سُورَةُ الرَّحْمَٰنِ
Surah Ar-Rahman: Meaning, Themes, and Benefits of Recitation
Revelation
Makki (majority view)
Verses
78 ayat
Surah No.
Surah 55
Juz
Juz 27
Discover what Surah Ar-Rahman teaches, why its refrain is repeated 31 times, and what it says about God’s mercy, creation, and Paradise. Full guide inside.
What Is Surah Ar-Rahman?
Surah Ar-Rahman is the 55th surah of the Quran, located in Juz 27. Its name means “The Most Merciful”, one of Allah’s names, and it is the only surah in the Quran that opens with one of His names directly. The verse count is 78 by the most commonly used counting method, though some classical scholars counted 77 due to a difference in how they divided certain verses.
Most classical Muslim scholars classify Surah Ar-Rahman as a Makki surah, revealed before the Prophet’s migration to Madinah. A narration from Asma bint Abi Bakr suggests it was among the earliest revelations, heard before the Prophet began public preaching. Some scholars, including the translator Abdel Haleem, have classified it as Madinan, but the majority view places it in the Makkan period.
The Refrain Repeated 31 Times: Why?
The verse “Fabi ayyi alaa’i Rabbikuma tukadhdhibaan”, “Then which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?”, appears 31 times across Surah Ar-Rahman’s 78 verses. The Arabic word “alaa” means favors or blessings, and “tukadhdhibaan” is addressed to the dual form, meaning the surah speaks directly to both humankind and jinn.
The repetition functions as a rhetorical device. Each time the refrain appears, it follows a different list of blessings, creation, the teaching of the Quran, the movement of celestial bodies, the fruits of the earth, human dignity, justice, and eventually the rewards of Paradise. The question is asked again after each blessing, making it almost impossible to ignore. Can you deny this one? And this? And this?
Classical scholars noted that this structure reflects how human beings tend to receive blessings, absorbing them without acknowledgment until they are pointed out one by one. A hadith recorded by al-Tirmidhi recounts that when the Prophet recited this surah to the companions, they were silent. He said the jinn had a better response, when each refrain was recited, they replied: “And none of Your favors, O our Lord, do we deny.” The surah’s opening thus invites the reader into the same response.
Three Parts of the Surah
Surah Ar-Rahman divides cleanly into three sections, each followed by the refrain.
Verses 1 through 30 describe God as the Teacher of the Quran and the Creator of human beings from clay. They list blessings in the world, the sun and moon in precise orbits, the sky raised and the balance set, plants and fragrant herbs, the seas meeting and producing pearls. The section ends with the reminder that everything on earth will perish, and only the face of the Lord remains.
Verses 31 through 45 shift in tone. God addresses both humans and jinn directly, “O company of jinn and mankind”, and describes the judgment that will come. No one will escape the reckoning. The guilty will be recognized by their marks, seized by their forelocks and feet. The punishment for the wicked is described as fire and smoke.
Verses 46 through 78 describe two gardens prepared for those who feared standing before their Lord. These sections are among the most detailed descriptions of Paradise in the Quran, rivers, fruit trees, reclining on green cushions, attending to those with restrained gazes and precious qualities. The surah ends with “Blessed be the name of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.”
Why Surah Ar-Rahman Was Called the Beauty of the Quran
A narration attributed to the companion Ibn Mas’ud describes Surah Ar-Rahman as the beauty of the Quran. This hadith is cited frequently in Islamic literature. The description points not just to the surah’s sound but to its structure, the rhythm of the Arabic verses, the way the refrain breaks up the content, and the movement from creation to judgment to Paradise.
The surah is also called “Arus al-Quran”, the bride of the Quran, in some narrations. The authenticity and exact grading of these reports vary among hadith scholars, so these descriptions should be understood as reflecting the esteem classical scholars held this surah in, rather than making specific reward claims based on them.
What is clear is that Surah Ar-Rahman has drawn attention from Muslim communities since the earliest generations, partly because of its beauty and partly because of the clarity of its message.
Key Lessons from Surah Ar-Rahman
The surah teaches several points that are worth sitting with.
First, gratitude is not optional, it is an acknowledgment of reality. The 31 refrains are not demanding emotional performance; they are pointing to things that actually exist and asking whether you can honestly deny them.
Second, God’s mercy precedes everything. The surah opens with “Ar-Rahman” before anything else, before creation, before warning, before judgment. The framing matters: mercy is the first thing said about God here.
