Surah 55. Ar-Rahman

Which, then, of your Sustainer's powers can you disavow?

  - Mohammad Asad

So, O jinn and men, which of your Rabb’s favors will both of you deny?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then which of your Lord's favours will you both deny?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny? ⁵¹⁸³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Part of the idea of this refrain will be found in xvi. 71, 72; xl. 81; and liii. 55 (where see n. 5122).

[He is] the Sustainer of the two farthest points of sunrise, and the Sustainer of the two farthest points of sunset.⁷

  - Mohammad Asad

I.e., of the extreme points of sunrise and sunset in summer and in winter (see 37:5 and 70:40 ), including "all that is between them": a metonym for God's being the Ultimate Cause of the orbital movement within the universe.

He is Rabb of the two easts and the Rabb of the two wests.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

'He is' Lord of the two easts and the two wests.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 The two points of sunrise and sunset in the summer and the winter.

Lord of the two Easts, and Lord of the two Wests!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

(He is) Lord of the two Easts and Lord of the two Wests: ⁵¹⁸⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The two Easts are the two extreme points where the sun rises during the year, and includes all the points between. Similarly the two Wests include the two extreme points of the sun's setting and all the points between. The Dual Number fits with the general atmosphere of Duality in this Sura. Allah is Lord of every region of the earth and sky, and He scatters His bounties everywhere. See also n. 4641 to xliii. 38, and n. 4034 to xxxvii. 5.

Which, then, of your Sustainer's powers can you disavow?

  - Mohammad Asad

So, O jinn and men, which of your Rabb’s favors will both of you deny?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then which of your Lord's favours will you both deny?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

He has given freedom to the two great bodies of water, so that they might meet:

  - Mohammad Asad

He has made the two oceans apparently meeting together,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

He merges the two bodies of 'fresh and salt' water,

  - Mustafa Khattab

He hath loosed the two seas. They meet.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

He has let free the two bodies of flowing water meeting together: ⁵¹⁸⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See xxv. 53, and n. 3111, where it is explained how the two bodies of water, salt and sweet, meet together, yet keep separate, as if there was a barrier or partition between them. This is also one of the favours of Allah. Sea-water is a sanitating agent, while fresh water is sweet and palatable to drink.

[yet] between them is a barrier which they may not transgress.⁸

  - Mohammad Asad

See 25:53 and the corresponding notes [41] and [42].

yet between them is a barrier which they cannot cross.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

yet between them is a barrier they never cross.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 See footnote for 25:53.

There is a barrier between them. They encroach not (one upon the other).

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Between them is a Barrier which they do not transgress:

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Which, then, of your Sustainer's powers can you disavow?

  - Mohammad Asad

So, O jinn and men, which of your Rabb’s favors will both of you deny?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then which of your Lord's favours will you both deny?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Which is it, of the favors of your Lord: that ye deny?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Out of these two [bodies of water] come forth pearls, both great and small.

  - Mohammad Asad

He produces pearls and coral from both of them.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Out of both 'waters' come forth pearls and coral.

  - Mustafa Khattab

There cometh forth from both of them the pearl and coral stone.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Out of them come Pearls and Coral: ⁵¹⁸⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Pearls are produced by the oyster and coral by the polyp, a minute marine creature, which, working in millions, has by its secretions produced the reefs, islands, and banks in and on both sides of the Red Sea and in other parts of the world. The pearl has a translucent lustre, usually white, but sometimes pink or black. Coral is usually opaque, red or pink, but often white, and is seen in beautiful branching or cup-like shapes as visitors to Port Sudan will recall. Both are used as gems and stand here for gems generally. Mineral gems, such as agate and cornelian, are found in river-beds. Pearl oysters are also found in some rivers.

Which, then, of your Sustainer's powers can you disavow?

  - Mohammad Asad

So, O jinn and men, which of your Rabb’s favors will both of you deny?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then which of your Lord's favours will you both deny?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And His are the lofty ships that sail like [floating] mountains through the seas.⁹

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "in the sea like mountains". The reference to ships as "belonging to God" is meant to stress the God-given nature of man's intelligence and inventiveness - a reflection of God's creative powers - which expresses itself in all that man is able to produce. (See also {42:32-34} and the corresponding notes.)

His are the ships looming up like mountains on the sea.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

To Him belong the ships with raised sails, sailing through the seas like mountains.

