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Surah Rahman

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Surah Rahman is a surah that is named after one of the greatest names of God, that is, the All-beneficent. Surah Rahman has been given the title ‘Arūs al-Qur’ān (عَروسُ القُرآن), meaning the Bride of the Quran. The reason for this naming is that it talks a lot about the blessings of paradise, specifically the houris and beautiful, modest, and loyal heavenly women that have been mentioned in more than one verse of this surah.

Facts about Surah Rahman

Surah Rahman is the 55th surah of the Quran that is in juz 27. God revealed this surah to Prophet Muhammad most likely in the city of Medina. This surah talks about worldly blessings, the Day of Judgment, the punishment of the guilty, and the reward of those who feared God in this world. Surah Rahman repeats the verse, “then which of the bounties of your Lord do you both (man and jinn) deny” 31 times. The surah concludes by praising God the Blessed and Exalted.

55 Surah no.

Juz’ 27 Place

Madani Makki/Madani 1

97 Order of revelation

78 No. of verses

352 No. of words

1648 No. of letters


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Arabic Text and Translation of Surah Rahman


بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم

In the name of Allah, the most compassionate, most merciful

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ الَّذِي أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ الْكِتَابَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُ عِوَجًا ۜ ﴿1﴾

All praise be to God who has sent down the Book to His servant and He has made it flawless.

قَيِّمًا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًا شَدِيدًا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ الصَّالِحَاتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًا ﴿2﴾

[He sent this flawless and] The perfect Book to warn [people]of His severe punishment and give good news to the believers who perform good deeds that they will receive a good reward.

مَّاكِثِينَ فِيهِ أَبَدًا ﴿3﴾

They will be there forever.

وَيُنذِرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا اتَّخَذَ اللَّـهُ وَلَدًا ﴿4﴾

And to warn those who said, “God has taken a child”.

مَّا لَهُم بِهِ مِنْ عِلْمٍ وَلَا لِآبَائِهِمْ ۚ كَبُرَتْ كَلِمَةً تَخْرُجُ مِنْ أَفْوَاهِهِمْ ۚ إِن يَقُولُونَ إِلَّا كَذِبًا ﴿5﴾

They did not have knowledge concerning it nor had their fathers. The word, which they utter, is monstrous. Indeed, they only lie.

فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّفْسَكَ عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمْ إِن لَّمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهَـٰذَا الْحَدِيثِ أَسَفًا ﴿6﴾

If they do not believe in this word1, it is possible you destroy yourself with grief for their sake.

إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا مَا عَلَى الْأَرْضِ زِينَةً لَّهَا لِنَبْلُوَهُمْ أَيُّهُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ﴿7﴾

Indeed, We have made what exists on the earth [as an attractive] adornment for it in order that We may test them [to see] which of them perform the best of deeds.

وَإِنَّا لَجَاعِلُونَ مَا عَلَيْهَا صَعِيدًا جُرُزًا ﴿8﴾

And We will make what exists on the earth a barren plain!

أَمْ حَسِبْتَ أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ الْكَهْفِ وَالرَّقِيمِ كَانُوا مِنْ آيَاتِنَا عَجَبًا ﴿9﴾

Or Do you think that, “The People of the Cave and the Inscription” are of Our strange signs!

إِذْ أَوَى الْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى الْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا رَبَّنَا آتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِنَا رَشَدًا ﴿10﴾

And when the young men took shelter in the cave and said, “O God! Grant us mercy from Yourself and improve our affairs.”

فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَىٰ آذَانِهِمْ فِي الْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا ﴿11﴾

So, drawing a curtain on their ears [We made them sleep] in the cave for a number of years.

ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِنَعْلَمَ أَيُّ الْحِزْبَيْنِ أَحْصَىٰ لِمَا لَبِثُوا أَمَدًا ﴿12﴾

Then We awakened them to see which of the two parties is able to best calculate the period they stayed [in the cave].

نَّحْنُ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ نَبَأَهُم بِالْحَقِّ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ فِتْيَةٌ آمَنُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ وَزِدْنَاهُمْ هُدًى ﴿13﴾

We truthfully recite their news to you. Indeed, they were the youth who believed in their Lord, so We provided them with more guidance.

وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا فَقَالُوا رَبُّنَا رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَـٰهًا ۖ لَّقَدْ قُلْنَا إِذًا شَطَطًا ﴿14﴾

And We filled their hearts with courage when they stood up and said, “Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth, [therefore,] We will not invoke beside Him another god [because if we do so] we have uttered an outrage.”

هَـٰؤُلَاءِ قَوْمُنَا اتَّخَذُوا مِن دُونِهِ آلِهَةً ۖ لَّوْلَا يَأْتُونَ عَلَيْهِم بِسُلْطَانٍ بَيِّنٍ ۖ فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّـهِ كَذِبًا ﴿15﴾

[The youth continued], “They are our people who have worshipped gods beside Him. Why have they not provided clear authority about them, therefore, who commit greater wrong deed than one who says a lie against God?”

وَإِذِ اعْتَزَلْتُمُوهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ إِلَّا اللَّـهَ فَأْوُوا إِلَى الْكَهْفِ يَنشُرْ لَكُمْ رَبُّكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِ وَيُهَيِّئْ لَكُم مِّنْ أَمْرِكُم مِّرْفَقًا ﴿16﴾

And when you1 left them2 and what they worship except God then “Take refuge in the cave in order that your Lord spread forth His mercy on you, and pave the way of ease in your affair”.

۞ وَتَرَى الشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَت تَّزَاوَرُ عَن كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَت تَّقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ وَهُمْ فِي فَجْوَةٍ مِّنْهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّـهِ ۗ مَن يَهْدِ اللَّـهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُ وَلِيًّا مُّرْشِدًا ﴿17﴾

And you see the sun inclining away from the right side of their cave when it rises and when it sets inclining away from the left side [of the cave]. while they were in an open space within it. That is from God’s signs. Whomever God guides, he is the guided, and whomever He leads astray, you cannot find a guiding master to lead him aright.

وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظًا وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ ۚ وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ ۖ وَكَلْبُهُم بَاسِطٌ ذِرَاعَيْهِ بِالْوَصِيدِ ۚ لَوِ اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَارًا وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْبًا ﴿18﴾

And they were asleep in the cave, but you would have thought them awake. And We turned them to the right and to the left while their dog was at front of the cave, with his paw stretched. If you had seen them, you would have fled and you[r heart] would have been filled with fear.

وَكَذَٰلِكَ بَعَثْنَاهُمْ لِيَتَسَاءَلُوا بَيْنَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ قَائِلٌ مِّنْهُمْ كَمْ لَبِثْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا لَبِثْنَا يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۚ قَالُوا رَبُّكُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثْتُمْ فَابْعَثُوا أَحَدَكُم بِوَرِقِكُمْ هَـٰذِهِ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ فَلْيَنظُرْ أَيُّهَا أَزْكَىٰ طَعَامًا فَلْيَأْتِكُم بِرِزْقٍ مِّنْهُ وَلْيَتَلَطَّفْ وَلَا يُشْعِرَنَّ بِكُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿19﴾

Thus, We awakened them in order that they may question one another. A speaker among them said, “How long have you stayed? They replied, “we have slept a day or some part of a day” they said, “God knows best how long you have slept. Send one of you with your coin to the town that he may seek who has the purest food to bring you some provision from it, and he should be careful lest anyone become aware of you.

