فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ 42
Translations
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
Transliteration
Fabiayi aalai rabbikuma tukadhdhiban
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah continues the refrain of Surah Ar-Rahman, asking both jinn and mankind: "Then which of the favors of your Lord do you deny?" According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this rhetorical question emphasizes the ingratitude of creation despite Allah's countless blessings and mercies. The repetition of this refrain throughout the surah serves to awaken the conscience and challenge deniers to acknowledge the undeniable signs of Allah's benevolence.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Ar-Rahman, a Medinan surah that enumerates Allah's blessings upon creation. The surah is structured around this recurring refrain (which appears 31 times), punctuating descriptions of Paradise, Hell, and the wonders of creation. The thematic context addresses the irrationality of denying Allah's favors despite their abundance and obviousness.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best supplication is praise of Allah (Alhamdulillah), and the best remembrance is 'La ilaha illallah' (there is no deity except Allah)' - Jami' at-Tirmidhi. This relates to acknowledging Allah's blessings rather than denying them.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to reflect deeply on the countless favors they enjoy daily—health, sustenance, sight, hearing—and to respond with gratitude rather than heedlessness. It serves as a reminder that denying or ignoring Allah's blessings is both illogical and spiritually destructive.
Related Ayahs
وَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ إِذْ جَعَلَكُمْ خُلَفَآءَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ عَادٍ وَبَوَّأَكُمْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِن سُهُولِهَا قُصُورًا وَتَنْحِتُونَ ٱلْجِبَالَ بُيُوتًا ۖ فَٱذْكُرُوٓا۟ ءَالَآءَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَا تَعْثَوْا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُفْسِدِينَ
And remember when He made you successors after the ʿAad and settled you in the land, [and] you take for yourselves palaces from its plains and carve from the mountains, homes. Then remember the favors of Allāh and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption."
أَلَمْ نَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عَيْنَيْنِ
Have We not made for him two eyes?
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦ يَـٰقَوْمِ ٱذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَعَلَ فِيكُمْ أَنۢبِيَآءَ وَجَعَلَكُم مُّلُوكًا وَءَاتَىٰكُم مَّا لَمْ يُؤْتِ أَحَدًا مِّنَ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Moses said to his people, "O my people, remember the favor of Allāh upon you when He appointed among you prophets and made you possessors and gave you that which He had not given anyone among the worlds.
فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?