  - Mustafa Khattab

His are the ships displayed upon the sea, like banners.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And His are the Ships sailing smoothly through the seas lofty as mountains: ^{5187 5188}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The ships-sailing ships and steamers, and by extension of analogy, aeroplanes and airships majestically navigating the air-are made by man, but the intelligence and science which made them possible are given by man's Creator; and therefore the Ships also are the gifts of Allah.

Lofty as mountains: both in respect of the high sails, or masts, and in respect of the height to which the top of the ship towers above the surface of the sea. The 'Queen Mary'-the biggest ship afloat in 1936-has a height, from the keel to the top of the superstructure, of 135 ft. and from keel to the mast-head, of 234 ft.

Which, then, of your Sustainer's powers can you disavow?

  - Mohammad Asad

So, O jinn and men, which of your Rabb’s favors will both of you deny?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then which of your Lord's favours will you both deny?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

All that lives on earth or in the heavens¹⁰ is bound to pass away:

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "Everyone who is upon it", i.e., on earth and/or, according to Ibn Kathir, in the heavens - since the pronoun in 'alayha apparently relates to the whole universe.

All that exists on the earth will perish,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Every being on earth is bound to perish.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Everyone that is thereon will pass away;

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

All that is on earth will perish;

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

but forever will abide thy Sustainer's Self,¹¹ full of majesty and glory.

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "face", or "countenance", a term used metonymically in classical Arabic to denote the "self" or "whole being" of a person - in this case, the essential Being, or Reality, of God. Cf. also 28:88 , "Everything is bound to perish, save His [eternal] Self".

but the Face of your Rabb will remain full of Majesty and Glory.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Only your Lord Himself,¹ full of Majesty and Honour, will remain 'forever'.²

  - Mustafa Khattab

 lit., your Lord’s Face.

 Death is listed as one of Allah’s favours since it puts an end to tyrants, ends the suffering of the oppressed, makes all people equal, ushers in judgment and the enforcement of justice, and leads the believers to eternal joy and peace in Paradise.

There remaineth but the countenance of thy Lord of Might and Glory.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But will abide (forever) the Face of thy Lord full of Majesty Bounty and Honor. ^{5189 5190}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The most magnificent works of man-such as they are-are but fleeting. Ships, Empires, the Wonders of Science and Art, the splendours of human glory or intellect, will all pass away. The most magnificent objects in outer Nature-the mountains and valleys, the sun and moon, the Constellation Orion and the star Sirius-will also pass away in their appointed time. But the only One that will endure for ever is the "Face" of Allah.

Ikram; two ideas are prominent in the word, (1) the idea of generosity, as proceeding from the person whose attribute it is, and (2) the idea of honour, as given by others to the person whose attribute it is. Both these ideas are summed up in "nobility". To make the meaning quite clear, I have employed in the translation the two words "Bounty and Honour" for the single word Ikram. The same attributes recur in the last verse of this Sura. In the Fact of Allah's Eternity is the Hope of our Future.

Which, then, of your Sustainer's powers can you disavow?

  - Mohammad Asad

Then, O jinn and men, which of your Rabb’s glories will both of you deny?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then which of your Lord's favours will you both deny?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

On Him depend all creatures¹² in the heavensn and on earth; [and] every day He manifests Himself in yet another [wondrous] way.

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "Him does ask [or "of Him does beg"] whoever is...", etc.: i.e., all depend on Him for their safety and sustenance.

All who dwell in the heavens and the earth, implore Him for their needs, every moment He is busy in some mighty task.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

All those in the heavens and the earth are dependent on Him. Day in and day out He has something to bring about.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Giving life and causing death, making some rich and others poor, elevating some and debasing others, etc.

All that are in the heavens and the earth entreat Him. Every day He exerciseth (universal) power.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Of Him seeks (its needs) every creature in the heavens and on earth: every day in (new) Splendor doth He (shine)! ^{5191 5192}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Every single creature depends on Allah for its needs: of all of them the Cherisher and Sustainer is Allah. Seek (its needs): does not necessarily mean 'seek them in words': what is meant is the dependence: the allusion is to the Source of supply.

Shan: state, splendour; aim, work, business, momentous affair. Allah's is still the directing hand in all affairs. He does not sit apart, careless of mankind or of any of His creatures. But His working shows new Splendour every day, every hour, every moment.

Which, then, of your Sustainer's powers can you disavow?