إِنَّهُمْ إِن يَظْهَرُوا عَلَيْكُمْ يَرْجُمُوكُمْ أَوْ يُعِيدُوكُمْ فِي مِلَّتِهِمْ وَلَن تُفْلِحُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا ﴿20﴾

[Because], if they become aware of you [and seize you], they will stone you or they will make you revert to their creed, then you will never prosper.

وَكَذَٰلِكَ أَعْثَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّـهِ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهَا إِذْ يَتَنَازَعُونَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَمْرَهُمْ ۖ فَقَالُوا ابْنُوا عَلَيْهِم بُنْيَانًا ۖ رَّبُّهُمْ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ ۚ قَالَ الَّذِينَ غَلَبُوا عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِمْ لَنَتَّخِذَنَّ عَلَيْهِم مَّسْجِدًا ﴿21﴾

Thus, We let them become aware of them. in order that they may know, that God’s pledge is true and the Day of Judgment is beyond doubt. When they were disputing about their matter1, they said, “Build an edifice for them; their Lord knows them best.” [but] those [believers] who were aware of their affair2 said, “We will build a place of worship over them”.

سَيَقُولُونَ ثَلَاثَةٌ رَّابِعُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ خَمْسَةٌ سَادِسُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ رَجْمًا بِالْغَيْبِ ۖ وَيَقُولُونَ سَبْعَةٌ وَثَامِنُهُمْ كَلْبُهُمْ ۚ قُل رَّبِّي أَعْلَمُ بِعِدَّتِهِم مَّا يَعْلَمُهُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلٌ ۗ فَلَا تُمَارِ فِيهِمْ إِلَّا مِرَاءً ظَاهِرًا وَلَا تَسْتَفْتِ فِيهِم مِّنْهُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿22﴾

Some will say, “They were three and their dog was fourth” and some say, “They were five [men] and their dog was sixth” guessing at the unseen. In addition, some say, “They were seven men and their dog was their eighth member”. Say, “My Lord is fully aware of their number and only a few are aware of it, so do not argue about them except with a clear argument and do not question any of them about them.

وَلَا تَقُولَنَّ لِشَيْءٍ إِنِّي فَاعِلٌ ذَٰلِكَ غَدًا ﴿23﴾

And do not say about any matter that I will certainly perform it tomorrow.

إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ اللَّـهُ ۚ وَاذْكُر رَّبَّكَ إِذَا نَسِيتَ وَقُلْ عَسَىٰ أَن يَهْدِيَنِ رَبِّي لِأَقْرَبَ مِنْ هَـٰذَا رَشَدًا ﴿24﴾

Unless [you say, ‘ I only perform a deed if] God wills’ and remember your Lord when you forget and say, “May my Lord guide me nearer than this to guidance.”

وَلَبِثُوا فِي كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَاثَ مِائَةٍ سِنِينَ وَازْدَادُوا تِسْعًا ﴿25﴾

And they remained in their caves for three hundred years and nine more.

قُلِ اللَّـهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا لَبِثُوا ۖ لَهُ غَيْبُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۖ أَبْصِرْ بِهِ وَأَسْمِعْ ۚ مَا لَهُم مِّن دُونِهِ مِن وَلِيٍّ وَلَا يُشْرِكُ فِي حُكْمِهِ أَحَدًا ﴿26﴾

Say, “God knows best how long they stayed in the cave. He has [the knowledge of] the unseen of the heavens and the earth”. How well He sees, and How well He hears! They have no master other than Him and He makes no one His partner in His decision.

وَاتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِن كِتَابِ رَبِّكَ ۖ لَا مُبَدِّلَ لِكَلِمَاتِهِ وَلَن تَجِدَ مِن دُونِهِ مُلْتَحَدًا ﴿27﴾

And recite what is revealed to you of your Lord’s Book. There is no changer for His words and you never find a refuge instead of Him.

وَاصْبِرْ نَفْسَكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِالْغَدَاةِ وَالْعَشِيِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُ ۖ وَلَا تَعْدُ عَيْنَاكَ عَنْهُمْ تُرِيدُ زِينَةَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَا تُطِعْ مَنْ أَغْفَلْنَا قَلْبَهُ عَن ذِكْرِنَا وَاتَّبَعَ هَوَاهُ وَكَانَ أَمْرُهُ فُرُطًا ﴿28﴾

And exercise patience with those who pray to their Lord for seeking His pleasure morning and evening , and do not overlook them desiring the adornment of the life of the world, and do not obey one whom We have made his heart heedless from Our remembrance, and whom he followed his desires and his deed exceeds the limits.

وَقُلِ الْحَقُّ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ ۖ فَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيُؤْمِن وَمَن شَاءَ فَلْيَكْفُرْ ۚ إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا لِلظَّالِمِينَ نَارًا أَحَاطَ بِهِمْ سُرَادِقُهَا ۚ وَإِن يَسْتَغِيثُوا يُغَاثُوا بِمَاءٍ كَالْمُهْلِ يَشْوِي الْوُجُوهَ ۚ بِئْسَ الشَّرَابُ وَسَاءَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا ﴿29﴾

And say, “Truth is from your Lord, so whoever wishes [to be guided], he [should] have belief and whoever wishes [to go astray], leave him to abandon belief. Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a Fire whose blaze will engulf them, and if they ask for relief they will be showered with a drink [which is] like molten copper which scalds the faces. It is an evil drink and an evil resting place!

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ مَنْ أَحْسَنَ عَمَلًا ﴿30﴾

Indeed, those who believe and perform good deeds [are righteous]. Indeed, We will not waste the reward of those whose deeds are good.

أُولَـٰئِكَ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ عَدْنٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمُ الْأَنْهَارُ يُحَلَّوْنَ فِيهَا مِنْ أَسَاوِرَ مِن ذَهَبٍ وَيَلْبَسُونَ ثِيَابًا خُضْرًا مِّن سُندُسٍ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٍ مُّتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ ۚ نِعْمَ الثَّوَابُ وَحَسُنَتْ مُرْتَفَقًا ﴿31﴾

They will have Gardens of Eden through which rivers flow, and they will wear bracelets of gold, the green silk clothes and brocade reclining on couches. It is a blessed reward and a good resting place.

۞ وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلًا رَّجُلَيْنِ جَعَلْنَا لِأَحَدِهِمَا جَنَّتَيْنِ مِنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَحَفَفْنَاهُمَا بِنَخْلٍ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُمَا زَرْعً ﴿32﴾

And give them the example of two men: We gave for one of them two gardens of grapes and surrounded them with date palms, and We put crops between them.

كِلْتَا الْجَنَّتَيْنِ آتَتْ أُكُلَهَا وَلَمْ تَظْلِم مِّنْهُ شَيْئًا ۚ وَفَجَّرْنَا خِلَالَهُمَا نَهَرًا ﴿33﴾

Both of the gardens yielded their fruits completely, and We made a river gush forth between them.