Third, justice is a blessing, not a threat. The verses about the balance and about giving full measure (verses 7 through 9) place justice alongside natural beauty and provision. The surah treats a just scale as something to be grateful for, not feared.
Fourth, both humans and jinn are accountable. The dual address in the refrain is unusual in the Quran and signals that the message of the surah is not limited to human beings.
When and How to Recite Surah Ar-Rahman
There is no specific narration that prescribes a particular time for Surah Ar-Rahman the way there is for Surah Al-Kahf on Fridays. The general principle is that any time is suitable for Quran recitation.
Many Muslims recite it in times of personal difficulty, finding comfort in the structure of the surah, the way it lists blessings even alongside reminders of judgment. Others recite it in the morning or after Asr. Listening to it is also common, it is one of the most recorded and shared recitations globally because of its distinctive sound.
If you want to build a habit around it, pair your recitation with a translation so the refrain does not pass you by each time. Knowing what each list of blessings refers to, which ayah describes the seas, which one describes the two gardens, changes how you hear the question that follows.
Read the Complete Surah in Arabic
Here is the complete Arabic text of Surah Ar-Rahman, all 78 verses in the Uthmani script, each with transliteration, English translation, and Urdu translation, so you can read the entire chapter right here.
1 بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنُ
55:1 Ar Rahmaan
The Most Merciful
رحمٰن نے
2 عَلَّمَ ٱلْقُرْءَانَ
55:2 ‘Allamal Quran
Taught the Qur’an,
قرآن سکھایا
3 خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ
55:3 Khalaqal insaan
Created man,
اسی نے انسان کو پیدا کیا
4 عَلَّمَهُ ٱلْبَيَانَ
55:4 ‘Allamalhul bayaan
[And] taught him eloquence.
اور اسے بولنا سکھایا
5 ٱلشَّمْسُ وَٱلْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍۢ
55:5 Ashshamsu walqamaru bihusbaan
The sun and the moon [move] by precise calculation,
آفتاب اور ماہتاب (مقرره) حساب سے ہیں
6 وَٱلنَّجْمُ وَٱلشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ
55:6 Wannajmu washshajaru yasjudan
And the stars and trees prostrate.
اور ستارے اور درخت دونوں سجده کرتے ہیں
7 وَٱلسَّمَآءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ ٱلْمِيزَانَ
55:7 Wassamaaa’a rafa’ahaa wa wada’al Meezan
And the heaven He raised and imposed the balance
اسی نے آسمان کو بلند کیا اور اسی نے ترازو رکھی
8 أَلَّا تَطْغَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْمِيزَانِ
55:8 Allaa tatghaw fil meezaan
That you not transgress within the balance.
تاکہ تم تولنے میں تجاوز نہ کرو
9 وَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلْوَزْنَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا۟ ٱلْمِيزَانَ
55:9 Wa aqeemul wazna bilqisti wa laa tukhsirul meezaan
And establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance.
انصاف کے ساتھ وزن کو ٹھیک رکھو اور تول میں کم نہ دو
10 وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَضَعَهَا لِلْأَنَامِ
55:10 Wal arda wada’ahaa lilanaame
And the earth He laid [out] for the creatures.
اور اسی نے مخلوق کے لیے زمین بچھا دی
11 فِيهَا فَٰكِهَةٌۭ وَٱلنَّخْلُ ذَاتُ ٱلْأَكْمَامِ
55:11 Feehaa faakihatunw wan nakhlu zaatul akmaam
Therein is fruit and palm trees having sheaths [of dates]
جس میں میوے ہیں اور خوشے والے کھجور کے درخت ہیں
12 وَٱلْحَبُّ ذُو ٱلْعَصْفِ وَٱلرَّيْحَانُ
55:12 Walhabbu zul ‘asfi war Raihaanu
And grain having husks and scented plants.
اور بھس واﻻ اناج ہے۔ اور خوشبودار پھول ہیں
13 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:13 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پس (اے انسانو اور جنو!) تم اپنے پروردگار کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
14 خَلَقَ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ مِن صَلْصَٰلٍۢ كَٱلْفَخَّارِ
55:14 Khalaqal insaana min salsaalin kalfakhkhaari
He created man from clay like [that of] pottery.
اس نےانسان کو بجنے والی مٹی سے پیدا کیا جو ٹھیکری کی طرح تھی
15 وَخَلَقَ ٱلْجَآنَّ مِن مَّارِجٍۢ مِّن نَّارٍۢ
55:15 Wa khalaqal jaaan mim maarijim min naar
And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire.
