فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ 45
Translations
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
Transliteration
Fa-bi-ayyi alaa-i rabbikuma tukazzibaan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah continues the refrain of Surah Ar-Rahman, asking both jinn and humans: 'So which of the favors of your Lord do you both deny?' According to classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir, this rhetorical question emphasizes the countless blessings (alaa) that Allah has bestowed upon creation, making it absurd and unjust to reject His signs and deny His oneness. The dual form 'rabbikuma' (your Lord) and 'tukazzibaan' (you deny) addresses both the jinn and mankind collectively, heightening the force of the rebuke.
Revelation Context
Surah Ar-Rahman is a Medinan surah that uses a powerful rhetorical device—the repeated refrain 'fa-bi-ayyi alaa-i rabbikuma tukazzibaan'—which appears 31 times throughout the surah. This ayah at verse 45 comes near the conclusion of the surah, where the consequences of denial are being described (the gates of Hell narrowing on the deniers), making the question even more poignant and warning in nature.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly cites this specific ayah, the theme of denying Allah's blessings relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best charity is water' and emphasized gratitude for Allah's blessings. Additionally, Muslim scholars reference the hadith about ingratitude (kufr) being among the greatest sins, as mentioned in various collections.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that denying or being ungrateful for Allah's countless blessings is fundamentally irrational and unjust, calling us to regularly reflect on and acknowledge the favors we receive. For modern readers, it serves as a spiritual wake-up call to cultivate gratitude, recognize that ingratitude is a form of disbelief, and understand that accountability applies universally to both the seen and unseen creation.