ships flow on the water and pass.27وَيَبۡقَىٰ وَجۡهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو ٱلۡجَلَٰلِ وَٱلۡإِكۡرَامِ ٢٧There remaineth but the Countenance of thy Lord of Might and Glory.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “Face” here means the Lord Himself, since the attribute “Owner of Majesty and Honour” is grammatically tied to it.28فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٢٨Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the blessing here is the permanence that comes after extinction: though you are mortal, how can you be ungrateful to a Lord whose generosity continues even after you pass away?29يَسۡـَٔلُهُۥ مَن فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ كُلَّ يَوۡمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأۡنࣲ ٢٩All that are in the heavens and the earth entreat Him. Every day He exerciseth (universal) power.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, every being asks of Him everything it needs for its existence, continuation and every state; it asks constantly, by word or by its very condition.30فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٠Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.31سَنَفۡرُغُ لَكُمۡ أَيُّهَ ٱلثَّقَلَانِ ٣١We shall dispose of you, O ye two dependents (man and jinn).InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “faragh” means to become free; but no task keeps Allah from another. The expression is used only to convey the reckoning and recompense of the Hereafter.32فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٢Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.33يَٰمَعۡشَرَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ إِنِ ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ أَن تَنفُذُواْ مِنۡ أَقۡطَارِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنفُذُواْۚ لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلۡطَٰنࣲ ٣٣O company of jinn and men, if ye have power to penetrate (all) regions of the heavens and the earth, then penetrate (them)! Ye will never penetrate them save with (Our) sanction.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this means: escape from Allah’s dominion and rule if you can; but it is impossible.34فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٤Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.35يُرۡسَلُ عَلَيۡكُمَا شُوَاظࣱ مِّن نَّارࣲ وَنُحَاسࣱ فَلَا تَنتَصِرَانِ ٣٥There will be sent, against you both, heat of fire and flash of brass, and ye will not escape.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, its flame burns and its smoke chokes; whatever you do, you cannot escape or flee.36فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٦Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.37فَإِذَا ٱنشَقَّتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَكَانَتۡ وَرۡدَةࣰ كَٱلدِّهَانِ ٣٧And when the heaven splitteth asunder and becometh rosy like red hide.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the answer is left unstated: then terrors will come that you cannot now understand, beyond words.38فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٨Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.39فَيَوۡمَئِذࣲ لَّا يُسۡـَٔلُ عَن ذَنۢبِهِۦٓ إِنسࣱ وَلَا جَآنࣱّ ٣٩On that day neither man nor jinni will be questioned of his sin.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, there will be no need of questioning to find out who is guilty; the sinful and sinless will not be confused, for all is already recorded.40فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٤٠Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.41يُعۡرَفُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ بِسِيمَٰهُمۡ فَيُؤۡخَذُ بِٱلنَّوَٰصِي وَٱلۡأَقۡدَامِ ٤١The guilty will be known by their marks, and will be taken by the forelocks and the feet.42فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٤٢Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.43هَٰذِهِۦ جَهَنَّمُ ٱلَّتِي يُكَذِّبُ بِهَا ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ ٤٣This is hell which the guilty deny.44يَطُوفُونَ بَيۡنَهَا وَبَيۡنَ حَمِيمٍ ءَانࣲ ٤٤They go circling round between it and fierce, boiling water.45فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٤٥Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.46وَلِمَنۡ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ جَنَّتَانِ ٤٦But for him who feareth the standing before his Lord there are two gardens.