Surah 55. Ar-Rahman

1.

The Most Compassionate

2.

taught the Quran,

3.

created humanity,

4.

'and' taught them speech.

5.

The sun and the moon 'travel' with precision.

6.

The stars and the trees bow down 'in submission'.¹

 lit., prostrate.

7.

As for the sky, He raised it 'high', and set the balance 'of justice'

8.

so that you do not defraud the scales.

9.

Weigh with justice, and do not give short measure.

10.

He laid out the earth for all beings.

11.

In it are fruit, palm trees with date stalks,

12.

and grain with husks, and aromatic plants.

13.

Then which of your Lord's favours will you 'humans and jinn' both deny?¹

 This question is repeated thirty-one times in this sûrah: eight times after reminders of Allah’s favours, seven times in the passage talking about the punishment of the deniers of judgment (which is the number of the gates of Hell), and eight times in each of the two following passages talking about Paradise, which has eight gates.

14.

He created humankind from 'sounding' clay like pottery,

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and created jinn from a 'smokeless' flame of fire.

16.

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

17.

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

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

18.

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

19.

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

20.

yet between them is a barrier they never cross.¹

 See footnote for 25:53.

21.

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

22.

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

23.

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

24.

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

25.

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

26.

Every being on earth is bound to perish.

27.

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

 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.

28.

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

29.

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

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

30.

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

31.

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

32.

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

33.

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.

34.

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

35.

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

36.

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

37.

'How horrible will it be' when the heavens will split apart, becoming rose-red like 'burnt' oil!

38.

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

39.

On that Day there will be no need for any human or jinn to be asked about their sins.¹

 Since their sins are already known to Allah and written in perfect records, they will only be interrogated as a form of punishment.

40.

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

41.

The wicked will be recognized by their appearance, then will be seized by 'their' forelocks and feet.

42.

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

43.

'They will be told,' 'This is the Hell which the wicked denied.'

44.

They will alternate between its flames and scalding water.

45.

Then which of your Lord's favours will you both deny?¹

 Warning of the punishment in Hell is listed as a favour just like the promise of the reward in Paradise. Think of this as a road sign: the latter is like a sign about food, gas, etc., and the former is like a cautionary sign about an accident ahead or something hazardous. Both signs benefit people.

46.

And whoever is in awe of standing before their Lord will have two Gardens.

47.

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

48.

'Both will be' with lush branches.

49.

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

50.

In each 'Garden' will be two flowing springs.

51.

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

52.

In each will be two types of every fruit.

53.

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

54.

Those 'believers' will recline on furnishings lined with rich brocade. And the fruit of both Gardens will hang within reach.

55.

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

56.

In both 'Gardens' will be maidens of modest gaze, who no human or jinn has ever touched before.

57.

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

58.

Those 'maidens' will be 'as elegant' as rubies and coral.

59.

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

60.

Is there any reward for goodness except goodness?

61.

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

62.

And below these two 'Gardens' will be two others.

63.

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

64.

Both will be dark green.

65.

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

66.

In each will be two gushing springs.

67.

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

68.

In both will be fruit, palm trees, and pomegranates.

69.

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

70.

In all Gardens will be noble, pleasant mates.

71.

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

72.

'They will be' maidens with gorgeous eyes, reserved in pavilions.

73.

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

74.

No human or jinn has ever touched these 'maidens' before.¹

 Before these righteous servants in Paradise.

75.

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

76.

All 'believers' will be reclining on green cushions and splendid carpets.

77.

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

78.

Blessed is the Name of your Lord, full of Majesty and Honour.