فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ 25
Translations
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
Transliteration
Fabiayyi alai rabbi-kuma tukaththibaan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah continues the refrain of Surah Ar-Rahman, questioning which of the Lord's blessings (favors and mercies) will the jinn and mankind deny or reject. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this rhetorical question emphasizes the abundance of divine blessings and the ingratitude of those who deny them, particularly referring to the jinn and humans mentioned in the preceding verses. The repetition of this refrain throughout the surah serves as a powerful reminder of divine benevolence and the irrationality of denying Allah's favors.
Revelation Context
Surah Ar-Rahman is a Medinan surah that celebrates Allah's countless blessings (ayaat) upon creation. This ayah appears within the surah's thematic structure where Allah enumerates His blessings to both the visible and unseen creation (humans and jinn). The refrain 'fabiayyi alai rabbi-kuma tukaththibaan' (which of your Lord's favors do you deny) is repeated 31 times throughout the surah, making it the most distinctive feature of the chapter.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Whoever recites Surah Ar-Rahman and does not say 'subhanaka' (glory be to You) when hearing the refrain, has not shown proper respect to the Surah.' (Related through classical tafsir traditions). Additionally, Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet encouraged reflection upon Allah's blessings as mentioned in Surah Ar-Rahman.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to consciously recognize and be grateful for Allah's countless blessings in our daily lives, as ingratitude leads to denial of truth. Modern readers should reflect on how easily we take divine favors for granted and commit to expressing gratitude, which strengthens faith and protects against arrogance and spiritual negligence.