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “the standing of his Lord” can be understood as Allah’s sustaining watch over everything, or the place where the servant will stand before Him.47فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٤٧Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.48ذَوَاتَآ أَفۡنَانࣲ ٤٨Of spreading branches.InsightElmalılı explains “afnan” as varieties, or soft and slender branches: the gardens are full of many kinds and branches of beauty.49فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٤٩Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.50فِيهِمَا عَيۡنَانِ تَجۡرِيَانِ ٥٠Wherein are two fountains flowing.51فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٥١Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.52فِيهِمَا مِن كُلِّ فَٰكِهَةࣲ زَوۡجَانِ ٥٢Wherein is every kind of fruit in pairs.53فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٥٣Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.54مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ فُرُشِۭ بَطَآئِنُهَا مِنۡ إِسۡتَبۡرَقࣲۚ وَجَنَى ٱلۡجَنَّتَيۡنِ دَانࣲ ٥٤Reclining upon couches lined with silk brocade, the fruit of both the gardens near to hand.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, if the linings are of brocade, only Allah knows the beauty of the outer side; and the fruit is near enough to be picked effortlessly in any position.55فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٥٥Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.56فِيهِنَّ قَٰصِرَٰتُ ٱلطَّرۡفِ لَمۡ يَطۡمِثۡهُنَّ إِنسࣱ قَبۡلَهُمۡ وَلَا جَآنࣱّ ٥٦Therein are those of modest gaze, whom neither man nor jinni will have touched before them.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the plural pronoun here, instead of “in both”, indicates that the two gardens encompass many gardens in their varieties.57فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٥٧Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.58كَأَنَّهُنَّ ٱلۡيَاقُوتُ وَٱلۡمَرۡجَانُ ٥٨(In beauty) like the jacynth and the coral-stone.59فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٥٩Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.60هَلۡ جَزَآءُ ٱلۡإِحۡسَٰنِ إِلَّا ٱلۡإِحۡسَٰنُ ٦٠Is the reward of goodness aught save goodness.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the reward of one who does good is a good reward. Ihsan, as the hadith explains, is worshipping Allah as if you see Him; for though you do not see Him, He sees you.61فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٦١Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.62وَمِن دُونِهِمَا جَنَّتَانِ ٦٢And beside them are two other gardens.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, by one view the first two gardens are for those brought near and the next for the people of the right; the second are below the first in rank.63فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٦٣Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.64مُدۡهَآمَّتَانِ ٦٤Dark green with foliage.InsightElmalılı explains “mudhammah” as the colour of the night’s darkness, also used for a deep green. The gardens are this green and alive.65فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٦٥Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.66فِيهِمَا عَيۡنَانِ نَضَّاخَتَانِ ٦٦Wherein are two abundant springs.InsightElmalılı explains “nadkh” as water gushing up; like fountains, they are more artful and beautiful.67فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٦٧Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.68فِيهِمَا فَٰكِهَةࣱ وَنَخۡلࣱ وَرُمَّانࣱ ٦٨Wherein is fruit, the date-palm and pomegranate.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, dates and pomegranates are named after “fruit” because, besides being fruit, they have a special place as food and medicine.69فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٦٩Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.70فِيهِنَّ خَيۡرَٰتٌ حِسَانࣱ ٧٠Wherein (are found) the good and beautiful.71فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٧١Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.72حُورࣱ مَّقۡصُورَٰتࣱ فِي ٱلۡخِيَامِ ٧٢Fair ones, close-guarded in pavilions.InsightElmalılı explains “hur” as those whose eyes have intensely white whites and intensely dark irises, gazelle-eyed.73فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٧٣Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.74لَمۡ يَطۡمِثۡهُنَّ إِنسࣱ قَبۡلَهُمۡ وَلَا جَآنࣱّ ٧٤Whom neither man nor jinni will have touched before them.75فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٧٥Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.76مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ رَفۡرَفٍ خُضۡرࣲ وَعَبۡقَرِيٍّ حِسَانࣲ ٧٦Reclining on green cushions and fair carpets.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, it is notable that reclining is mentioned here after the spouses; ar-Razi explains this as the completion of the people of Paradise’s peace.77فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٧٧Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this verse is repeated thirty-one times in the surah: eight after the wonders of creation, seven after the warnings about Hell (as many as its gates), and eight after the description of the first two gardens.78تَبَٰرَكَ ٱسۡمُ رَبِّكَ ذِي ٱلۡجَلَٰلِ وَٱلۡإِكۡرَامِ ٧٨Blessed be the name of thy Lord, Mighty and glorious.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “tabaraka” here means exaltedness; some give it the sense of abundant good and blessing, fitting a surah that counts blessings.