سُوْرَةُ الرَّحْمٰنِ
Surah Ar-Rahmaan (55) — Ayah 13
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿13﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then which of the Blessings of your Lord will you both (jinn and men) deny?
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَبِأَىِّ
fabi-ayyi
So which
ءَالَآءِ
ālāi
(of the) favors
رَبِّكُمَا
rabbikumā
(of) your Lord
تُكَذِّبَانِ
tukadhibāni
will you both deny
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(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?
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?
