Surah Ar-Rahman 55:1-25 - Quran Translation Commentary

1. The explanation of the word “ Ar-Rahman” has been given in note 5 of Surah Fatiha and note 145 of Surah Bani Israil, The Word ‘Rahman’ is used as a name of God in the Hebrew language also which is the religious language of the Jews since ancient times. In Hebrew it is written like this disagree: Ar-Rahman

(Al Ma’jamul Hadith Ibri-Arabi Darul Malayeen, Beirut, p.446)

Thus the word ‘Rahman’ is used for Allah from the time immemorial. It is very well-known, to the mankind.

This Surah begins with the mention of Allah’s attribute of Rahmat (Grace) which creates a sense of gratefulness in man’s heart, As a result of this feeling he becomes an appreciator of his Lord’s bounties.

2. The ‘Rahmat’ attribute of the Rahman Allah demanded that, for the guidance of man, HE may send a book full of wisdom from Him and HE may grant its knowledge and understanding to man. So HE made the provision of guidance and education for man by revealing the Holy Quran to His Prophet (Peace be upon him). This Quran is a very great mercy of God. Moreover it is also a great treasure of knowledge. It is the greatest obligation of God on man that HE granted him the ability to learn HIS Word and to comprehend it.

3. The teaching of Quran is mentioned first and man’s creation later so that it may become clear that it is only the knowledge of Quran which fulfils the aim of the existence of man.

4. God favoured man very graciously by granting him an ability of speech. The faculty of Speaking is the source of expressing his heart. This concerns his being intelligent. Man’s distinction lies in his being an intelligent creation graced with the ability of speaking. It demands that he should be thankful to his Creator and he should utilize this great faculty for learning the Holy Quran. His tongue must recite the Quran and remain forever engaged in remembrance of His Lord. The power of speaking and expression has been given really for such lofty aims.

5. Man can observe the marvels of the Might of His Lord all around him, in this universe, wherein he is born. How wonderfully he has bound the huge heavenly bodies like the sun and the moon in a calculated measure whereby they are unable to make even the slightest change in their fixed course of circulation. It is only because of the fixed distance of the planet earth from the sun, that it is possible for all us to live therein. If this distance between the sun and the earth is increased or decreased even slightly the balance of heat on earth will be disturbed and no man or animal will remain alive. Similarly, the slightest shifting of the moon from her circular course will affect the occurrence of ebbs and tides in the oceans which can create various problems. Man should ponder and realise what a wonderful example of God’s Might it is that results in the sun and the moon remaining strictly in their circles and their rising and setting at the appointed hours, even if it may be due to the earth’s rotation.

6. Though stationed at a very high altitude, the stars are bent before Allah. Their bowing obviously, is submitting to God’s Will. For instance, they have been kept at a particular angle in the sky and they remain exactly at that angle while rotating constantly from time immemorial. Likewise, on earth the trees are bent before Allah. Not even a single leaf moves without His order. Their shades manifest their bowing before God. What a wonderful sign of His Might! The mention of the bowing of the trees and the stars is found in Surah Hajj, ayah 18 also.

7. God Almighty has raised the sky so high that even modern science, with all of its advanced instruments, has not touched its height. This is an obvious proof of the perfect ness of His might which can be seen by everybody with his own eyes.

8. The word ‘Mizan’ is used in the meaning of equilibrium and it has the same meaning here. When we look at the high-rise sky we observe therein a system of heavenly bodies which is extremely balanced. Nothing is in the least moved from balance. If anything was to move from its course or to lose balance, this entire system would meet with a catastrophe. This bends our mind toward the attribute of equity of our Lord, Who is Balancer and Who loves equity. Therefore HE has maintained a perfect balance or equilibrium in the system of this universe. In other words, those Dawatul Quran 605 S. 55 who have an observing eye can see a balance hanging between the earth and the sky and it is the balance of equilibrium (Adl). And this nonmaterial balance is also one of the great marvels of Allah.

9. This balance of equilibrium which has been set up between the earth and the sky and which can be seen with eyes of mind provides a lesson of justice to man so that he may keep himself on the path of truth and may not do any thing contrary to justness either concerning his Lord or His slaves.

10. Since a mention was made of the balance of justness, our attention has been drawn to the balance (scale) which man uses for weighing things. Said Almighty Allah: HE has established the balance of equilibrium so that you may get guidance there from in your every day affairs. Weigh justly and do not give short weight, because to do so is a great usurpation of rights and a fraud and a big sin too.

A stern warning (threat of torment) has been given to those who give short weight, in Surah Mutaf-fifeen.

11. That is: HE made the earth suitable for human habitation. Scientific advance and progress took man up to the moon but he found it unsuitable for human habitation. Similar is the case with other stars and planets. Man can not live on them. But the earth is a planet where all the comforts and facilities are made available. This is a proof of the fact that Allah has made the earth especially for His creation.

12. Whatever provision man gets on earth is also the result of Allah’s Grace. In it there are many great Signs of His over lordship and the perfectness of His power. Here, some blessings have been mentioned as examples. How many tasty, colorful and various kinds of fruits have been created. For instance take the date. Its kernel is so covered in the pellicle that it makes it quite clear that the Provider has made all this arrangement so that the kernel may be preserved and man may get this bounty in its finest form.

13. There is a cover of fine leaflet on every grain of corn. It remains protected therein. This leaflet or husk serves as animal food. For instance, the cover on a grain of wheat becomes husk when grounded. Likewise there are covers on the grains of rice and gram. As if each grain of corn is being supplied to man well-packed. What a wonderful arrangement is this! How refined is this provision!!