وَكَانَ لَهُ ثَمَرٌ فَقَالَ لِصَاحِبِهِ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَنَا أَكْثَرُ مِنكَ مَالًا وَأَعَزُّ نَفَرًا ﴿34﴾

And he had abundant fruits, so he said to his companion conversing, “I am wealthier than you and [I have] more powerful men.

وَدَخَلَ جَنَّتَهُ وَهُوَ ظَالِمٌ لِّنَفْسِهِ قَالَ مَا أَظُنُّ أَن تَبِيدَ هَـٰذِهِ أَبَدًا ﴿35﴾

And he entered his garden while he was wronging himself and said, “I do not think this [garden] will ever destroy.

وَمَا أَظُنُّ السَّاعَةَ قَائِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّدِدتُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّي لَأَجِدَنَّ خَيْرًا مِّنْهَا مُنقَلَبًا ﴿36﴾

And I do not think that there is a Day of Judgment and if I go back to my Lord I will have a better [position] than this.”

قَالَ لَهُ صَاحِبُهُ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُ أَكَفَرْتَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَكَ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ سَوَّاكَ رَجُلً ﴿37﴾

And while they were speaking, his companion said to him, “Have you abandoned belief in Him who has created you out of clay, then made you a sperm, then made you in the form of a man?”

لَّـٰكِنَّا هُوَ اللَّـهُ رَبِّي وَلَا أُشْرِكُ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا ﴿38﴾

[His colleague continued that] but [I never disobey Him because] He is my Lord and I do not ascribe any partner to Him.

وَلَوْلَا إِذْ دَخَلْتَ جَنَّتَكَ قُلْتَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّـهُ لَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّـهِ ۚ إِن تَرَنِ أَنَا أَقَلَّ مِنكَ مَالًا وَوَلَدًا ﴿39﴾

And when you entered your garden why did you not say what God wills [will occur], there is no power but in God, so if you see I have less wealth and children than you [it is not important]

فَعَسَىٰ رَبِّي أَن يُؤْتِيَنِ خَيْرًا مِّن جَنَّتِكَ وَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْهَا حُسْبَانًا مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ فَتُصْبِحَ صَعِيدًا زَلَقًا ﴿40﴾

May my Lord provide me with better [reward] than your garden and that He may send you a wind from the heaven to make it a barren plain.

أَوْ يُصْبِحَ مَاؤُهَا غَوْرًا فَلَن تَسْتَطِيعَ لَهُ طَلَبًا ﴿41﴾

Or [it is possible] He dries its water, then you will be unable to seek after it.

وَأُحِيطَ بِثَمَرِهِ فَأَصْبَحَ يُقَلِّبُ كَفَّيْهِ عَلَىٰ مَا أَنفَقَ فِيهَا وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا وَيَقُولُ يَا لَيْتَنِي لَمْ أُشْرِكْ بِرَبِّي أَحَدًا ﴿42﴾

And his fruit was struck and he wringed his hands in grief for what he had spent on it. [It was entirely destroyed,] as it laid in waste on its trellises, and he said, “I wish I would not have ascribed any partner to my Lord.”

وَلَمْ تَكُن لَّهُ فِئَةٌ يَنصُرُونَهُ مِن دُونِ اللَّـهِ وَمَا كَانَ مُنتَصِرًا ﴿43﴾

And there was no group to help him beside God nor could he protect himself.

هُنَالِكَ الْوَلَايَةُ لِلَّـهِ الْحَقِّ ۚ هُوَ خَيْرٌ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ عُقْبًا ﴿44﴾

Then [it became evident that] authority belongs to the Real God and He is the best in [granting] reward and outcome.

وَاضْرِبْ لَهُم مَّثَلَ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا كَمَاءٍ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَاخْتَلَطَ بِهِ نَبَاتُ الْأَرْضِ فَأَصْبَحَ هَشِيمًا تَذْرُوهُ الرِّيَاحُ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّـهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مُّقْتَدِرًا ﴿45﴾

Give the parable of the life of the world: [it is like] as [the example of] water which We sent down from the sky, and the plants of the earth mingle with it then it turns staff, scattered by the winds.[Indeed,] God is able to perform all things.

الْمَالُ وَالْبَنُونَ زِينَةُ الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَالْبَاقِيَاتُ الصَّالِحَاتُ خَيْرٌ عِندَ رَبِّكَ ثَوَابًا وَخَيْرٌ أَمَلً ﴿46﴾

Wealth and children are the adornment of [the temporary] life of the world. While good deeds which endure have better reward with your Lord, and it [harbors] hope best.

وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ الْجِبَالَ وَتَرَى الْأَرْضَ بَارِزَةً وَحَشَرْنَاهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا ﴿47﴾

And [remind of ] a Day when We move the mountains and you will see the earth an open plain, and We will give life to mankind and gather [all of them], then we will leave none of them.

وَعُرِضُوا عَلَىٰ رَبِّكَ صَفًّا لَّقَدْ جِئْتُمُونَا كَمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ بَلْ زَعَمْتُمْ أَلَّن نَّجْعَلَ لَكُم مَّوْعِدًا ﴿48﴾

And they will be brought to your Lord in rank as We created you first time [in the world] while you [neglected Our guidance and warnings and] imagined that We have not appointed a time of appointment for you.

وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ فَتَرَى الْمُجْرِمِينَ مُشْفِقِينَ مِمَّا فِيهِ وَيَقُولُونَ يَا وَيْلَتَنَا مَالِ هَـٰذَا الْكِتَابِ لَا يُغَادِرُ صَغِيرَةً وَلَا كَبِيرَةً إِلَّا أَحْصَاهَا ۚ وَوَجَدُوا مَا عَمِلُوا حَاضِرًا ۗ وَلَا يَظْلِمُ رَبُّكَ أَحَدًا ﴿49﴾

And the Book [of deeds] will be set, so you will see the guilty fearful of what is in it and they will say, “Woe to us! What a book! It enumerates [all details of my life including] small and great!” And they will find present [whatever they did] and no one will be wronged.

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ كَانَ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَفَسَقَ عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِ ۗ أَفَتَتَّخِذُونَهُ وَذُرِّيَّتَهُ أَوْلِيَاءَ مِن دُونِي وَهُمْ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ ۚ بِئْسَ لِلظَّالِمِينَ بَدَلًا ﴿50﴾

And when We said to the angels, “fall prostate before Adam”, so all of them fell prostrate except Iblīs who was of jinn, so he disobeyed His Lord’s command. Do you choose him and his children as a master, instead of Me, God while he is your enemy? [Indeed,] it is an evil substitute for the wrongdoers.

۞ مَّا أَشْهَدتُّهُمْ خَلْقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَا خَلْقَ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمَا كُنتُ مُتَّخِذَ الْمُضِلِّينَ عَضُدًا ﴿51﴾

And I did not make them witnesses to the creation of the heavens and the earth nor to their own creation nor do I choose the misleaders as a support.