اور جنات کو آگ کے شعلے سے پیدا کیا
16 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:16 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پس تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
17 رَبُّ ٱلْمَشْرِقَيْنِ وَرَبُّ ٱلْمَغْرِبَيْنِ
55:17 Rabbul mashriqayni wa Rabbul maghribayni
[He is] Lord of the two sunrises and Lord of the two sunsets.
وه رب ہے دونوں مشرقوں اور دونوں مغربوں کا
18 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:18 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
تو (اے جنو اورانسانو!) تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
19 مَرَجَ ٱلْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ
55:19 Marajal bahrayni yalta qiyaani
He released the two seas, meeting [side by side];
اس نے دو دریا جاری کر دیے جو ایک دوسرے سے مل جاتے ہیں
20 بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخٌۭ لَّا يَبْغِيَانِ
55:20 Bainahumaa barzakhul laa yabghiyaan
Between them is a barrier [so] neither of them transgresses.
ان دونوں میں ایک آڑ ہے کہ اس سے بڑھ نہیں سکتے
21 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:21 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پس اپنے پروردگار کی کون کون سی نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
22 يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمَا ٱللُّؤْلُؤُ وَٱلْمَرْجَانُ
55:22 Yakhruju minhumal lu ‘lu u wal marjaanu
From both of them emerge pearl and coral.
ان دونوں میں سے موتی اور مونگے برآمد ہوتے ہیں
23 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:23 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پھر تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
24 وَلَهُ ٱلْجَوَارِ ٱلْمُنشَـَٔاتُ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ كَٱلْأَعْلَٰمِ
55:24 Wa lahul jawaaril mun sha’aatu fil bahri kal a’laam
And to Him belong the ships [with sails] elevated in the sea like mountains.
اور اللہ ہی کی (ملکیت میں) ہیں وه جہاز جو سمندروں میں پہاڑ کی طرح بلند (چل پھر رہے) ہیں
25 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:25 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پس (اے انسانو اور جنو!) تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
26 كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍۢ
55:26 Kullu man ‘alaihaa faan
Everyone upon the earth will perish,
زمین پر جو ہیں سب فنا ہونے والے ہیں
27 وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو ٱلْجَلَٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ
55:27 Wa yabqaa wajhu rabbika zul jalaali wal ikraam
And there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.
صرف تیرے رب کی ذات جو عظمت اور عزت والی ہے باقی ره جائے گی
28 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:28 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پھرتم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
29 يَسْـَٔلُهُۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ هُوَ فِى شَأْنٍۢ
55:29 Yas’aluhoo man fissamaawaati walard; kulla ywmin huwa fee shaan
Whoever is within the heavens and earth asks Him; every day He is bringing about a matter.
سب آسمان وزمین والے اسی سے مانگتے ہیں۔ ہر روز وه ایک شان میں ہے
30 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:30 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پھر تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
31 سَنَفْرُغُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَ ٱلثَّقَلَانِ
55:31 Sanafrughu lakum ayyuhas saqalaan
We will attend to you, O prominent beings.
(جنوں اور انسانوں کے گروہو!) عنقریب ہم تمہاری طرف پوری طرح متوجہ ہو جائیں گے
32 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:32 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پھر تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤگے؟
33 يَٰمَعْشَرَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ إِنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَن تَنفُذُوا۟ مِنْ أَقْطَارِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنفُذُوا۟ ۚ لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلْطَٰنٍۢ
55:33 Yaa ma’sharal jinni wal insi inis tata’tum an tanfuzoo min aqtaaris samaawaati wal ardi fanfuzoo; laa tanfuzoona illaa bisultaan
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 Allah].
اے گروه جنات و انسان! اگر تم میں آسمانوں اور زمین کے کناروں سے باہر نکل جانے کی طاقت ہے تو نکل بھاگو! بغیر غلبہ اور طاقت کے تم نہیں نکل سکتے
34 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:34 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پھر تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
35 يُرْسَلُ عَلَيْكُمَا شُوَاظٌۭ مِّن نَّارٍۢ وَنُحَاسٌۭ فَلَا تَنتَصِرَانِ
55:35 Yursalu ‘alaikumaa shuwaazum min naarifiw-wa nuhaasun falaa tantasiraan
There will be sent upon you a flame of fire and smoke, and you will not defend yourselves.
