Surah Ar-Rahmaan (55) — Ayah 13

(Ayah 13) ➊ {فَبِاَيِّ اٰلَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبٰنِ:’’ اٰلَآءِ ‘‘ ’’إِلًي‘‘} is the plural of {’’إِلَيٌ‘‘}, which originally is {’’إِلَيٌ‘‘}, just as the plural of {’’مِعًي‘‘} (intestine) is {’’ أَمْعَاءٌ ‘‘}. One of its meanings is blessing. Tabari has narrated with an authentic chain from Ali bin Abi Talhah the tafsir of Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both): {’’فَبِأَيِّ نِعْمَةِ اللّٰهِ تُكَذِّبَانِ‘‘} “So which of the blessings of Allah will you both deny?” And another meaning is power, as Tabari has also narrated the tafsir of Ibn Zayd, he said: {’’ اَلْآلَاءُ اَلْقُدْرَةُ، فَبِأَيِّ قُدْرَةِ اللّٰهِ تُكَذِّبَانِ‘‘} meaning, “So which of the powers of Allah will you both deny?”

➋ The exegete Sulaiman al-Jamal said, this verse has been repeated here thirty-one (31) times for the mention and reminder of blessings. This is just like when a person has done favors to someone and that person does not acknowledge those favors, so he says, were you not poor? I gave you wealth, do you deny that? Were you not naked? I clothed you, do you deny that…? Allah Almighty has repeated this verse eight times after those verses in which the wonders of His creation and their beginning and end are mentioned, then, according to the number of the gates of Hell, it is repeated seven times after those verses in which the fire and its horrors are mentioned. Then, according to the number of the gates of Paradise, it is repeated eight times in the description of the two gardens. Then, in the description of the other two gardens besides these two, it is repeated eight times. So whoever believes and has conviction in the first eight things and acts according to their requirements, he will be deserving of those eight blessings from Allah, and Allah Almighty, by His grace and favor, will protect him from the first seven. (Summarized)

➌ Here is a question that in several verses of this surah, Hell and punishment are also mentioned, so after them, which blessing is being reminded by saying {’’ فَبِاَيِّ اٰلَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبٰنِ ‘‘}? One answer is that the meaning of {’’ اٰلَآءِ ‘‘} is also power, as mentioned above. So after mentioning the attributes of Allah and the description of Hell and punishment, it is being said, so which of the powers of Allah will you both deny? And another answer is that warning about the punishment before it comes is a very great blessing, because by it the servant can strive to avoid it, therefore it is said, so which of the blessings of your Lord will you both deny?

13. 1. This is an address to both humans and jinn. Allah Almighty, by enumerating His blessings, is asking them. This repetition is like that of a person who continuously does favors for someone, but that person denies those favors, as if he says, "I did such and such for you, do you deny it? I gave you such and such thing, do you not remember? I did such and such favor for you, do you not care for us at all?" (Fath al-Qadeer)

13. So, (O jinn and mankind), which of your Lord’s favors will you deny? [11]

[11]
The Literal Meaning of ﴿آلاء﴾:

﴿آلاَءِ﴾ (the plural of ilā, meaning both blessing and power or sign of greatness), and by ﴿آلاء﴾ is meant those blessings which fulfill human needs and keep coming continuously, so that a person never feels a lack of anything necessary for living. (Fiqh al-Lughah) And this word is generally used in the plural, because such a blessing is not singular, hence always ﴿آلاء﴾ is used. And this verse is repeated thirty-one times in this surah. Sometimes the word ﴿آلاء﴾ is used in the meaning of magnificent blessings, sometimes in the meaning of signs of power, and sometimes in both meanings at once. In a hadith, it is mentioned that the Prophet once said to the companions that the jinn are better than you in this regard, for when I recite: ﴿فَبِاَيِّ اٰلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبٰنِ﴾, they respond by saying: ﴿لاَ بِشَيْئٍ مِنْ نِعَمِكَ رَبَّنَا نُكَذِّبُ فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ﴾ (O our Lord! We do not deny any of Your blessings. All praise and thanks are for You alone). Therefore, when anyone recites this verse, this should be the response. Moreover, in this verse and the following verses, both types of responsible creation, i.e., jinn and humans, are addressed together.