Ar-Rahman 55:21
The Beneficent · Juz 27 · Page 532
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٢١
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
Tafsir · in English
Ma'arif al-Qur'an
Detailed · A modern classic, with rulings and practical points.
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Commentary on 55:19–21
Allah created Different Types of Water
مَرَجَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ (He has set forth the two seas that meet together...55:19). Literally, the verb maraja means 'to let loose'. The word bahrain [ two seas or two types of waters ] refers to sweet and salty waters. Allah has created two types of waters. In some places the two seas meet together, the samples of which are available in every region of the world. However, where the sweet and salty waters meet, there is a distinct barrier between the sweet and salty waters. In some cases, the two types of waters are seen distinctly in higher or lower position. If the salty water overrides the sweet water, the characteristics of the sweet water will not be spoiled; nor will the characteristics of the salty water be affected in any way if the sweet water overrides it. Thus the Qur'an states: مَرَجَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخٌ لَّا يَبْغِيَانِ He has set forth the two seas that meet together, while between them there is a barrier they do not transgress....55:20)
Page 532
55:17
رَبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقَيۡنِ وَرَبُّ ٱلۡمَغۡرِبَيۡنِ ١٧
[He is] Lord of the two sunrises and Lord of the two sunsets.1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., the points of sunrise in the east and sunset in the west in both summer and winter. ↩
55:18
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ١٨
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
55:19
مَرَجَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَيۡنِ يَلۡتَقِيَانِ ١٩
He released the two seas,1 meeting [one another];
1 translator’s note
- Two bodies of water or two sea waters of distinct characteristics. ↩
55:20
بَيۡنَهُمَا بَرۡزَخٞ لَّا يَبۡغِيَانِ ٢٠
Between them is a barrier so neither of them transgresses.
55:21
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٢١
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
55:22
يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡهُمَا ٱللُّؤۡلُؤُ وَٱلۡمَرۡجَانُ ٢٢
From both of them emerge pearl and coral.
55:23
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٢٣
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
55:24
وَلَهُ ٱلۡجَوَارِ ٱلۡمُنشَـَٔاتُ فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ كَٱلۡأَعۡلَٰمِ ٢٤
And to Him belong the ships [with sails] elevated in the sea like mountains.
55:25
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٢٥
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
55:26
كُلُّ مَنۡ عَلَيۡهَا فَانٖ ٢٦
Everyone upon it [i.e., the earth] will perish,
55:27
وَيَبۡقَىٰ وَجۡهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو ٱلۡجَلَٰلِ وَٱلۡإِكۡرَامِ ٢٧
And there will remain the Face1 of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.
1 translator’s note
- See footnote to 2:19. ↩
55:28
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٢٨
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
55:29
يَسۡـَٔلُهُۥ مَن فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ كُلَّ يَوۡمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأۡنٖ ٢٩
Whoever is within the heavens and earth asks Him; every day He is in [i.e., bringing about] a matter.1
1 translator’s note
- For each of His creatures. ↩
55:30
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٠
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
55:31
سَنَفۡرُغُ لَكُمۡ أَيُّهَ ٱلثَّقَلَانِ ٣١
We will attend to you, O prominent beings.1
1 translator’s note
- Specifically two: mankind and jinn. ↩
55:32
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٢
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
55:33
يَٰمَعۡشَرَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ إِنِ ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ أَن تَنفُذُواْ مِنۡ أَقۡطَارِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنفُذُواْۚ لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلۡطَٰنٖ ٣٣
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 Allāh].
55:34
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٤
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
55:35
يُرۡسَلُ عَلَيۡكُمَا شُوَاظٞ مِّن نَّارٖ وَنُحَاسٞ فَلَا تَنتَصِرَانِ ٣٥
There will be sent upon you a flame of fire and smoke,1 and you will not defend yourselves.
1 translator’s note
- Another possible meaning is liquefied brass or copper. ↩
55:36
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٦
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
55:37
فَإِذَا ٱنشَقَّتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَكَانَتۡ وَرۡدَةٗ كَٱلدِّهَانِ ٣٧
And when the heaven is split open and becomes rose-colored like oil1 -
1 translator’s note
- Or "like a tanned skin." ↩
55:38
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٨
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? -
55:39
فَيَوۡمَئِذٖ لَّا يُسۡـَٔلُ عَن ذَنۢبِهِۦٓ إِنسٞ وَلَا جَآنّٞ ٣٩
Then on that Day none will be asked about his sin among men or jinn.1
1 translator’s note
- Once they have been condemned to the Fire. ↩
55:40
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٤٠
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?