Surah Ar-Rahmaan 55
سُورَةُ الرَّحۡمَٰن“The Beneficent”78 Ayat
ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ
The Most Merciful
عَلَّمَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ
Taught the Qur'an,
خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ
Created man,
عَلَّمَهُ ٱلْبَيَانَ
[And] taught him eloquence.
ٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍ
The sun and the moon [move] by precise calculation,
وَٱلنَّجْمُ وَٱلشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ
And the stars and trees prostrate.
وَٱلسَّمَآءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ ٱلْمِيزَانَ
And the heaven He raised and imposed the balance
أَلَّا تَطْغَوْا فِى ٱلْمِيزَانِ
That you not transgress within the balance.
وَأَقِيمُوا ٱلْوَزْنَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا ٱلْمِيزَانَ
And establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance.
وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَضَعَهَا لِلْأَنَامِ
And the earth He laid [out] for the creatures.
فِيهَا فَٰكِهَةٌ وَٱلنَّخْلُ ذَاتُ ٱلْأَكْمَامِ
Therein is fruit and palm trees having sheaths [of dates]
وَٱلْحَبُّ ذُو ٱلْعَصْفِ وَٱلرَّيْحَانُ
And grain having husks and scented plants.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِن صَلْصَٰلٍ كَٱلْفَخَّارِ
He created man from clay like [that of] pottery.
وَخَلَقَ ٱلْجَآنَّ مِن مَّارِجٍ مِّن نَّارٍ
And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
رَبُّ ٱلْمَشْرِقَيْنِ وَرَبُّ ٱلْمَغْرِبَيْنِ
[He is] Lord of the two sunrises and Lord of the two sunsets.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
مَرَجَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ
He released the two seas, meeting [side by side];
بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخٌ لَّا يَبْغِيَانِ
Between them is a barrier [so] neither of them transgresses.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمَا ٱللُّؤْلُؤُ وَٱلْمَرْجَانُ
From both of them emerge pearl and coral.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
وَلَهُ ٱلْجَوَارِ ٱلْمُنشَـَٔاتُ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ كَٱلْأَعْلَٰمِ
And to Him belong the ships [with sails] elevated in the sea like mountains.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ
Everyone upon the earth will perish,
وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو ٱلْجَلَٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ
And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
يَسْـَٔلُهُ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِى شَأْنٍ
Whoever is within the heavens and earth asks Him; every day He is bringing about a matter.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
سَنَفْرُغُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَ ٱلثَّقَلَانِ
We will attend to you, O prominent beings.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
يَٰمَعْشَرَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ إِنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَن تَنفُذُوا مِنْ أَقْطَارِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنفُذُوا لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلْطَٰنٍ
O company of jinn and mankind, if you are able to pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth, then pass. You will not pass except by authority [from Allah].
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
يُرْسَلُ عَلَيْكُمَا شُوَاظٌ مِّن نَّارٍ وَنُحَاسٌ فَلَا تَنتَصِرَانِ
There will be sent upon you a flame of fire and smoke, and you will not defend yourselves.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
فَإِذَا ٱنشَقَّتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَكَانَتْ وَرْدَةً كَٱلدِّهَانِ
And when the heaven is split open and becomes rose-colored like oil -
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? -
فَيَوْمَئِذٍ لَّا يُسْـَٔلُ عَن ذَنبِهِٓ إِنسٌ وَلَا جَآنٌّ
Then on that Day none will be asked about his sin among men or jinn.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
يُعْرَفُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ بِسِيمَٰهُمْ فَيُؤْخَذُ بِٱلنَّوَٰصِى وَٱلْأَقْدَامِ
The criminals will be known by their marks, and they will be seized by the forelocks and the feet.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
هَٰذِهِ جَهَنَّمُ ٱلَّتِى يُكَذِّبُ بِهَا ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
This is Hell, which the criminals deny.
يَطُوفُونَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ حَمِيمٍ ءَانٍ
They will go around between it and scalding water, heated [to the utmost degree].