وَيَوْمَ يَقُولُ نَادُوا شُرَكَائِيَ الَّذِينَ زَعَمْتُمْ فَدَعَوْهُمْ فَلَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا لَهُمْ وَجَعَلْنَا بَيْنَهُم مَّوْبِقًا ﴿52﴾

And when they will be told1, “Call [the idols] whom you assumed as My partners”, so they2 will call but they3 will not respond to them and We placed an intense hatred between them.

وَرَأَى الْمُجْرِمُونَ النَّارَ فَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُم مُّوَاقِعُوهَا وَلَمْ يَجِدُوا عَنْهَا مَصْرِفًا ﴿53﴾

And [when] the guilty will see the fire, they will be sure that they will face it and they will not find any path for escaping.

وَلَقَدْ صَرَّفْنَا فِي هَـٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ لِلنَّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ ۚ وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ أَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلً ﴿54﴾

And We have explained all kinds of examples to mankind in this Qur’ān and the human being is the most contentious of creatures.

وَمَا مَنَعَ النَّاسَ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا إِذْ جَاءَهُمُ الْهُدَىٰ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّهُمْ إِلَّا أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ سُنَّةُ الْأَوَّلِينَ أَوْ يَأْتِيَهُمُ الْعَذَابُ قُبُلً ﴿55﴾

Nothing prevented people from having belief and seeking God’s forgiveness when the guidance came to them unless [they wanted ] the tradition of the prior generations to come on them or the punishment strike them face to face.

وَمَا نُرْسِلُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ ۚ وَيُجَادِلُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِالْبَاطِلِ لِيُدْحِضُوا بِهِ الْحَقَّ ۖ وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَمَا أُنذِرُوا هُزُوًا ﴿56﴾

We only send the messengers as givers of good news and warners, but the disbelievers argued through falsehood in order to refute the truth and they mocked at My signs and warnings.

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا وَنَسِيَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ ۚ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا ۖ وَإِن تَدْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْهُدَىٰ فَلَن يَهْتَدُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا ﴿57﴾

Who commits greater wrong deed than one who has been provided with his Lord’s signs, but he disregards them and forgets what [he committed and] sent ahead with his hands. Indeed, We put a [spiritual] covering over their hearts lest they understand, and We put over their ears [a state of] deafness and if you invite them to guidance they will not be guided [for they turned a blind eye to guidance].

وَرَبُّكَ الْغَفُورُ ذُو الرَّحْمَةِ ۖ لَوْ يُؤَاخِذُهُم بِمَا كَسَبُوا لَعَجَّلَ لَهُمُ الْعَذَابَ ۚ بَل لَّهُم مَّوْعِدٌ لَّن يَجِدُوا مِن دُونِهِ مَوْئِلً ﴿58﴾

And your Lord is All-Forgiving, All- Merciful, if He had willed to take them to task for what they committed, He would have hastened to hand out the punishment, but they have a specified time, [so] they will not be able to escape.

وَتِلْكَ الْقُرَىٰ أَهْلَكْنَاهُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا وَجَعَلْنَا لِمَهْلِكِهِم مَّوْعِدًا ﴿59﴾

And there are towns which We destroyed because they wronged, and We have specified a time for their destruction.

وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِفَتَاهُ لَا أَبْرَحُ حَتَّىٰ أَبْلُغَ مَجْمَعَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ أَوْ أَمْضِيَ حُقُبًا ﴿60﴾

And when Moses said to his [travelling] companion that I will not give up this journey until I reach the junction of the two seas, [even if] I travel for a long time.

فَلَمَّا بَلَغَا مَجْمَعَ بَيْنِهِمَا نَسِيَا حُوتَهُمَا فَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ سَرَبًا ﴿61﴾

So when they reached the intersection of two seas they forgot their fish and it went through its path in the sea.

فَلَمَّا جَاوَزَا قَالَ لِفَتَاهُ آتِنَا غَدَاءَنَا لَقَدْ لَقِينَا مِن سَفَرِنَا هَـٰذَا نَصَبًا ﴿62﴾

And when they passed, he said to his companion, “Bring our meal. Indeed, we have suffered fatigue in our journey.”

الَ أَرَأَيْتَ إِذْ أَوَيْنَا إِلَى الصَّخْرَةِ فَإِنِّي نَسِيتُ الْحُوتَ وَمَا أَنسَانِيهُ إِلَّا الشَّيْطَانُ أَنْ أَذْكُرَهُ ۚ وَاتَّخَذَ سَبِيلَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ عَجَبًا ﴿63﴾

He said, “Do you remember when we took refuge at the rock, I forgot the fish and it was Satan who made me forget to mention it, and the fish escaped through its way in the sea in a wondrous way”.

قَالَ ذَٰلِكَ مَا كُنَّا نَبْغِ ۚ فَارْتَدَّا عَلَىٰ آثَارِهِمَا قَصَصًا ﴿64﴾

He said, “It was the place we sought” then they returned, retracing their steps.

فَوَجَدَا عَبْدًا مِّنْ عِبَادِنَا آتَيْنَاهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا وَعَلَّمْنَاهُ مِن لَّدُنَّا عِلْمًا ﴿65﴾

So they found a servant of Our servants whom We had provided with a mercy from Ourselves, and We had taught him a [profound and special] knowledge from Our knowledge”

قَالَ لَهُ مُوسَىٰ هَلْ أَتَّبِعُكَ عَلَىٰ أَن تُعَلِّمَنِ مِمَّا عُلِّمْتَ رُشْدًا ﴿66﴾

He said, “May I follow you to teach me from [the knowledge] which you have learned?”

قَالَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا ﴿67﴾

He replied, “You are not able to exercise patience with me.”

وَكَيْفَ تَصْبِرُ عَلَىٰ مَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ خُبْرًا ﴿68﴾

And how can you exercise patience about that which you are unaware of it?

قَالَ سَتَجِدُنِي إِن شَاءَ اللَّـهُ صَابِرًا وَلَا أَعْصِي لَكَ أَمْرًا ﴿69﴾

He said, “God willing you will see that I am patient and I will not disobey you in any matter.”

قَالَ فَإِنِ اتَّبَعْتَنِي فَلَا تَسْأَلْنِي عَن شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ أُحْدِثَ لَكَ مِنْهُ ذِكْرًا ﴿70﴾

He said, “If you follow me, you should not question me about anything at all until I speak about it.”

فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا رَكِبَا فِي السَّفِينَةِ خَرَقَهَا ۖ قَالَ أَخَرَقْتَهَا لِتُغْرِقَ أَهْلَهَا لَقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا إِمْرًا ﴿71﴾

So they went on and embarked on a ship [but] he made a hole [through] it. [ so] Moses said, “Have you made a hole in order to drown its people? Indeed, you committed a monstrous thing!”

قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُلْ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا ﴿72﴾

He said, “Did I not say to you that you cannot exercise patience with me.”

قَالَ لَا تُؤَاخِذْنِي بِمَا نَسِيتُ وَلَا تُرْهِقْنِي مِنْ أَمْرِي عُسْرًا ﴿73﴾

He said, “Do not take me to task for that which I forgot, and do not impose a difficult task one me.”

فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا لَقِيَا غُلَامًا فَقَتَلَهُ قَالَ أَقَتَلْتَ نَفْسًا زَكِيَّةً بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ لَّقَدْ جِئْتَ شَيْئًا نُّكْرًا ﴿74﴾

They went on until they met a young boy, so he killed him. Moses said, “Did you kill an innocent who had not killed anyone? Indeed, you committed a terrible thing!”

۞ قَالَ أَلَمْ أَقُل لَّكَ إِنَّكَ لَن تَسْتَطِيعَ مَعِيَ صَبْرًا ﴿75﴾

He replied, “Did I not tell you that you cannot exercise patience with me?”

قَالَ إِن سَأَلْتُكَ عَن شَيْءٍ بَعْدَهَا فَلَا تُصَاحِبْنِي ۖ قَدْ بَلَغْتَ مِن لَّدُنِّي عُذْرًا ﴿76﴾

He said, “If I question you concerning anything after this, then do not keep my company, then you have attained an excuse from me.”

فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَتَيَا أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ اسْتَطْعَمَا أَهْلَهَا فَأَبَوْا أَن يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَارًا يُرِيدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقَامَهُ ۖ قَالَ لَوْ شِئْتَ لَاتَّخَذْتَ عَلَيْهِ أَجْرًا ﴿77﴾

They went on until they reached the people of a town from whom they ask for food, but they refused to show them hospitality, then they saw a wall there which was about to fall, so he repaired it. Moses said to him, “If you had willed, you could have demanded a wage for it.”

قَالَ هَـٰذَا فِرَاقُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنِكَ ۚ سَأُنَبِّئُكَ بِتَأْوِيلِ مَا لَمْ تَسْتَطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا ﴿78﴾

He said, “This is the parting between you and me. I will disclose the interpretation of that [the events] for which you could not have patience.”

أَمَّا السَّفِينَةُ فَكَانَتْ لِمَسَاكِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ فِي الْبَحْرِ فَأَرَدتُّ أَنْ أَعِيبَهَا وَكَانَ وَرَاءَهُم مَّلِكٌ يَأْخُذُ كُلَّ سَفِينَةٍ غَصْبًا ﴿79﴾

As for the ship, it belonged to needy people who worked on the sea. I willed to damage it, because there was a king behind them who was usurping every ship.

وَأَمَّا الْغُلَامُ فَكَانَ أَبَوَاهُ مُؤْمِنَيْنِ فَخَشِينَا أَن يُرْهِقَهُمَا طُغْيَانًا وَكُفْرًا ﴿80﴾

And as for the young boy, his parents were believers, so We were fearful lest he should lead them to rebellion and disbelief.

فَأَرَدْنَا أَن يُبْدِلَهُمَا رَبُّهُمَا خَيْرًا مِّنْهُ زَكَاةً وَأَقْرَبَ رُحْمًا ﴿81﴾

So We willed that their Lord replace him with a better [child] than him in purity and mercy.

وَأَمَّا الْجِدَارُ فَكَانَ لِغُلَامَيْنِ يَتِيمَيْنِ فِي الْمَدِينَةِ وَكَانَ تَحْتَهُ كَنزٌ لَّهُمَا وَكَانَ أَبُوهُمَا صَالِحًا فَأَرَادَ رَبُّكَ أَن يَبْلُغَا أَشُدَّهُمَا وَيَسْتَخْرِجَا كَنزَهُمَا رَحْمَةً مِّن رَّبِّكَ ۚ وَمَا فَعَلْتُهُ عَنْ أَمْرِي ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَأْوِيلُ مَا لَمْ تَسْطِع عَّلَيْهِ صَبْرًا ﴿82﴾

And as for the wall, it was for two orphan boys [who were living] in the town. Their treasure was under the wall and their father was a righteous man, so your Lord willed they that grow to the ages of maturity and extract their treasure. It was a mercy of your Lord. I did not perform it out of my own desire [but it was God’s command]. It was the interpretation of [the events] for which you could not have patience [to know their philosophy].

وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَن ذِي الْقَرْنَيْنِ ۖ قُلْ سَأَتْلُو عَلَيْكُم مِّنْهُ ذِكْرًا ﴿83﴾

They ask you concerning Dh’ul -Qarnayn. Say [to them], “I will say about him to you.”

إِنَّا مَكَّنَّا لَهُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَآتَيْنَاهُ مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ سَبَبًا ﴿84﴾

Indeed, We had provided him with power on the earth and We had given him [the knowledge of applying] the means of all things.

فَأَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا ﴿85﴾

So he applied means [and scientific methods to perform his deeds].

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ فِي عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِندَهَا قَوْمًا ۗ قُلْنَا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِمَّا أَن تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّا أَن تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ حُسْنًا ﴿86﴾

[He continued his journey] until he reached the sun’s setting place and found it sinking in a muddy spring of water by which a group of people were living. We said to him, “O Dh’ul-Qarnayn! Either punish them or treat them well.”

قَالَ أَمَّا مَن ظَلَمَ فَسَوْفَ نُعَذِّبُهُ ثُمَّ يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِ فَيُعَذِّبُهُ عَذَابًا نُّكْرًا ﴿87﴾

He said, “We will punish the wrongdoer then he will be brought back to His Lord and His Lord will punish him with a very terrible punishment [in the world to come]”.

وَأَمَّا مَنْ آمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَلَهُ جَزَاءً الْحُسْنَىٰ ۖ وَسَنَقُولُ لَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِنَا يُسْرًا ﴿88﴾

But those who believed and performed good deeds will have a good reward and We will say to him of our gentle command.”

ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا ﴿89﴾

So he applied means [and scientific methods to perform his deeds].

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَطْلِعَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَطْلُعُ عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍ لَّمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُم مِّن دُونِهَا سِتْرًا ﴿90﴾

Until he reached the sun’s rising place. He found it rising over a people whom We had not protected against its rays.

كَذَٰلِكَ وَقَدْ أَحَطْنَا بِمَا لَدَيْهِ خُبْرًا ﴿91﴾

Thus, [he was managing the affairs] and We were fully aware of what he had with him.

ثُمَّ أَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا ﴿92﴾

So he used means.

حَتَّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ بَيْنَ السَّدَّيْنِ وَجَدَ مِن دُونِهِمَا قَوْمًا لَّا يَكَادُونَ يَفْقَهُونَ قَوْلً ﴿93﴾

Until he reached a place between the two mountains, by which he found a people who could scarcely understand speech.

قَالُوا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِنَّ يَأْجُوجَ وَمَأْجُوجَ مُفْسِدُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَهَلْ نَجْعَلُ لَكَ خَرْجًا عَلَىٰ أَن تَجْعَلَ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَهُمْ سَدًّا ﴿94﴾

They said, “O Dh’ul- Qarnayn! Indeed [two rebellion tribes] – Gog and Magog- make corruption on the earth, so will you make a barrier between us and them if we pay you?”

