Surah Ar-Rahman
سورة الرحمن
The Most Merciful — Surah 55
78 Verses • Medinan • Juz 27
The Iconic Refrain — Repeated 31 Times
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Fabi ayyi ala'i Rabbikuma tukadhdhibaan
"So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?"
This powerful refrain appears 31 times in Surah Ar-Rahman, addressed to both humans and jinn. Each repetition follows a description of Allah's blessings — from the creation of mankind to the wonders of nature to the delights of Paradise. It serves as a rhythmic reminder that demands reflection: after listing each blessing, Allah challenges both creation to name even one favor they can deny.
Key Verses
الرَّحْمَٰنُ
Ar-Rahman
The Most Merciful
عَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ
'Allamal Quran
He taught the Quran
خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ
Khalaqal insan
He created man
عَلَّمَهُ الْبَيَانَ
'Allamahul bayan
He taught him eloquent speech
الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍ
Ash-shamsu wal qamaru bi husban
The sun and the moon follow exact courses
وَالنَّجْمُ وَالشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ
Wan-najmu wash-shajaru yasjudan
And the stars and trees prostrate
وَالسَّمَاءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ
Was-sama'a rafa'aha wa wada'al mizan
And the heaven He raised and imposed the balance
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Fabi ayyi ala'i Rabbikuma tukadhdhibaan
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ
Kullu man 'alaiha faan
Everyone upon the earth will perish
وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
Wa yabqa wajhu Rabbika dhul jalali wal ikram
And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor
يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَن تَنفُذُوا مِنْ أَقْطَارِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ فَانفُذُوا ۚ لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلْطَانٍ
Ya ma'sharal jinni wal insi inis-tata'tum an tanfudhu min aqtaris samawati wal ardi fanfudhu. La tanfudhuna illa bi sultan
O company of jinn and mankind, if you are able to pass beyond the regions of the heavens and earth, then pass. You will not pass except by authority.
وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتَانِ
Wa liman khafa maqama Rabbihi jannatan
But for he who has feared the position of his Lord are two gardens
هَلْ جَزَاءُ الْإِحْسَانِ إِلَّا الْإِحْسَانُ
Hal jaza'ul ihsani illal ihsan
Is the reward for good anything but good?
تَبَارَكَ اسْمُ رَبِّكَ ذِي الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
Tabarakas-mu Rabbika dhil jalali wal ikram
Blessed is the name of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor
Benefits & Virtues
1The Beauty of the Quran
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Everything has a bride, and the bride of the Quran is Surah Ar-Rahman.' This hadith highlights its unique lyrical beauty and the recurring refrain that gives it an unmatched melodic quality.
2Softens the Heart
When the Prophet ﷺ recited Surah Ar-Rahman to the Companions, they remained silent. When he recited it to the jinn, they responded: 'None of Your favors do we deny, O our Lord!' The Prophet ﷺ said the jinn had a better response.
3Reminder of Allah's Blessings
The surah systematically lists Allah's blessings on creation — teaching the Quran, creating mankind, providing fruits and sustenance, controlling the seas, and preparing Paradise — making it a comprehensive meditation on gratitude.
4Description of Paradise
Verses 46-78 contain one of the most detailed and beautiful descriptions of Paradise in the Quran, describing gardens, flowing springs, reclining on silk, and fruits of every kind.
5Healing and Tranquility
Many scholars recommend reciting Surah Ar-Rahman for spiritual healing and inner peace. Its rhythmic structure and description of Allah's mercy has a calming effect on the heart and soul.
Thematic Breakdown
Allah's Teaching & Creation
Verses 1-13
The surah opens with Allah's greatest gift — teaching the Quran — followed by the creation of mankind and jinn, and the cosmic order of the sun, moon, stars, and trees.
Signs in Nature
Verses 14-25
Description of the creation of man from clay and jinn from fire, the rising and setting of the sun, the two seas that meet but do not transgress, and the pearls and corals produced from them.
The Perishing of All Things
Verses 26-30
A powerful reminder that everything on earth will perish, and only the Face of Allah — Owner of Majesty and Honor — will remain.
The Day of Judgment
Verses 31-45
Description of the Day when sinners will be recognized by their marks, seized by their forelocks and feet, and thrown into Hell described as boiling water.
The Gardens of Paradise
Verses 46-78
The stunning conclusion describing two gardens for the God-fearing — with flowing springs, pairs of fruits, silk-lined couches, and companions — followed by two more gardens for those of lesser rank.