بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ
The Most Merciful (Allah).
Pickthall (1930): The Beneficent
Quran · Surah 55 · 78 ayat
Surah Ar-Rahman
The Most Merciful
ٱلرَّحْمَٰن
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About this surah
Surah Ar-Rahman ('The Most Merciful') has 78 ayat. The heading in the standard Madinah mushaf lists it as Medinan, though many classical scholars considered it Meccan. It describes Allah's gifts in nature, the Day of Judgment and the gardens of Paradise, and it repeats one question 31 times, addressed to both humans and jinn: 'Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?' Many Muslims love it for its rhythm and recite it often. Following a hadith reported by Tirmidhi, in which the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said the jinn answered this refrain well, many Muslims quietly reply to it with words meaning 'None of Your favours, our Lord, do we deny; all praise is Yours.'
Allah's favours in creationBalance and fairnessAccountability of humans and jinnThe gardens of Paradise
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Arabic exactly as in the Tanzil text, then a plain meaning in your language. The Arabic is never read by a machine voice; "Listen" reads only the meanings.
عَلَّمَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ
He is the one who taught the Quran.
Pickthall (1930): Hath made known the Qur'ân.
خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ
He created the human being.
Pickthall (1930): He hath created man.
عَلَّمَهُ ٱلْبَيَانَ
He taught him to speak clearly and to express what is in his mind.
Pickthall (1930): He hath taught him utterance.
ٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍ
The sun and the moon move according to an exact calculation.
Pickthall (1930): The sun and the moon are made punctual.
وَٱلنَّجْمُ وَٱلشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ
The low-growing plants and the trees bow down to Him in obedience. (Some scholars take the first word to mean 'the stars'.)
Pickthall (1930): The stars and the trees adore.
وَٱلسَّمَآءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ ٱلْمِيزَانَ
He raised the sky high, and He set up the balance (of justice).
Pickthall (1930): And the sky He hath uplifted; and He hath set the measure,
أَلَّا تَطْغَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْمِيزَانِ
This is so that you do not cross the limits of the balance.
Pickthall (1930): That ye exceed not the measure,
وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلْوَزْنَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا۟ ٱلْمِيزَانَ
So weigh with fairness, and do not give less than what is due.
Pickthall (1930): But observe the measure strictly, nor fall short thereof.
وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَضَعَهَا لِلْأَنَامِ
He spread out the earth for all living creatures.
Pickthall (1930): And the earth hath He appointed for (His) creatures,
فِيهَا فَـٰكِهَةٌ وَٱلنَّخْلُ ذَاتُ ٱلْأَكْمَامِ
In it are fruits, and date palms whose clusters grow in sheaths.
Pickthall (1930): Wherein are fruit and sheathed palm-trees,
وَٱلْحَبُّ ذُو ٱلْعَصْفِ وَٱلرَّيْحَانُ
There is also grain in its husk, and sweet-smelling plants.
Pickthall (1930): Husked grain and scented herb.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِن صَلْصَـٰلٍ كَٱلْفَخَّارِ
He created the human being from dry clay that rings like baked pottery.
Pickthall (1930): He created man of clay like the potter's,
وَخَلَقَ ٱلْجَآنَّ مِن مَّارِجٍ مِّن نَّارٍ
And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire.
Pickthall (1930): And the Jinn did He create of smokeless fire.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
رَبُّ ٱلْمَشْرِقَيْنِ وَرَبُّ ٱلْمَغْرِبَيْنِ
He is Lord of the two places of sunrise and Lord of the two places of sunset (the furthest points of sunrise and sunset in summer and in winter).
Pickthall (1930): Lord of the two Easts, and Lord of the two Wests!
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
مَرَجَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ
He has let the two bodies of water flow freely, and they meet.
Pickthall (1930): He hath loosed the two seas. They meet.
بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخٌ لَّا يَبْغِيَانِ
Between them is a barrier that they do not cross.
