فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ 21
Translations
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
Transliteration
Fa-bi-ayyi alaa'i rabbikuma tukadhdhiban
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah continues the refrain of Surah Ar-Rahman, addressing both humans and jinn, asking 'So which of the favors of your Lord do you both deny?' According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this rhetorical question emphasizes the irrationality of denying Allah's countless blessings despite their obvious manifestations in creation. The repetition of this question throughout the surah (31 times) serves as a powerful reminder of ingratitude and a call to reflection on the signs of divine mercy.
Revelation Context
Surah Ar-Rahman is a Medinan surah revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the context of teaching the Muslim community about Allah's attributes and blessings. The surah addresses both humans and jinn, emphasizing divine mercy and creation's beauty. The refrain appears throughout the surah as a recurring motif to highlight the absurdity of denying obvious divine favors.
Related Hadiths
Imam Ahmad reported from Ibn Abbas that the Prophet said regarding this surah: 'Everything has a bride, and the bride of the Qur'an is Ar-Rahman.' Additionally, Tirmidhi narrates that reciting Surah Ar-Rahman with presence of heart protects one from hardness of the heart.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should regularly reflect upon Allah's countless favors in their lives—from physical health to guidance and sustenance—recognizing that denying these blessings through ingratitude is irrational and spiritually harmful. Cultivating gratitude (shukr) and mindfulness of divine mercy transforms one's relationship with Allah and prevents the spiritual blindness that comes from heedlessness.