14.’Raihaan’ is both a fragrant vegetable and a flower. One of the delicate tastes given by Allah to man is that he gets a feeling of cheerfulness and pleasure from fragrance. To satisfy this taste of man HE created condiments like cloves and cinnamon etc. and also various kinds of flowers like rose, jasmine etc. How wonderfully delicate, smooth and beautiful are these flowers and how their fragrance makes our minds fresh! How marvelous arrangements have been made for the gratification of man’s desire for elegance!

15. This is an address to two groups, that is: of men and jinns as has been made elaborate further in ayah 33 with the words “YAA MA’SHARAL JINN VAL INS’ (O ASSEMBLIES OF JINN AND MEN!).

16.”Aalaa” is generally understood to mean bounties, which is correct according to dictionary. But this is not the original meaning of this word. Really speaking this word is used, as is evident from Arabic poetry, to indicate those works which may be excellent and full of wisdom and which cause one to wonder about their sound planning. Therefore, Tabari has quoted one of its meaning as ‘qudrat’ (might).

(Please see ‘Tafseer Tabari’ Vol:27, P.73)

Similarly Imam Raazee too has explained this ayah thus:

“This ayah describes might, not bounty”. (Tafseer Raazee, Vol. 29 P.98)

And Allamah Farrahi has gone deeply in this matter and has said that the meaning of this word is “miracles and praiseworthy works”. (See ‘Mufradaatul Quran, Farrahi! , P.11)

This ayah has been repeated 33 times in this Surah and every where there is a mention of not only bounties but also of punishments. Moreover the central theme of this Surah is also concerning the establishment of Resurrection. Hence attention has been repeatedly drawn toward the ‘Kamaals of His Qudrah’ (His miracles of might). Hence we have given preference to this point in the translation of this ayah:

When ‘Takzeeb’(denial)refers to something it means negation. The Qamoos says: (Falsified one thing means denied it). ((‘Al Qamoos lil Firozabadi,Vol. 1 P.127))

17. That is: With clay baked like a piece of earthen ware. Man’s body, as explained elsewhere, was made up of decomposed earth. Thereafter it was dried and made hard like baked clay. When spirit was blown into it, it became a man of flesh and skin. What a wonderful example of Allah’s power is man!

For further clarification please see Surah Hijr, Note:24.

18. Just as man is created of earth’s dust so is jinn made of a flame of fire, found on this earth. Therefore jinn is a delicate creation which is invisible and the speed of its flight is very high. Jinn’s creation of this kind is also a marvel of Allah’s Might. For further explanation please see Surah Hijr, Note:25.

19. This ayah has been repeated a number of times in this Surah. This is not mere repetition but it is for the concentration of our attention on Allah’s blessings, graces, wonders and marvels and the for awakening our soul and mind. Such repetition is found in the PSalms of David also. In its chapter 136 a phrase to mean that God’s kindness is eternal has been repeated 26 times:

“O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures for ever to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures for ever; to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures for ever; to him who spread out the earth upon the waters, for his steadfast love endures for ever; to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures for ever; the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures for ever; the moon and stars to rule over the night for his steadfast love for ever”.

This shows that the style of repetition is one of the distinctive features of Divine Scripture which is very important from the viewpoint of teaching and training.

20. In the prevalent understanding there is only one east and one west on the earth. But in the winter season, the rising and setting of the sun reaches one extremity of the horizon and in summer another extremity which causes seasonal changes. All this happens with punctuality. In this manner there are two ‘Mashriqs’ (the point of rising) and two ‘Maghribs’ (points of setting). This also is a very great sign of Divine Might.

The existence of two easts and two wests is evident from another aspect too. In the North Pole region, where there is day for six months and night also for six months, the sun does not remain on our heads (in the middle of the sky) but travels by one side. Rising from the east when it reaches the west it does not set there but again moves toward the east. In this way it goes on circling from one direction toward another direction. This scene can be observed in the areas near the north pole where it is possible to travel. In those days maghrib (west) also becomes mashriq (east). Likewise during the other six months, when there is a constant night, east too becomes west. Similarly it is the case in the South Poler region also where the day and the night both are six month long! What an astonishing marvel of Allah’s Might!!

21. This has been clarified in Surah Furqaan, Note:71.

22. ‘Marjaan’ is a tree (Coral) made by insects in sea waters. It is as hard as stone. They are of very beautiful rosy color. They have other colors too. It is an item of jewellery which is used for beautification. Allah has provided such things so that man’s desire for beauties may be gratified. HIS ways for providing for it “are indeed marvelous.

Here a doubt is being raised that pearls and corals are found only in oceans whereas this ayah mentions its coming out from both the sea and the river. Hence some commentators have explained that these things come from a place where both amalgamate. They say that though a child comes out of the mother’s womb yet it is an offspring of both the mother and the father. But it is not correct to claim that pearls are found only in seas and oceans. They are also found in sweet river waters. We quote below an extract from “Encyclopedia of Minerals and Jem Stones” which refutes this claim:

“They are found in both sea water and fresh water ........................Pearls are found in the Persion Gulf, the Gulf of Manaar between Ceylon and India, the Red Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and Panama, and the waters of Australia and Venezuela. Fresh water pearls are found in many rivers including those of Scotland and North America——in particular the Mississippi river.” (The Encyclopedia of Minerals and Jem Stones by Michael O’ Donaghue ………. Orbis Publishing, London, P.286)

It has also been mentioned in this encyclopedia of jewellery at page 127 that:

“Pearls may be obtained from both fresh water and sea water molluses.” (Ibid, P.127).

23. Many things drown in sea but big ships rising high like mountains do stand therein this a marvel of Allah’s Might? HIS hold on these ships is such that whenever HE wishes he drowns them.

This ayah also shows that there were big ships also at the time of the revelation of the Holy Quran.