Pickthall (1930): There is a barrier between them. They encroach not (one upon the other).
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمَا ٱللُّؤْلُؤُ وَٱلْمَرْجَانُ
Pearls and coral come out of both of them.
Pickthall (1930): There cometh forth from both of them the pearl and coral-stone.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
وَلَهُ ٱلْجَوَارِ ٱلْمُنشَـَٔاتُ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ كَٱلْأَعْلَـٰمِ
His are the tall ships that sail upon the sea, rising like mountains.
Pickthall (1930): His are the ships displayed upon the sea, like banners.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ
Everyone on the earth will pass away.
Pickthall (1930): Everyone that is thereon will pass away;
وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو ٱلْجَلَـٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ
Only the Face of your Lord remains, the Owner of majesty and honour.
Pickthall (1930): There remaineth but the Countenance of thy Lord of Might and Glory.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
يَسْـَٔلُهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِى شَأْنٍ
All who are in the heavens and the earth ask of Him. Every day He is engaged in some affair.
Pickthall (1930): All that are in the heavens and the earth entreat Him. Every day He exerciseth (universal) power.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
سَنَفْرُغُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَ ٱلثَّقَلَانِ
Soon We will turn to your account, O you two burdened groups (humans and jinn).
Pickthall (1930): We shall dispose of you, O ye two dependents (man and jinni).
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
يَـٰمَعْشَرَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ إِنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَن تَنفُذُوا۟ مِنْ أَقْطَارِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنفُذُوا۟ ۚ لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلْطَـٰنٍ
O company of jinn and humans, if you are able to pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth, then do so! You cannot pass beyond them except with authority (given by Allah).
Pickthall (1930): O 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.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
يُرْسَلُ عَلَيْكُمَا شُوَاظٌ مِّن نَّارٍ وَنُحَاسٌ فَلَا تَنتَصِرَانِ
Flames of fire and smoke (some say molten brass) will be sent against you both, and you will not be able to defend yourselves.
Pickthall (1930): There will be sent, against you both, heat of fire and flash of brass, and ye will not escape.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
فَإِذَا ٱنشَقَّتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَكَانَتْ وَرْدَةً كَٱلدِّهَانِ
Then, when the sky is torn apart and turns red like oil or like red leather.
Pickthall (1930): And when the heaven splitteth asunder and becometh rosy like red hide—
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?—
فَيَوْمَئِذٍ لَّا يُسْـَٔلُ عَن ذَنۢبِهِۦٓ إِنسٌ وَلَا جَآنٌّ
On that Day no human or jinn will need to be asked about his sin, since it will already be known.
Pickthall (1930): On that day neither man nor jinni will be questioned of his sin.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
يُعْرَفُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ بِسِيمَـٰهُمْ فَيُؤْخَذُ بِٱلنَّوَٰصِى وَٱلْأَقْدَامِ
The guilty will be known by their marks, and they will be seized by their forelocks and their feet.
Pickthall (1930): The guilty will be known by their marks, and will be taken by the forelocks and the feet.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
هَـٰذِهِۦ جَهَنَّمُ ٱلَّتِى يُكَذِّبُ بِهَا ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
This is Hell, which the guilty used to deny.
Pickthall (1930): This is Hell which the guilty deny.
يَطُوفُونَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ حَمِيمٍ ءَانٍ
They will go round between it and scalding hot water.
Pickthall (1930): They go circling round between it and fierce, boiling water.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ جَنَّتَانِ
But for the one who fears standing before his Lord, there are two gardens.
Pickthall (1930): But for him who feareth the standing before his Lord there are two gardens.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
ذَوَاتَآ أَفْنَانٍ
Both are full of spreading branches.
Pickthall (1930): Of spreading branches.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ تَجْرِيَانِ
In both gardens are two flowing springs.
Pickthall (1930): Wherein are two fountains flowing.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
فِيهِمَا مِن كُلِّ فَـٰكِهَةٍ زَوْجَانِ
In them is every kind of fruit, in pairs.