تم پر آگ کے شعلے اور دھواں چھوڑا جائے گا پھر تم مقابلہ نہ کر سکو گے
36 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:36 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پھر اپنے رب کی نعمتوں میں سے کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
37 فَإِذَا ٱنشَقَّتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَكَانَتْ وَرْدَةًۭ كَٱلدِّهَانِ
55:37 Fa-izan shaqqatis samaaa’u fakaanat wardatan kaddihaan
And when the heaven is split open and becomes rose-colored like oil –
پس جب کہ آسمان پھٹ کر سرخ ہو جائے جیسے کہ سرخ چمڑه
38 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:38 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? –
پس تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
39 فَيَوْمَئِذٍۢ لَّا يُسْـَٔلُ عَن ذَنۢبِهِۦٓ إِنسٌۭ وَلَا جَآنٌّۭ
55:39 Fa-yawma’izil laa yus’alu ‘an zambiheee insunw wa laa jaann
Then on that Day none will be asked about his sin among men or jinn.
اس دن کسی انسان اورکسی جن سے اس کے گناہوں کی پرسش نہ کی جائے گی
40 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:40 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پس تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
41 يُعْرَفُ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ بِسِيمَٰهُمْ فَيُؤْخَذُ بِٱلنَّوَٰصِى وَٱلْأَقْدَامِ
55:41 Yu’raful mujrimoona biseemaahum fa’yu’khazu binna waasi wal aqdaam
The criminals will be known by their marks, and they will be seized by the forelocks and the feet.
گناه گار صرف حلیہ ہی سے پہچان لیے جائیں گے اور ان کی پیشانیوں کے بال اور قدم پکڑ لیے جائیں گے
42 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:42 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پس تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
43 هَٰذِهِۦ جَهَنَّمُ ٱلَّتِى يُكَذِّبُ بِهَا ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
55:43 Haazihee jahannamul latee yukazzibu bihal mujrimoon
This is Hell, which the criminals deny.
یہ ہے وه جہنم جسے مجرم جھوٹا جانتے تھے
44 يَطُوفُونَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ حَمِيمٍ ءَانٍۢ
55:44 Yatoofoona bainahaa wa baina hameemim aan
They will go around between it and scalding water, heated [to the utmost degree].
اس کے اور کھولتے ہوئے گرم پانی کے درمیان چکر کھائیں گے
45 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:45 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پس تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
46 وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ جَنَّتَانِ
55:46 Wa liman khaafa maqaama rabbihee jannataan
But for he who has feared the position of his Lord are two gardens –
اور اس شخص کے لیے جو اپنے رب کے سامنے کھڑا ہونے سے ڈرا دو جنتیں ہیں
47 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:47 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? –
پس تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
48 ذَوَاتَآ أَفْنَانٍۢ
55:48 Zawaataaa afnaan
Having [spreading] branches.
(دونوں جنتیں) بہت سی ٹہنیوں اور شاخوں والی ہیں
49 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:49 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پس تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
50 فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ تَجْرِيَانِ
55:50 Feehimaa ‘aynaani tajriyaan
In both of them are two springs, flowing.
ان دونوں (جنتوں) میں دو بہتے ہوئے چشمے ہیں
51 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:51 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پس تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
52 فِيهِمَا مِن كُلِّ فَٰكِهَةٍۢ زَوْجَانِ
55:52 Feehimaa min kulli faakihatin zawjaan
In both of them are of every fruit, two kinds.
ان دونوں جنتوں میں ہر قسم کے میوؤں کی دو قسمیں ہوگی
53 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:53 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پھر تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
54 مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ فُرُشٍۭ بَطَآئِنُهَا مِنْ إِسْتَبْرَقٍۢ ۚ وَجَنَى ٱلْجَنَّتَيْنِ دَانٍۢ
55:54 Muttaki’eena ‘alaa furushim bataaa’inuhaa min istabraq; wajanal jannataini daan
[They are] reclining on beds whose linings are of silk brocade, and the fruit of the two gardens is hanging low.