  - Mohammad Asad

Then, O jinn and men, which of your Rabb’s honors will both of you deny?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then which of your Lord's favours will you both deny?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

[ONE DAY] We shall take you to task,¹³ O you sin-laden two!¹⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "We shall apply Ourselves to you".

I.e., "you sin-laden men and women" (see note [4] above). According to an interpretation quoted by Razi the designation thaqalan (the dual form of thaqal, "a thing of weight") signifies that both these categories of human beings are liable to, and therefore burdened with, sinning.

O you, the two burdens (jinns and mankind)! Soon We shall find the time to call you to account.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

We will soon attend to you 'for judgment', O two multitudes 'of jinn and humans'!

  - Mustafa Khattab

We shall dispose of you, O ye two dependents (man and jinn).

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Soon shall We settle your affairs O both ye worlds! ⁵¹⁹³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Thaqal: weight, something weighty, something weighed with something else. The two thaqals are Jinns and men who are burdened with responsibility or, as some commentators hold, with sin. They are both before Allah, and the affairs of both are conducted under His Command. If there are inequalities or apparent disturbances of balance, that is only for a season. Allah gives to both good and evil men a chance in this period of probation; but this period will soon be over, and Judgment will be established. To give you this chance, this probation, this warning, is itself a favour, by which you should profit, and for which you should be grateful.

Which, then, of your Sustainer's powers can you disavow?

  - Mohammad Asad

Then, O jinn and men, which of your Rabb’s favors will both of you deny?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then which of your Lord's favours will you both deny?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

O you who live in close communion with [evil] invisible beings and humans!¹⁵ If you [think that you] can pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth,¹⁶ pass beyond them! [But] you cannot pass beyond them, save by a sanction [from God]!¹⁷

  - Mohammad Asad

For an explanation of this rendering of ma'shar al-jinn wa-'l-ins, see note [112] on the first paragraph of 6:128 .

I.e., in order to escape God's judgment and chastisement.

I.e., "unless He wills to reprieve you": cf. the last paragraph of 6:128 and the corresponding note [114].

O you, the assembly of jinns and men! If you have the power to get away from the boundaries of the heavens and the earth (to escape from His punishment), then get away! You cannot get away except with Our Own authority.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

O assembly of jinn and humans! If you can penetrate beyond the realms of the heavens and the earth, then do so. 'But' you cannot do that without 'Our' authority.

  - Mustafa Khattab

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.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

O ye assembly of Jinns and men! if it be ye can pass beyond the zones of the heavens and the earth pass ye! not without authority shall ye be able to pass! ⁵¹⁹⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. vi. 130, where the Jinns and men are addressed collectively. That whole passage, vi. 130-134, should be read as a commentary on this verse. 'If you think that because you do things in secret, or because some of your sins do not seem to meet their inevitable punishment or some of your good deeds seem to go unnoticed, do not be deceived. Judgment will soon come. You cannot possibly escape out of the zones in which your lives have been cast, without authority from Allah. Be grateful to Allah for the chances He has given you'. "All that hath been promised unto you will come to pass: nor can ye frustrate it in the least bit" (vi. 134).

Which, then, of your Sustainer's powers can you disavow?

  - Mohammad Asad

Then, O jinn and men, which of your Rabb’s authorities will both of you deny?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Then which of your Lord's favours will you both deny?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny? ⁵¹⁹⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Note how gradually we have been led up in the Argument. 'The Signs of Allah are all about you, in revelation, in your intelligence, and in nature around you. Your creation; the light and heat typified by the sun in all directions; the cycle of waters in the physical earth and of Knowledge in the world of Intelligence; the help and cherishing care of Allah Himself;-all these things should teach you the Truth and warn you about the Future, which is more particularly referred to in the remainder of the Sura.

A flash of fire will be let loose upon you, and smoke, and you will be left without succour!

  - Mohammad Asad

The flames of fire and molten brass will be unleashed on you both, jinn and men, and you will not be able to defend yourselves.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Flames of fire and 'molten' copper will be sent against you, and you will not be able to defend one another.

  - Mustafa Khattab

There will be sent, against you both, heat of fire and flash of brass, and ye will not escape.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

On you will be sent (O ye evil ones twain!) a flame of fire (to burn) and a smoke (to choke): No defence will ye have: ^{5196 5197}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Dual is with reference to the two worlds explained above in n. 5193.

We now come to the terrors of the Judgment on the evil ones.