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتَانِ
But for he who has feared the position of his Lord are two gardens -
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? -
ذَوَاتَآ أَفْنَانٍ
Having [spreading] branches.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ تَجْرِيَانِ
In both of them are two springs, flowing.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
فِيهِمَا مِن كُلِّ فَٰكِهَةٍ زَوْجَانِ
In both of them are of every fruit, two kinds.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ فُرُشٍ بَطَآئِنُهَا مِنْ إِسْتَبْرَقٍ وَجَنَى ٱلْجَنَّتَيْنِ دَانٍ
[They are] reclining on beds whose linings are of silk brocade, and the fruit of the two gardens is hanging low.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
فِيهِنَّ قَٰصِرَٰتُ ٱلطَّرْفِ لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَآنٌّ
In them are women limiting [their] glances, untouched before them by man or jinni -
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? -
كَأَنَّهُنَّ ٱلْيَاقُوتُ وَٱلْمَرْجَانُ
As if they were rubies and coral.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
هَلْ جَزَآءُ ٱلْإِحْسَٰنِ إِلَّا ٱلْإِحْسَٰنُ
Is the reward for good [anything] but good?
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
وَمِن دُونِهِمَا جَنَّتَانِ
And below them both [in excellence] are two [other] gardens -
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? -
مُدْهَآمَّتَانِ
Dark green [in color].
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ نَضَّاخَتَانِ
In both of them are two springs, spouting.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
فِيهِمَا فَٰكِهَةٌ وَنَخْلٌ وَرُمَّانٌ
In both of them are fruit and palm trees and pomegranates.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
فِيهِنَّ خَيْرَٰتٌ حِسَانٌ
In them are good and beautiful women -
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? -
حُورٌ مَّقْصُورَٰتٌ فِى ٱلْخِيَامِ
Fair ones reserved in pavilions -
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? -
لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَآنٌّ
Untouched before them by man or jinni -
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? -
مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ رَفْرَفٍ خُضْرٍ وَعَبْقَرِىٍّ حِسَانٍ
Reclining on green cushions and beautiful fine carpets.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
تَبَٰرَكَ ٱسْمُ رَبِّكَ ذِى ٱلْجَلَٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ
Blessed is the name of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.
The Introduction to Surat Ar-Rahman
Imam Ahmad recorded that Zirr said that a man said [to Ibn Mas'ud]: "How is this recited: "Ma'in Ghayri Yasin or Asin?" He asked him, "Are you that proficient in reciting the whole Qur'an?" He replied, "I recite the Mufassal section in one Rak'ah." So he said, "Woe to you! Do you recite the Qur'an in haste, as if it is poetry? I know that the Prophet ﷺ used to recite two Surahs from the beginning of the Mufassal section (in one Rak'ah)." And Ibn Mas'ud considered Surat Ar-Rahman to be the beginning of the Mufassal section.
Abu 'Isa At-Tirmidhi recorded that Jabir said, "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ went to his Companions and recited Surat Ar-Rahman from beginning to end for them, but they did not say anything. The Prophet ﷺ said,
لَقَدْ قَرَأْتُهَا عَلَى الْجِنِّ لَيْلَةَ الْجِنِّ فَكَانُوا أَحْسَنَ مَرْدُودًا مِنْكُمْ، كُنْتُ كُلَّمَا أَتَيْتُ عَلَىٰ قَوْلِهِ: فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ قَالُوا: لَا بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ نِعَمِكَ رَبَّنَا نُكَذِّبُ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
(I recited it to the Jinns, on the night of the Jinns and their response was better than yours! Whenever I recited Allah's statement: (Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both deny?) They said, "None of Your favors do we deny, our Lord! All praise is due to you."
At-Tirmidhi recorded it and he said, "This Hadith is Gharib." Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Bazzar also collected this Hadith. Abu Ja'far Ibn Jarir recorded that 'Abdullah bin 'Umar said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited Surat Ar-Rahman, or it was recited before him, and he said,
مَا لِيَ أَسْمَعُ الْجِنَّ أَحْسَنَ جَوَابًا لِرَبِّهَا مِنْكُمْ؟
(Why do I hear the Jinn giving a better response to their Lord than you?) They said, "Why is that, O Allah's Messenger?" He said,
مَا أَتَيْتُ عَلَىٰ قَوْلِ اللهِ تَعَالَىٰ: فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ إِلَّا قَالَتِ الْجِنُّ: لَا بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ نِعَمِ رَبِّنَا نُكَذِّبُ
(Whenever I recited the statement of Allah the Exalted, (Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both deny?) The Jinn responded by saying, "None of the favors of our Lord do we deny.")"
Al-Hafiz Al-Bazzar also collected this Hadith.
Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) — the surah's virtues, naming and revelation context.