قَالَ مَا مَكَّنِّي فِيهِ رَبِّي خَيْرٌ فَأَعِينُونِي بِقُوَّةٍ أَجْعَلْ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُمْ رَدْمًا ﴿95﴾

He said, “What my Lord has given to me is better, therefore, give me a [generous] help, I will set a rampart [ defensive wall] between you and them.”

آتُونِي زُبَرَ الْحَدِيدِ ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا سَاوَىٰ بَيْنَ الصَّدَفَيْنِ قَالَ انفُخُوا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَعَلَهُ نَارًا قَالَ آتُونِي أُفْرِغْ عَلَيْهِ قِطْرًا ﴿96﴾

[Dh’ul- Qarnayn commanded], “Provide me with pieces of iron”, so when the space between the mountains was filled [by it] he said, “Heat the iron” till when he made it fire then he said, “Give me molten copper to pour on it.”

فَمَا اسْطَاعُوا أَن يَظْهَرُوهُ وَمَا اسْتَطَاعُوا لَهُ نَقْبًا ﴿97﴾

Therefore, they were unable to climb nor could they pierce it.

قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَحْمَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّي ۖ فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي جَعَلَهُ دَكَّاءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّي حَقًّا ﴿98﴾

He said, “It is of my Lord’s mercy, so when the pledge of my Lord [concerning the Day of Judgment] is fulfilled, He will crumble it to dust and my Lord’s pledge is certainly true”.

۞ وَتَرَكْنَا بَعْضَهُمْ يَوْمَئِذٍ يَمُوجُ فِي بَعْضٍ ۖ وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَجَمَعْنَاهُمْ جَمْعًا ﴿99﴾

And [on the Day of Judgment] We will leave some of them [as waves of the sea] to hit the others and [suddenly] the trumpet will be blown and We will gather all of them.

وَعَرَضْنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ عَرْضًا ﴿100﴾

And that day We will certainly present Hell for the disbelievers.

الَّذِينَ كَانَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ فِي غِطَاءٍ عَن ذِكْرِي وَكَانُوا لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَمْعًا ﴿101﴾

Those whose eyes were veiled [with sins and neglect] from my remembrance [in the world, and they turned deaf ears to truth, as if] they could not hear.

أَفَحَسِبَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَن يَتَّخِذُوا عِبَادِي مِن دُونِي أَوْلِيَاءَ ۚ إِنَّا أَعْتَدْنَا جَهَنَّمَ لِلْكَافِرِينَ نُزُلً ﴿102﴾

Did the disbelievers imagine that [they are allowed to] choose1 My servants beside Me as a master. Indeed, We have prepared Hell to host the disbelievers.

قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُم بِالْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالً ﴿103﴾

Say, “Do I inform you about the worst losers in deeds?”

الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا ﴿104﴾

Those whose attempt fails in the life of this world yet they imagine that they perform good [deeds].

أُولَـٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ وَلِقَائِهِ فَحَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فَلَا نُقِيمُ لَهُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَزْنًا ﴿105﴾

They are those who disbelieved in their Lord’s signs and His meeting, therefore, their deeds failed and We will not put any value on them on the Day of Judgment.

ذَٰلِكَ جَزَاؤُهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ بِمَا كَفَرُوا وَاتَّخَذُوا آيَاتِي وَرُسُلِي هُزُوًا ﴿106﴾

That is their reward, Hell, because they disbelieved and mocked My signs and messengers.

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ كَانَتْ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتُ الْفِرْدَوْسِ نُزُلً ﴿107﴾

Indeed, those who believe and perform good deeds will have the gardens of paradise as a welcome.

خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا لَا يَبْغُونَ عَنْهَا حِوَلً ﴿108﴾

They will be there forever [and] they will not seek any changes.

قُل لَّوْ كَانَ الْبَحْرُ مِدَادًا لِّكَلِمَاتِ رَبِّي لَنَفِدَ الْبَحْرُ قَبْلَ أَن تَنفَدَ كَلِمَاتُ رَبِّي وَلَوْ جِئْنَا بِمِثْلِهِ مَدَدًا ﴿109﴾

Say, “If the sea had been ink [to write] God’s words2 , the sea would have been finished before finishing my Lord’s words, and even if We had brought another sea like it to replenish it.

قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا ﴿110﴾

Say, “Indeed, I am a human being like you. It is revealed to me that indeed your Lord is One, therefore, whoever hopes to meet his Lord, he should associate no one with the worship of his Lord.”

Surah Rahman: Overview

The topics that are discussed in Surah Rahman can be divided into three parts:

  • Worldly blessings
  • The Day of Judgment
  • Otherworldly blessings

الرَّحْمَـٰنُ ﴿1﴾

The All-beneficent 10

عَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ ﴿2﴾

has taught the Quran. 10

خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ ﴿3﴾

He created man, 10

عَلَّمَهُ الْبَيَانَ ﴿4﴾

[and] taught him articulate speech.

Surah Rahman begins by mentioning the greatest name of God after Allah, meaning Rahman, which means the All-beneficent. Then it mentions how God:

  • taught the Quran to people
  • created man
  • taught him how to speak

All of these are worldly blessings of God. Man is the only living being that can speak in various languages. Of course, one could also include the jinn, but they are hidden and no one really knows what language they speak.

Then the surah talks about God setting the stage for the Day of Judgment. Throughout this surah, God keeps repeating the verse:

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿16﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

God then talks about the punishment of the disbelievers or the guilty, followed by it talking about the rewards of the believers until the last verse that praises God.

Benefits of Reciting Surah Rahman

According to a narration, whoever recites Surah Rahman, God will have mercy on him and will give him the privilege to thank Him for His bounties. Some other benefits:

  • Whoever says “لا بشیء من الائك رب اکذب” (I do not deny any of your bounties my Lord) every time he recites the verse: “فبأیّ آلاء ربكما تکذبان” if he dies on that day or night, he would be counted as a martyr.
  • Cures one’s eye pain
  • Hardships will be eased
  • Protects one from harm

God Teaches Man the Quran and Speech

الرَّحْمَـٰنُ ﴿1﴾

The All-beneficent 10

عَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ ﴿2﴾

has taught the Quran. 10

خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ ﴿3﴾

He created man, 10

عَلَّمَهُ الْبَيَانَ ﴿4﴾

[and] taught him articulate speech.

These verses talk about the spiritual blessings that God has given man in this world. God taught man the Quran, the perfect Holy Scripture that has never been distorted or altered, unlike other Holy Scriptures. It contains guidance and is a light for those who wish to follow the straight path. God created the human being, His greatest creation, and from among them He made the greatest human being His final prophet and bearer of the Quran, Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny).

God also taught the human being speech as a way of communicating with one another. Speech is a gift that no other animal possesses. In fact, speech is the sign of man’s intellect that other creatures, save angels and jinn, do not possess.

Surah Rahman: Signs of God

الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍ ﴿5﴾

The sun and the moon are [disposed] calculatedly,

وَالنَّجْمُ وَالشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ ﴿6﴾

and the herb and the tree prostrate [to Allah].

وَالسَّمَاءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ ﴿7﴾

He raised the heaven high and set up the balance,

أَلَّا تَطْغَوْا فِي الْمِيزَانِ ﴿8﴾

declaring, ‘Do not infringe the balance!

وَأَقِيمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا الْمِيزَانَ ﴿9﴾

Maintain the weights with justice, and do not shorten the balance!’

Nothing in this world has been created by accident. The sun and moon are two celestial bodies that due to their well-calculated movements, one could use them for calendars and for predicting solar and lunar eclipses as well as other astronomical phenomena. Therefore, they are a blessing that God has placed in the sky. Then God says that the herb and the tree prostrate to Him. All creatures that do not have free will are submissive to God, including plants and trees. When the wind blows, the trees and plants bend down as if they are prostrating toward God.

God then in verse seven says that He raised the sky and set up the balance. The balance means a tool that is used to measure something to see if it is at the correct weight or not. They are usually used for determining the weight of a thing that is to be sold to someone. So it is very important that the balance works properly and is not tampered with.

Surah Rahman: God’s Blessings on Earth

وَالْأَرْضَ وَضَعَهَا لِلْأَنَامِ ﴿10﴾

And the earth—He laid it out for mankind.

فِيهَا فَاكِهَةٌ وَالنَّخْلُ ذَاتُ الْأَكْمَامِ ﴿11﴾

In it are fruits and date-palms with sheaths,

وَالْحَبُّ ذُو الْعَصْفِ وَالرَّيْحَانُ ﴿12﴾

grain with husk, and fragrant herbs.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿13﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِن صَلْصَالٍ كَالْفَخَّارِ ﴿14﴾

He created man out of dry clay, like the potter’s,

وَخَلَقَ الْجَانَّ مِن مَّارِجٍ مِّن نَّارٍ ﴿15﴾

and created the jinn out of a flame of a fire.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿16﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

In these verses, God begins mentioning one by one the worldly blessings that He has given man on earth. The earth itself has been entirely created for the human being. The fruits, date palms, grain, and herbs are what can be found on earth among the blessings of God. In verse 13, the first instance of the verse: So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny, is mentioned. By you both, God means man and jinn. In verses 14 and 15, God explains how He created man and jinn.

Surah Rahman: Lord of the Two Easts and Two Wests

رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقَيْنِ وَرَبُّ الْمَغْرِبَيْنِ ﴿17﴾

Lord of the two easts, and Lord of the two wests!

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿18﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

What God Almighty means by the two easts and two wests is the place of sunrise and sunset during winter and summer. This is yet another one of the bounties of God that we cannot deny.

Surah Rahman: The Two Seas, the Barrier, the Pearl, and Coral

مَرَجَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ ﴿19﴾

He merged the two seas, meeting each other.

بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخٌ لَّا يَبْغِيَانِ ﴿20﴾

There is a barrier between them, which they do not overstep.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿21﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمَا اللُّؤْلُؤُ وَالْمَرْجَانُ ﴿22﴾

From them emerge the pearl and the coral.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿23﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

The two seas meet, one is salt water the other is sweet, but they do not mix. There is a barrier between them that stops them from mixing. This is one of the miracles of God and science has also proven that the difference in pH levels of the two seas creates a barrier that does not allow the two bodies of water to mix. As for the esoteric interpretation (ta’wīl [تأويل]) of these verses, it has been said:

These five individuals are the people of the cloak or Kisā’­  (اصحاب الکساء). God revealed the verse of purification (verse 33 of surah Ahzab) in their honor. Moreover, the verses of Mubahala (مباهله) and Iṭ‘ām (اطعام) are about these five infallibles as attested by scholars of both major Muslim sects.

Surah Rahman: Sailing Ships

وَلَهُ الْجَوَارِ الْمُنشَآتُ فِي الْبَحْرِ كَالْأَعْلَامِ ﴿24﴾

His are the sailing ships on the sea [appearing] like landmarks.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿25﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

It is God who gave man the ability to come up with new inventions through his intellect. In fact, the biggest and most advanced ship of its time was built by a prophet. Man’s intellect has allowed him to invent new machines and vehicles. One of them are ships that sail the sea. Of course, it is God who moves the ship on the sea and protects it from storms. Therefore, sailing ships are also one of the bounties of God.

Surah Rahman: Only God is Immortal

كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ ﴿26﴾

Everyone on it is ephemeral,

وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ ﴿27﴾

yet lasting is the majestic and munificent Face of your Lord.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿28﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

God in this verse displays His superiority over all of His own creation. Everyone on earth is mortal and ephemeral. Everyone’s body will die one day. However, it is God who never dies and is everlasting. However, it must be noted that by face, God does not mean face in the literal sense, but rather He means the reality of Himself is lasting, and that reality is majestic and munificent. And this reality is a source of great blessings that we must not deny.

Surah Rahman: God Is Always at Work

يَسْأَلُهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأْنٍ ﴿29﴾

Everyone in the heavens and the earth asks Him. Every day He is engaged in some work.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿30﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

It is only natural that we mortals ask for help and extend our hands to the everlasting Lord of the universe. Not only do we do that, but also everyone in the heavens and the earth including jinn, angels, animals, and plants. What does it mean that every day, God is engaged in some work? It means that He is never idle and is always performing actions, whether it is giving power to someone to rule over others, or bring someone to his knees and take power from him; whether it is giving the sustenance of living beings, or punishing the wrongdoers for their crimes and sins. This is yet another blessing of God.

Surah Rahman: God Will Attend to the Two Groups

سَنَفْرُغُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَ الثَّقَلَانِ ﴿31﴾

Soon We shall make Ourselves unoccupied for you, O you notable two!

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿32﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

On the Day of Judgment, God will attend to the matters and record of deeds of both men and jinn. So we should not think that if God is busy doing some work every day, then when is He going to attend to our book of deeds? A time will come that will be devoted to reckoning our deeds, that is, the Day of Judgment aka the Day of Resurrection.

Surah Rahman: Passing Through the Heavens and Earth

يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَن تَنفُذُوا مِنْ أَقْطَارِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ فَانفُذُوا ۚ لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلْطَانٍ ﴿33﴾

O company of jinn and humans! If you can pass through the confines of the heavens and the earth, then do pass through. But you will not pass through except by an authority [from Allah].

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿34﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

In this verse, God challenges man and jinn to pass through the confines of the heavens and earth. It is a very incredible feat to do so and next to impossible. However, God says you will only be able to do so if you have an authority. Some exegetes have said that this verse is about the Day of Judgment where no one can escape God’s judgment.