جنتی ایسے فرشوں پر تکیہ لگائے ہوئے ہوں گے جن کے استر دبیز ریشم کے ہوں گے، اور ان دونوں جنتوں کے میوے بالکل قریب ہوں گے
55 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:55 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پس تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
56 فِيهِنَّ قَٰصِرَٰتُ ٱلطَّرْفِ لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌۭ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَآنٌّۭ
55:56 Feehinna qaasiratut tarfi lam yatmishunna insun qablahum wa laa jaaann
In them are women limiting [their] glances, untouched before them by man or jinni –
وہاں (شرمیلی) نیچی نگاه والی حوریں ہیں جنہیں ان سے پہلے کسی جن وانس نے ہاتھ نہیں لگایا
57 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:57 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? –
پس اپنے پالنے والے کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
58 كَأَنَّهُنَّ ٱلْيَاقُوتُ وَٱلْمَرْجَانُ
55:58 ka annahunnal yaaqootu wal marjaan
As if they were rubies and coral.
وه حوریں مثل یاقوت اور مونگے کے ہوں گی
59 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:59 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پس تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
60 هَلْ جَزَآءُ ٱلْإِحْسَٰنِ إِلَّا ٱلْإِحْسَٰنُ
55:60 Hal jazaaa’ul ihsaani illal ihsaan
Is the reward for good [anything] but good?
احسان کا بدلہ احسان کے سوا کیا ہے
61 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:61 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پس تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
62 وَمِن دُونِهِمَا جَنَّتَانِ
55:62 Wa min doonihimaa jannataan
And below them both [in excellence] are two [other] gardens –
اور ان کے سوا دو جنتیں اور ہیں
63 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:63 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? –
پس تم اپنے پرورش کرنے والے کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
64 مُدْهَآمَّتَانِ
55:64 Mudhaaammataan
Dark green [in color].
جو دونوں گہری سبز سیاہی مائل ہیں
65 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:65 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
بتاؤ اب اپنے پروردگار کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
66 فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ نَضَّاخَتَانِ
55:66 Feehimaa ‘aynaani nad daakhataan
In both of them are two springs, spouting.
ان میں دو (جوش سے) ابلنے والے چشمے ہیں
67 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:67 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پھر تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
68 فِيهِمَا فَٰكِهَةٌۭ وَنَخْلٌۭ وَرُمَّانٌۭ
55:68 Feehimaa faakihatunw wa nakhlunw wa rummaan
In both of them are fruit and palm trees and pomegranates.
ان دونوں میں میوے اور کھجور اور انار ہوں گے
69 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:69 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
کیا اب بھی رب کی کسی نعمت کی تکذیب تم کرو گے؟
70 فِيهِنَّ خَيْرَٰتٌ حِسَانٌۭ
55:70 Feehinna khairaatun hisaan
In them are good and beautiful women –
ان میں نیک سیرت خوبصورت عورتیں ہیں
71 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:71 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? –
پس تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
72 حُورٌۭ مَّقْصُورَٰتٌۭ فِى ٱلْخِيَامِ
55:72 Hoorum maqsooraatun fil khiyaam
Fair ones reserved in pavilions –
(گوری رنگت کی) حوریں جنتی خیموں میں رہنے والیاں ہیں
73 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:73 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? –
پس (اے انسانو اور جنو!) تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
74 لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌۭ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَآنٌّۭ
55:74 Lam yatmis hunna insun qablahum wa laa jaaann
Untouched before them by man or jinni –
ان کو ہاتھ نہیں لگایا کسی انسان یا جن نے اس سے قبل
75 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:75 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? –
پس اپنے پروردگار کی کون کون سی نعمت کے ساتھ تم تکذیب کرتے ہو؟
76 مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ رَفْرَفٍ خُضْرٍۢ وَعَبْقَرِىٍّ حِسَانٍۢ
55:76 Muttaki’eena ‘alaa rafratin khudrinw wa ‘abqariyyin hisaan
Reclining on green cushions and beautiful fine carpets.
سبز مسندوں اور عمده فرشوں پر تکیہ لگائے ہوئے ہوں گے
77 فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
55:77 Fabi ayyi aalaaa’i Rabbikumaa tukazzibaan.
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
پس (اے جنو اور انسانو!) تم اپنے رب کی کس کس نعمت کو جھٹلاؤ گے؟
78 تَبَٰرَكَ ٱسْمُ رَبِّكَ ذِى ٱلْجَلَٰلِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ
55:78 Tabaarakasmu Rabbika Zil-Jalaali wal-Ikraam
Blessed is the name of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honor.
تیرے پروردگار کا نام بابرکت ہے جو عزت وجلال واﻻ ہے
FAQ
Why is “Fabi ayyi alaa’i Rabbikuma tukadhdhibaan” repeated 31 times?