Pickthall (1930): Wherein is every kind of fruit in pairs.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ فُرُشٍۭ بَطَآئِنُهَا مِنْ إِسْتَبْرَقٍ ۚ وَجَنَى ٱلْجَنَّتَيْنِ دَانٍ
They will recline on couches lined with rich brocade, and the fruit of both gardens will hang within easy reach.
Pickthall (1930): Reclining upon couches lined with silk brocade, the fruit of both the gardens near to hand.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
فِيهِنَّ قَـٰصِرَٰتُ ٱلطَّرْفِ لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَآنٌّ
In them are companions of modest gaze, whom no human or jinn has touched before.
Pickthall (1930): Therein are those of modest gaze, whom neither man nor jinni will have touched before them.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
كَأَنَّهُنَّ ٱلْيَاقُوتُ وَٱلْمَرْجَانُ
They are like rubies and coral.
Pickthall (1930): (In beauty) like the jacynth and the coral-stone.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
هَلْ جَزَآءُ ٱلْإِحْسَـٰنِ إِلَّا ٱلْإِحْسَـٰنُ
Is the reward for goodness anything but goodness?
Pickthall (1930): Is the reward of goodness aught save goodness?
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
وَمِن دُونِهِمَا جَنَّتَانِ
And besides these two, there are two other gardens.
Pickthall (1930): And beside them are two other gardens,
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
مُدْهَآمَّتَانِ
They are deep green in colour.
Pickthall (1930): Dark green with foliage.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ نَضَّاخَتَانِ
In both gardens are two springs gushing forth.
Pickthall (1930): Wherein are two abundant springs.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
فِيهِمَا فَـٰكِهَةٌ وَنَخْلٌ وَرُمَّانٌ
In them are fruits, date palms and pomegranates.
Pickthall (1930): Wherein is fruit, the date-palm and pomegranate.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
فِيهِنَّ خَيْرَٰتٌ حِسَانٌ
In them are good and beautiful companions.
Pickthall (1930): Wherein (are found) the good and beautiful—
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?—
حُورٌ مَّقْصُورَٰتٌ فِى ٱلْخِيَامِ
Companions (the hur) sheltered in pavilions.
Pickthall (1930): Fair ones, close-guarded in pavilions—
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?—
لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَآنٌّ
No human or jinn has touched them before.
Pickthall (1930): Whom neither man nor jinni will have touched before them—
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?—
مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ رَفْرَفٍ خُضْرٍ وَعَبْقَرِىٍّ حِسَانٍ
They will recline on green cushions and beautiful carpets.
Pickthall (1930): Reclining on green cushions and fair carpets.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?
Pickthall (1930): Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?
تَبَـٰرَكَ ٱسْمُ رَبِّكَ ذِى ٱلْجَلَـٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ
Blessed is the name of your Lord, the Owner of majesty and honour.
Pickthall (1930): Blessed be the name of thy Lord, Mighty and glorious!
Quick quiz
How many times does the refrain 'Which, then, of the favours of your Lord will you deny?' appear in Surah Ar-Rahman?
According to ayah 15, what were the jinn created from?
What do ayat 7 to 9 ask people to do with the balance?
According to ayat 26 and 27, what remains when everyone on earth passes away?
Complete ayah 60: 'Is the reward for goodness anything but ...?'
Your score: 0 / 5
Tanzil Quran Text (Uthmani, Version 1.1), tanzil.net, CC BY 3.0, verbatim: tanzil.net. Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of the Glorious Koran (1930), public domain; text from English Wikisource. Al-Fatiha aligned to the Hafs count (basmala as verse 1, his verses 6 and 7 joined); Quraysh: his verses 4 and 5 joined.. Plain meanings, introductions and quiz: IndiaDigital, awaiting review by an Islamic scholar.
Corrections from members of every tradition are welcome at support@indiadigital.org. Last checked: .