Surah Rahman: The Day of Judgment

يُرْسَلُ عَلَيْكُمَا شُوَاظٌ مِّن نَّارٍ وَنُحَاسٌ فَلَا تَنتَصِرَانِ ﴿35﴾

There will be unleashed upon you a flash of fire and a smoke; then you will not be able to help one another.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿36﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

فَإِذَا انشَقَّتِ السَّمَاءُ فَكَانَتْ وَرْدَةً كَالدِّهَانِ ﴿37﴾

When the sky is split open, and turns crimson like tanned leather.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿38﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

فَيَوْمَئِذٍ لَّا يُسْأَلُ عَن ذَنبِهِ إِنسٌ وَلَا جَانٌّ ﴿39﴾

On that day neither humans will be questioned about their sins nor jinn.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿40﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

On the Day of Judgment, people will be surrounded by fire and smoke and will not be able to escape the desert known as Maḥshar (محشر). Then God mentions the signs of the Day of Judgment such as the sky splitting open and turning into another color. No one will be questioned as to their sins because they already know themselves what they have done in the world. That is why in another surah God says:

اقْرَأْ كِتَابَكَ كَفَىٰ بِنَفْسِكَ الْيَوْمَ عَلَيْكَ حَسِيبًا ﴿14﴾

‘Read your book! Today your soul suffices as your own reckoner.’ 3

Or another verse that says man verily is aware of his own affairs:

بَلِ الْإِنسَانُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ بَصِيرَةٌ ﴿33﴾

Indeed, man is a witness to himself. 4

Punishment of the Guilty

يُعْرَفُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ بِسِيمَاهُمْ فَيُؤْخَذُ بِالنَّوَاصِي وَالْأَقْدَامِ ﴿41﴾

The guilty will be recognized by their mark; so they will be seized by their forelocks and feet.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿42﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

هَـٰذِهِ جَهَنَّمُ الَّتِي يُكَذِّبُ بِهَا الْمُجْرِمُونَ ﴿43﴾

‘This is the hell which the guilty would deny!’

يَطُوفُونَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ حَمِيمٍ آنٍ ﴿44﴾

They shall circuit between it and boiling hot water.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿45﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

There is something evident in the faces of the guilty that shows they are guilty. God punishes them by grabbing hold of their forelocks and feet and casts them into hell. The guilty used to deny the existence of hell, but it is a reality and now they have to taste its punishment. Of course, those who were disbelievers remain in hell forever, while those who had believed but had sinned in their lives remain in hell for as long as they are purified of their sins, after which they will go to heaven.

The Righteous Shall Enter Gardens

وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتَانِ ﴿46﴾

For him who stands in awe of his Lord will be two gardens.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿47﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

ذَوَاتَا أَفْنَانٍ ﴿48﴾

Both abounding in branches.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿49﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ تَجْرِيَانِ ﴿50﴾

In both of them will be two flowing springs.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿51﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

فِيهِمَا مِن كُلِّ فَاكِهَةٍ زَوْجَانِ ﴿52﴾

In both of them will be two kinds of every fruit.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿53﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

Those who stand in awe of their Lord are the righteous ones who refrained from following their carnal desires and feared God. Of course, their fear of God is not because of wanting to be rewarded or out of fear of punishment, but rather it is out of their love for God. The two gardens mentioned in these verses according to one interpretation is one for the jinn and one for human beings. These two gardens are almost identical according to these verses.

The Heavenly Maiden

مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَىٰ فُرُشٍ بَطَائِنُهَا مِنْ إِسْتَبْرَقٍ ۚ وَجَنَى الْجَنَّتَيْنِ دَانٍ ﴿54﴾

[They will be] reclining on beds lined with green silk. And the fruit of the two gardens will be near at hand.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿55﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

فِيهِنَّ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَانٌّ ﴿56﴾

In them are maidens of restrained glances, whom no human has touched before, nor jinn.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿57﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

كَأَنَّهُنَّ الْيَاقُوتُ وَالْمَرْجَانُ ﴿58﴾

As though they were rubies and corals.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿59﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

The maidens described in these verses are not only very beautiful but also only look at their husbands and restrain their glances from others. In other words, they are very chaste and modest, except for their husbands. God compares their beauty to rubies and corals to emphasize their beauty, and then says no man or jinn has touched them before, meaning they are virgins and their likes cannot be found anywhere but in paradise.

Divine Justice

هَلْ جَزَاءُ الْإِحْسَانِ إِلَّا الْإِحْسَانُ ﴿60﴾

Is the requital of goodness anything but goodness?

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿61﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

Verse 60 of Surah Rahman is one of the famous verses of this surah. It is a rhetorical question. It shows that God is very just and does not let people’s good deeds go to waste. Indeed, the recompense of goodness is nothing but goodness. The righteous deserve all of these blessings and bounties because they did good, and the reward of goodness is goodness. If God punished them for doing good, that would be injustice which God is clear of. Therefore, God is proving His justice through this verse.

The Two Other Gardens

وَمِن دُونِهِمَا جَنَّتَانِ ﴿62﴾

Beside these two, there will be two [other] gardens.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿63﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

مُدْهَامَّتَانِ ﴿64﴾

Dark green.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿65﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ نَضَّاخَتَانِ ﴿66﴾

In both of them will be two gushing springs.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿67﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

These verses indicate that there will be different gardens at different ranks, depending on the level of righteousness and spirituality of the individual. A narration from the Prophet says that one garden is of gold and the other is of silver. Therefore, the gardens are not the same in terms of rank and some are better than others. Verse 64 of Surah Rahman is the shortest verse of the Quran in terms of it being one word. The shortest verse in terms of number of letters is verse 21 of surah Muddaththir (five letters). However, it consists of two words.

Houris Are in These Gardens Too

فِيهِمَا فَاكِهَةٌ وَنَخْلٌ وَرُمَّانٌ ﴿68﴾

In both of them will be fruits, date-palms and pomegranates.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿69﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

فِيهِنَّ خَيْرَاتٌ حِسَانٌ ﴿70﴾

In them are maidens good and lovely.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿71﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

حُورٌ مَّقْصُورَاتٌ فِي الْخِيَامِ ﴿72﴾

Houris secluded in pavilions.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿73﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَانٌّ ﴿74﴾

Whom no human has touched before, nor jinn.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿75﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَىٰ رَفْرَفٍ خُضْرٍ وَعَبْقَرِيٍّ حِسَانٍ ﴿76﴾

Reclining on green cushions and lovely carpets.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿77﴾

So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?

Other than blessings of fruits that inhabitants of these two other gardens enjoy, they are also in the company of houris, or the heavenly maiden whose beauty is unmatched. Their seclusion in pavilions once again shows that they are not unrestrained and guard themselves against other than their husbands. It is the mentioning of these bounties of heaven that has earned this surah the name Bride of the Quran, just as a bride is very adorned and beautiful.

Conclusion

تَبَارَكَ اسْمُ رَبِّكَ ذِي الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ ﴿78﴾

Blessed is the Name of your Lord, the Majestic and the Munificent!

God finishes surah Rahman by praising Himself and saying how blessed He is. After mentioning all the worldly and otherworldly blessings that He gives to His servants, He concludes the surah by stating a fact about Himself. If it were not for God, we would not have all these blessings and bounties. Indeed, which of the bounties of our Lord can we deny?!


References

  1. There is a difference of opinion on whether this surah was revealed in Mecca or Medina. However, one famous scholar proves that it was revealed in Medina.
  2. Suyūṭī, al-Durr al-Manthūr fī Tafsīr al-Ma’thūr, vol. 6, ppp. 142-143; Majma‘ al-Bayān fī Tafsīr al-Qur’ān, vol. 26, p. 78.
  3. Quran 17:14 (Qara’i).
  4. Quran 75:14 (Qara’i).
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1 Comment
  1. Mohsin Choudhry says

    MashaAllah beautiful explaining after translation of the verse. May you be blessed by Allah. Well Done.

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