The refrain appears after each distinct group of blessings listed in the surah, asking humans and jinn which of those specific blessings they deny. The repetition is a rhetorical structure, each mention follows new content, making it a fresh question rather than a copy-paste. Classical scholars noted that the Prophet said jinn responded with acknowledgment each time it was recited, which is why reciting this response aloud while reading the surah is a widespread practice.
Is Surah Ar-Rahman Makki or Madani?
Most classical scholars classify it as Makki, revealed before the Hijrah. A narration from Asma bint Abi Bakr places it among the earliest revelations. Some modern translators classify it as Madani. The majority scholarly view is Makki, though the difference does not affect how the surah is understood or recited.
What does “Ar-Rahman” mean as a name of Allah?
Ar-Rahman is one of Allah’s 99 names and means “The Most Merciful” or “The Most Beneficent.” It describes a mercy that is vast and encompasses all of creation, believer and disbeliever alike. The name appears in the Basmalah (Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem) recited before every surah.
What are the two gardens mentioned in Surah Ar-Rahman?
Verses 46 through 76 describe two gardens prepared for those who feared standing before their Lord. The two gardens have been interpreted in different ways by scholars, some see them as two distinct gardens with differing levels, others as a general description of Paradise described from two angles. The surah describes both as having flowing springs, fruit trees, and various blessings for their inhabitants.
Is there a specific benefit for reciting Surah Ar-Rahman daily?
A hadith describes Surah Ar-Rahman as the beauty of the Quran, but there is no authentic narration specifying a particular worldly benefit attached to daily recitation. The general reward of reciting the Quran applies. Many Muslims recite it regularly because of its spiritual impact and the reminder of gratitude it provides, which is a real and significant benefit in itself.
What does the surah say about jinn?
Surah Ar-Rahman is the only surah that explicitly addresses both humans and jinn throughout its text. Verses 31 through 36 describe God addressing “O company of jinn and mankind” and warning them of judgment. The dual form used in the refrain (“tukadhdhibaan”, you two) is understood as addressing both groups together. This direct address to jinn is one of the unique features of this surah.
How many verses does Surah Ar-Rahman have?
The most common count is 78 verses. Some classical scholars counted 77 due to a difference in how verse divisions were applied. The difference does not affect the text or meaning, it is a matter of how verse breaks are marked.
Can Surah Ar-Rahman be recited for healing?
Reciting any portion of the Quran with sincere intention and reliance on God is a form of spiritual seeking. There is a general principle in hadith that the Quran is a healing. There is no specific narration linking Surah Ar-Rahman to healing from a particular illness, so claims that it cures specific conditions should be approached carefully. It can be recited as a general act of worship and as a means of drawing closer to God.
What response should you say when the refrain is recited?
A hadith in al-Tirmidhi’s collection records that the Prophet recited this surah to the companions and noted that the jinn responded better, they said “La bi shay’in min ni’amika Rabbana nukadhdhib”, “We deny none of Your blessings, our Lord.” Many Muslims recite this response aloud or in their heart each time the refrain appears, following the practice described in that narration.
Why does Surah Ar-Rahman begin with Allah’s name rather than a greeting or command?
The surah opens with “Ar-Rahman”, placing God’s mercy as the first statement before anything else is said. This is understood as establishing the entire surah’s frame: everything that follows, creation, judgment, Paradise, is set within the context of God’s mercy. The structure answers the implicit question of why God created us and what our relationship to Him should be grounded in.
Final Thoughts
Surah Ar-Rahman is a surah that works differently depending on how you come to it. Heard for the first time in Arabic, it is striking in its sound. Read in translation, it is direct in its logic, listing what exists and asking you to deny it. Studied in tafsir, it reveals layers in the pairing of human beings and jinn, in the two gardens, and in the movement from creation to accountability to mercy. The next step is to read it once with a translation open alongside, not for the specific benefits that are sometimes claimed, but because the argument it makes is worth following from beginning to end. Which blessing in the surah is the one you find hardest to acknowledge?
Continue reading
Next: Surah Al-Waqiah, the surah of the Inevitable Day and its three groups. Or browse every chapter on the Surah Guides hub.
Sources and further reading
- Surah Ar-Rahmaan on Quran.com, Arabic text with translations and tafsir resources
- Sunnah.com, searchable hadith collections for verifying narrations about the surahs
- Surah Ar-Rahmaan (Wikipedia), background and scholarly overview