Tazkirul Quran · Tafsir · in English
الرحمن
Ar-Rahman
The Beneficent · Medinan · 78 ayahs
55:1–9Page 531
ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ ١
The Most Merciful
عَلَّمَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ ٢
Taught the Qur’ān,
خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ ٣
Created man,
عَلَّمَهُ ٱلۡبَيَانَ ٤
[And] taught him eloquence.
ٱلشَّمۡسُ وَٱلۡقَمَرُ بِحُسۡبَانٖ ٥
The sun and the moon [move] by precise calculation,
وَٱلنَّجۡمُ وَٱلشَّجَرُ يَسۡجُدَانِ ٦
And the stars and trees prostrate.1
وَٱلسَّمَآءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ ٱلۡمِيزَانَ ٧
And the heaven He raised and imposed the balance
أَلَّا تَطۡغَوۡاْ فِي ٱلۡمِيزَانِ ٨
That you not transgress within the balance.
وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلۡوَزۡنَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ وَلَا تُخۡسِرُواْ ٱلۡمِيزَانَ ٩
And establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance.
God created human beings. He granted them the unique power of speech—a power not bestowed upon any other creature or anything else in the whole known universe. Then, there is the practical example of the role of justice and fair play which inheres in the universe at God’s behest. The whole world surrounding the human being is based on these principles of balance and justice, which God wants human beings to follow; and this is clearly set forth in the Quran. The Quran is the verbal expression of this Divine justice and the universe is its practical expression. It is imperative that the subjects of God weigh their words and deeds in this balance. They should not be unjust in either giving or taking.
55:10–25Page 531
وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَضَعَهَا لِلۡأَنَامِ ١٠
And the earth He laid [out] for the creatures.
فِيهَا فَٰكِهَةٞ وَٱلنَّخۡلُ ذَاتُ ٱلۡأَكۡمَامِ ١١
Therein is fruit and palm trees having sheaths [of dates]
وَٱلۡحَبُّ ذُو ٱلۡعَصۡفِ وَٱلرَّيۡحَانُ ١٢
And grain having husks and scented plants.
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ١٣
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?1
خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِن صَلۡصَٰلٖ كَٱلۡفَخَّارِ ١٤
He created man from clay like [that of] pottery.
وَخَلَقَ ٱلۡجَآنَّ مِن مَّارِجٖ مِّن نَّارٖ ١٥
And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire.
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ١٦
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
رَبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقَيۡنِ وَرَبُّ ٱلۡمَغۡرِبَيۡنِ ١٧
[He is] Lord of the two sunrises and Lord of the two sunsets.1
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ١٨
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
مَرَجَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَيۡنِ يَلۡتَقِيَانِ ١٩
He released the two seas,1 meeting [one another];
بَيۡنَهُمَا بَرۡزَخٞ لَّا يَبۡغِيَانِ ٢٠
Between them is a barrier so neither of them transgresses.
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٢١
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡهُمَا ٱللُّؤۡلُؤُ وَٱلۡمَرۡجَانُ ٢٢
From both of them emerge pearl and coral.
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٢٣
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
وَلَهُ ٱلۡجَوَارِ ٱلۡمُنشَـَٔاتُ فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ كَٱلۡأَعۡلَٰمِ ٢٤
And to Him belong the ships [with sails] elevated in the sea like mountains.
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٢٥
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
A large part of this universe is filled with stars which consist entirely of fire. Jinn are also made of this fire. But human beings have been given special treatment by God in that they have been made of earth, or clay, which is an extremely rare thing in this extensive universe. In the whole universe the earth is a unique exception. Here, all the factors that are conducive to the existence, survival and cultural development of man have been provided in the most appropriate proportions and in the most balanced manner. One of these arrangements is the system of ‘two easts’ and ‘two wests’ on the earth. In winter, the places on the horizon where the sun rises and sets are different from those in summer. In this way, there is a range of ‘easts’ and ‘wests.’ This seasonal difference occurs due to the axial tilt of the earth in space. This tilt is a most unique feature, and man receives many natural advantages on account of this. The exceptional treatment of man and the earth in this universe is such a great manifestation of God’s grace and bounty that man is in no way capable of thanking his Creator sufficiently.
55:26–29Page 532
كُلُّ مَنۡ عَلَيۡهَا فَانٖ ٢٦
Everyone upon it [i.e., the earth] will perish,
وَيَبۡقَىٰ وَجۡهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو ٱلۡجَلَٰلِ وَٱلۡإِكۡرَامِ ٢٧
And there will remain the Face1 of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٢٨
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
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
Nothing in this world possesses creative power i.e. the objects on which things depend for their continued existence are not self-created. This shows the boundless power of the Creator. The signs of God in this world are so many that it is not possible for any thinking individual to ignore them. But man is such a transgressor that, even when surrounded by a host of signs, he denies them.
55:30–36Page 532
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٠
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
سَنَفۡرُغُ لَكُمۡ أَيُّهَ ٱلثَّقَلَانِ ٣١
We will attend to you, O prominent beings.1
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٢
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
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].
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٤
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
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.
فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٦
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
The present world is a place of trial. So long as the period of testing lasts, everybody has the opportunity to be as arrogant as he pleases. But, in spite of this complete freedom, no jinn or human being has the power to go beyond the limits of the universe. This fact itself is enough to prove that man is completely in the grip of God. On the expiry of the test period, when He starts seizing hold of people, it will not be possible for anybody to save himself.
Text: through the Quran Foundation. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences