Sūrat al-Raḥmān
سورۃ الرحمٰن
The page header transitions to "الرحمن ۵۵" — Sūrat al-Raḥmān begins.
وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٍ وَكَبِيرٍ مُّسْتَطَرٌ
wa-kullu ṣaghīrin wa-kabīrin mustaṭar.
"And every small and great thing is recorded." (al-Qamar 54:53)
Wa-kullu ṣaghīrin wa-kabīrin — and every small and great deed — mustaṭarun — is recorded — it is all written in the registers — every small deed is also written in lines.
Translation: — And every small and great deed is recorded.
إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَنَهَرٍ
inna l-muttaqīna fī jannātin wa-nahar.
"Indeed the God-fearing will be in gardens and rivers." (al-Qamar 54:54)
What will be the state of the God-fearing?
Inna l-muttaqīna — the God-fearing — those who fear Allah — those who guard against sin — those who stay away from divine wrath — fī jannātin wa-naharin — in gardens and rivers — they will always be in verdure and joy.
Translation: — Without doubt the God-fearing will be in gardens and rivers.
فِي مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍ
fī maqʿadi ṣidqin ʿinda malīkin muqtadir.
"In a seat of truth, in the presence of an All-Powerful King." (al-Qamar 54:55)
Fī maqʿadi ṣidqin — in a seat of dignity — in the real court — the greatest matter is that — ʿinda malīkin muqtadirin — in the presence of an All-Powerful King — an all-ruling King of Kingdom — and they will be close and present at His court.
Translation: — In the best and truest assembly in the presence of the all-powerful King.
Sūrat al-Raḥmān is Madanī and it has forty-eight (48) verses and three (3) rukūʿs.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الرَّحْمَٰنُ﴾ ﴿عَلَّمَ الْقُرْآنَ
al-raḥmān. ʿallama l-qurʾān.
"The Most Compassionate. He taught the Qurʾān." (al-Raḥmān 55:1–2)
Translation: — The Most Compassionate — He taught the Qurʾān and made it understandable.
خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ﴾ ﴿عَلَّمَهُ الْبَيَانَ
khalaqa l-insāna. ʿallamahu l-bayān.
"He created the human being. He taught him expression." (al-Raḥmān 55:3–4)
Khalaqa l-insāna — He created the human being — ʿallamahu l-bayān — He taught him expression — He taught him speech and eloquence.
الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍ
al-shamsu wa-l-qamaru bi-ḥusbān.
"The sun and the moon move by precise reckoning." (al-Raḥmān 55:5)
Translation: — The sun and the moon move in reckoning together.
وَالنَّجْمُ وَالشَّجَرُ يَسْجُدَانِ
wa-l-najmu wa-l-shajaru yasjudān.
"And the stars and the trees prostrate." (al-Raḥmān 55:6)
Wa-l-najmu — and the stars, the small plants — wa-l-shajaru — and the trees, the plants from which they come — they prostrate — both prostrate before Allah and are obedient — and they are in front of Him in submission and surrender.
Translation: — And the stars and trees both prostrate before Allah in submission.
وَالسَّمَاءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ الْمِيزَانَ
wa-l-samāʾa rafaʿahā wa-waḍaʿa l-mīzān.
"And the sky He raised and set up the Balance." (al-Raḥmān 55:7)
Wa-l-samāʾa rafaʿahā — and the sky — He raised it — gave it elevation — wa-waḍaʿa l-mīzāna — and He set the Balance — the scales — every thing is a single system — every thing has its appropriate place — a Balance is a system.
Translation: — And He raised the sky and set up the Balance (scales) and placed every thing in its appropriate place.
أَلَّا تَطْغَوْا فِي الْمِيزَانِ
allā taṭghaw fī l-mīzān.
"So that you may not transgress in the Balance." (al-Raḥmān 55:8)
A-llā taṭghaw — do not transgress the limits — fī l-mīzāni — in the Balance — scales — every thing has its fixed measure — it is as if He placed a single measuring instrument and scale — do not transgress it — do not go beyond the set amount.
Translation: — Do not transgress in the Balance.
وَأَقِيمُوا الْوَزْنَ بِالْقِسْطِ وَلَا تُخْسِرُوا الْمِيزَانَ
wa-aqīmū l-wazna bi-l-qisṭi wa-lā tukhsirū l-mīzān.
"And establish the weight with justice and do not reduce the Balance." (al-Raḥmān 55:9)
Wa-aqīmū l-wazna — and keep the scales upright — establish the weight — bi-l-qisṭi — with justice, with equity — wa-lā tukhsirū l-mīzāna — and do not cause a deficiency in the Balance — where there is less there is deficiency and where there is excess there is also deficiency — half a degree above the normal 98 is unwelcome — and even a small excess is deficiency. It is injustice — it is inequity.
Translation: — And keep the scales upright with justice — do not cause any deficiency in the Balance.
وَالْأَرْضَ وَضَعَهَا لِلْأَنَامِ
wa-l-arḍa waḍaʿahā li-l-anām.
"And the earth He laid down for all creatures." (al-Raḥmān 55:10)
Wa-l-arḍa waḍaʿahā — and the earth He laid down — He spread it — li-l-anāmi — for the creatures — for creation.
Translation: — And the earth He spread out for creation (He extended it).
فِيهَا فَاكِهَةٌ وَالنَّخْلُ ذَاتُ الْأَكْمَامِ
fīhā fākihaẗun wa-l-nakhlu dhātu l-akmām.
"In it are fruits and date-palms with sheaths." (al-Raḥmān 55:11)
Fīhā fākihaẗun — in it are fruits — wa-l-nakhlu — and the date-palm — dhātu l-akmāmi — possessing sheaths — with coverings on it — each fruit and flower bud has a sheath — every bud is shrouded in a cover from which it begins to emerge.
Translation: — In it are fruits and date-palms that have sheaths.
وَالْحَبُّ ذُو الْعَصْفِ وَالرَّيْحَانُ
wa-l-ḥabbu dhū l-ʿaṣfi wa-l-rayḥān.
"And grain with its husk and fragrant herbs." (al-Raḥmān 55:12)
Wa-l-ḥabbu — and grain — crops — dhū l-ʿaṣfi — which has husk — that which remains in the husk — wa-l-rayḥānū — and fragrant flowers.
Translation: — And grain that has husk and fragrant flowers.
بَرگ درختان سبز درنظر هوشیار   هر ورقه دفتره ز معرفت کردگار
هرجا تیری قدرت کے ہیں لاکھوں جلوے   حیران ہوں دو آنکھوں سے کیا کیا دیکھوں
Every leaf of every tree is, to the eyes of the perceptive, a page of a notebook of the knowledge of the Creator — At every place the countless manifestations of Your power unfold — I am astonished: with just two eyes, what and what can I behold!
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
fa-bi-ayyi ālāʾi rabbikumā tukadhdhibān.
"So which of the bounties of your Lord do you both deny?" (al-Raḥmān 55:13)
Fa-bi-ayyi — then of which — al-ālaʾ — all such bounties — wa-llū — all of them — rabbikumā — O jinn and humans — your Lord — tukadhdhibāni — you both deny? I will make you both deny all the bounties — the meanings of al-ālaʾ — the great meanings of power and bounty — but interpreting them in their meaning of greatness seems more appropriate, because some places to arrive at the meaning of bounty requires very strained and far-fetched interpretation.
Translation: — Then (O jinn and humans!) which of the manifestations of your Lord's power and greatness will you deny? Can you deny it?
خَلَقَ الْإِنسَانَ مِن صَلْصَالٍ كَالْفَخَّارِ
khalaqa l-insāna min ṣalṣālin ka-l-fakhkhār.
"He created the human being from sounding clay like pottery." (al-Raḥmān 55:14)
Khalaqa l-insāna — He created the human being — min ṣalṣālin — from sounding clay — rattling, clattering clay — dried-out clay — ka-l-fakhkhāri — like pottery — like dry, baked pots.
Translation: — He created the human being from the dry clattering clay — like a dry, baked earthen vessel.
وَخَلَقَ الْجَانَّ مِن مَّارِجٍ مِّن نَّارٍ
wa-khalaqa l-jānna min mārijin min nār.
"And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire." (al-Raḥmān 55:15)
Wa-khalaqa l-jānna — and He created the jinn — jān is the jinn — min mārijin — from flame — min nārin — from fire.
Translation: — And He created the jinn from the flame of fire.
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
fa-bi-ayyi ālāʾi rabbikumā tukadhdhibān.
"So which of the bounties of your Lord do you both deny?" (al-Raḥmān 55:16)
Translation: — Then (O jinn and humans!) which greatness of Allah will you deny at this moment?
رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقَيْنِ وَرَبُّ الْمَغْرِبَيْنِ
rabbu l-mashriqayni wa-rabbu l-maghribayn.
"Lord of the two easts and Lord of the two wests." (al-Raḥmān 55:17)
Rabbu l-mashriqayni — He is the Lord of the east of the sun's rising — the Lord of the two risings — wa-rabbu l-maghribayn — and Lord of the two settings — the sun always follows the equatorial line — sometimes it inclines to the north and sometimes to the south — and the sun reaches the same level of 63 degrees from the equatorial line — this is the famous Mīlān al-shams — the sun becoming inclined.
Translation: — He is the Lord of both places of rising and both places of setting of the sun.
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
The sun can rise and set only by the zeal of Allah — it cannot go outside Allah's power — therefore I tell you that —
Translation: — Then with what power do you deny Allah?
مَرَجَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ
maraja l-baḥrayni yaltaqiyān.
"He released the two seas, meeting together." (al-Raḥmān 55:19)
Maraja — He merged, He brought together — al-baḥrayni — two oceans — yaltaqiyāni — they meet together — the fresh water and the salty water of the seas meet close to each other.
Translation: — He created two seas close to each other.
بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخٌ لَّا يَبْغِيَانِ
baynahumā barzakhun lā yabghiyān.
"Between them is a barrier they do not transgress." (al-Raḥmān 55:20)
Baynahumā barzakhun — between them is a barrier of divine power — that neither can go beyond the other — they cannot overstep and encroach.
Translation: — Between both of them there is a partition that no one can cross.
Friends! People think the ocean is calm and still — it is not — in it there are rivers flowing — some parts of it are warm and some cold — and there are some salty portions and some fresh — this is the divine power.
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
fa-bi-ayyi ālāʾi rabbikumā tukadhdhibān.
"So which of the bounties of your Lord do you both deny?" (al-Raḥmān 55:21)
Translation: — Then which manifestations of divine power will you both deny?
يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمَا اللُّؤْلُؤُ وَالْمَرْجَانُ
yakhruju minhumā l-luʾluʾu wa-l-marjān.
"From both of them come out pearls and coral." (al-Raḥmān 55:22)
Yakhruju minhumā — from both those seas and oceans they emerge — al-luʾluʾu wa-l-marjānū — pearls and coral — both pearls and coral.
Translation: — From both of them emerge pearls and coral.
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Translation: — Which of the manifestations of the power of your Lord will you deny?
وَلَهُ الْجَوَارِ الْمُنشَآتُ فِي الْبَحْرِ كَالْأَعْلَامِ
wa-lahu l-jawāri l-munshāʾātu fī l-baḥri ka-l-aʿlām.
"And His are the ships that run in the sea like mountains." (al-Raḥmān 55:24)
Wa-lahu — and His — He is their owner — al-jawāri — the sailing ships, the sailing vessels — al-munshāʾātu — raised and lofty — fī l-baḥri — in the sea — ka-l-aʿlāmi — like tall mountains — like peaks.
Translation: — And His are the ships that stand in the sea like mountains.
كُلُّ مَنْ عَلَيْهَا فَانٍ
kullu man ʿalayhā fān.
"Everyone upon it is perishing." (al-Raḥmān 55:26)
Kullu man ʿalayhā — all those upon the earth — fānin — are perishing — they become non-existent — they were non-existent before — they will become non-existent again — between non-existence and non-existence is the life of a human being.
Translation: — All those upon the earth are perishing.
وَيَبْقَىٰ وَجْهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
wa-yabqā wajhu rabbika dhū l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām.
"And there will remain the face of your Lord, the possessor of majesty and honour." (al-Raḥmān 55:27)
Wa-yabqā — and it will remain — wajhu rabbika — the face of your Lord — by wajha is meant the divine Self — the word wajha has been used to mean "face", but the meaning here is the pure, absolute divine Self — the human being is the most significant from all creatures by his face — Allah Most High's Self is absolutely immutable — dhū l-jalāli wa-l-ikrāmi — greatness and honour — gift and grace.
Translation: — And your Lord's Self which is the possessor of majesty and grace will remain.
فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ
Translation: — Then which of your Lord's manifestations of power will you deny?
يَسْأَلُهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ هُوَ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ فِي شَأْنٍ
yasʾaluhu man fī l-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi huwa kulla yawmin fī shaʾn.
"Everyone in the heavens and the earth asks of Him — every day He is in some affair." (al-Raḥmān 55:29)
Yasʾaluhu — they ask of Him, they make petition — man fī l-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi — all those who are in the heavens and earth — whoever is there — whether angels or humans — they raise their hands in petition before Him — kulla yawmin — every day, every moment — He is in a new affair — huwa fī shaʾnin — "He is in a situation" — in the reading of Dīvān-Ḥafṣ, the shaʾn remains without alif — fī shaʾnin — it is the same.
Translation: — All those who are in the heavens and earth ask of Him — and in every condition He is showing a new state.
سَنَفْرُغُ لَكُمْ أَيُّهَ الثَّقَلَانِ
sa-nafraghu lakum ayyuha l-thaqalān.
"We shall attend to you, O two weighty ones." (al-Raḥmān 55:31)
Sa-nafraghu lakum — We will now turn toward you fully — We will be free to call you to account — ayyuha l-thaqalān — O two weighty ones — O jinn and humans — all the burdened, i.e. legally responsible — believer and disbeliever — both have obligations of rewards and punishments. This verse here in the Qurʾān has alif in al-thaqalān.
Translation: — Now We are fully attending to you — O legally responsible jinn and humans!
Friends! Allah Most High is aware of every creature — the meaning of sa-nafraghu is this — that now the time for recompense has come — no further respite will be given.
يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَن تَنفُذُوا مِنْ أَقْطَارِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ فَانفُذُوا ۚ لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلْطَانٍ
yā maʿshara l-jinni wa-l-insi ini staṭaʿtum an tanfudhū min aqṭāri l-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi fa-nfudhū lā tanfudhūna illā bi-sulṭān.
"O assembly of jinn and mankind! If you are able to pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth, then do so — you will not be able to pass except with authority." (al-Raḥmān 55:33)
Yā maʿshara l-jinni wa-l-insi — O company of jinn and humans! O gathering — ini staṭaʿtum — if you can — an tanfudhū — go forth — escape — min aqṭāri l-samāwāti wa-l-arḍi — from the regions of the heavens and earth — go beyond the boundaries of the heavens and earth — fa-nfudhū — then go ahead and escape — but you will not be able to — lā tanfudhūna illā bi-sulṭānin — you cannot escape without extraordinary power — but where will you get such power in this world?
بھی آسمان ہے یہی ہے زمین   تم بھاگ کر پھر کدھر جاؤگے
This very sky is here and this very earth is here — fleeing, where will you go?
Translation: — O company of jinn and humans! If you can escape from the regions of the heavens and earth — go ahead and escape — but where can you escape to in such power?
يُرْسَلُ عَلَيْكُمَا شُوَاظٌ مِّن نَّارٍ وَنُحَاسٌ فَلَا تَنتَصِرَانِ
yursalu ʿalaykumā shuwāẓun min nārin wa-nuḥāsun fa-lā tantaṣirān.
"Upon you both will be sent a flame of fire and copper — and you will not be helped." (al-Raḥmān 55:35)
Yursalu ʿalaykumā — it will be sent upon you both — shuwāẓun — a sheet of fire, a tongue of flame — wa-nuḥāsun — and molten copper and smoke — fa-lā tantaṣirān — you will not be able to prevail — it will not be possible for you to resist it.
Translation: — (If you continue in evil) a flame and dense smoke will be sent upon you — and you will not be able to resist it.
فَإِذَا انشَقَّتِ السَّمَاءُ فَكَانَتْ وَرْدَةً كَالدِّهَانِ
fa-idhā nshaqqati l-samāʾu fa-kānat wardatan ka-l-dihān.
"Then when the sky is split asunder and turns rose-red like oil." (al-Raḥmān 55:37)
Fa-idhā nshaqqati l-samāʾu — then when the sky is torn apart and the Day of Judgment arrives — fa-kānat wardatan ka-l-dihāni — its colour will become like that of red or olive oil — viscous — red colour — saffron colour — deep red — the red colour of a rose.
Translation: — When the sky is torn apart, it will become red like the colour of a rose.
فَيَوْمَئِذٍ لَّا يُسْأَلُ عَن ذَنبِهِ إِنسٌ وَلَا جَانٌّ
fa-yawmaʾidhin lā yusʾalu ʿan dhanbiki insun wa-lā jānn.
"So on that Day no human nor jinn will be asked about their sin." (al-Raḥmān 55:39)
Fa-yawmaʾidhin — then on that Day — since Allah is all-knowing — lā yusʾalu ʿan dhanbiki — he will not be asked about his sin — neither human nor jinn — who? — insun wa-lā jānnun — neither human nor jinn — no one will be asked about his sin by Allah — for Allah has knowledge of the seen and the unseen — He is omniscient.
Translation: — On that Day (of Resurrection) no jinn or human will be asked about their sins (what they have done is already known, and He will impose punishment).
يُعْرَفُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ بِسِيمَاهُمْ فَيُؤْخَذُ بِالنَّوَاصِي وَالْأَقْدَامِ
yuʿrafu l-mujrimūna bi-sīmāhum fa-yuʾkhadhu bi-l-nawāṣī wa-l-aqdām.
"The criminals will be known by their marks — they will be seized by the forelocks and feet." (al-Raḥmān 55:41)
Yuʿrafu l-mujrimūna bi-sīmāhum — the criminals will be recognised by their faces — their marks will be visible — fa-yuʾkhadhu bi-l-nawāṣī wa-l-aqdāmi — then they will be seized — the forelocks of their heads will be grabbed and the feet also — and they will be dragged towards Hell.
Translation: — The criminals will be recognised by their faces — their forelocks will be grabbed and their feet and they will be dragged towards Hell.
هَٰذِهِ جَهَنَّمُ الَّتِي يُكَذِّبُ بِهَا الْمُجْرِمُونَ
hādhihi jahannamu l-latī yukadhdhibu bihā l-mujrimūn.
"This is the Hell that the criminals denied." (al-Raḥmān 55:43)
Hādhihi jahannamu — this is the same Hell — allatī yukadhdhibu bihā l-mujrimūna — which the criminals denied — not accepting — those criminals who used to deny.
Translation: — This is the same Hell that the criminal people denied.
يَطُوفُونَ بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ حَمِيمٍ آنٍ
yaṭūfūna baynahā wa-bayna ḥamīmin ān.
"They will go back and forth between it and scalding boiling water." (al-Raḥmān 55:44)
Yaṭūfūna — they will be going around — going back and forth in turmoil — baynahā — between Hell — the Fire — wa-bayna ḥamīmin ānin — and the scalding hot water — a vessel opened up — having been opened.
Translation: — (In turmoil) they will go back and forth — between Hell-fire and boiling hot water.
Friends! I mention to the esteemed here that the meanings of al-ālaʾ here are not bounties but the meanings of grandeur and might are more appropriate.
وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتَانِ
wa-li-man khāfa maqāma rabbihi jannatān.
"And for the one who feared the standing before his Lord — two gardens." (al-Raḥmān 55:46)
Wa-li-man khāfa — and for the one who fears — maqāma rabbihi — the standing in the divine court — to be presented in the court — jannatāni — two gardens — there will be two gardens — a ḥadīth says it is as if one garden is silver — and the other gold.
Translation: — And for the one who fears the standing before his Lord in the divine court — two gardens will be his.
ذَوَاتَا أَفْنَانٍ
dhawātā afnān.
"Possessing many branches." (al-Raḥmān 55:48)
Those two gardens have many branches — fannan — single branch — dhāllī — branches, boughs — afnān — branches — the branches of both gardens will have much shade.
Translation: — Both those gardens will have many branches.
فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ تَجْرِيَانِ
fīhimā ʿaynāni tajriyān.
"In both of them are two flowing springs." (al-Raḥmān 55:50)
Translation: — In both of those gardens two springs are flowing (they are always flowing).
فِيهِمَا مِن كُلِّ فَاكِهَةٍ زَوْجَانِ
fīhimā min kulli fākihatin zawjān.
"In both of them are two kinds of every fruit." (al-Raḥmān 55:52)
Fīhimā — and in both those gardens — min kulli fākihatin zawjāni — of every fruit two kinds — Friends! Every fruit is there — this place includes apples, mangoes, plums and all other fruits — the date-palms and pomegranates don't disappear anywhere in the world — in the meaning of the date-palm and pomegranate it also applies.
Translation: — In both those gardens of every fruit two kinds will be found.
مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَىٰ فُرُشٍ بَطَائِنُهَا مِنْ إِسْتَبْرَقٍ ۚ وَجَنَى الْجَنَّتَيْنِ دَانٍ
muttakiʾīna ʿalā furushin baṭāʾinuhā min istabraqin wa-janā l-jannatayni dān.
"Reclining on couches whose linings are of thick silk brocade — and the fruits of both gardens hanging near." (al-Raḥmān 55:54)
Muttakiʾīna — they will be reclining — leaning — ʿalā furushin — on couches — baṭāʾinuhā min istabraqin — whose inner linings are of thick brocade — wa-janā l-jannatayni dānin — and the fruits of those gardens are drooping near — bent close — with such ease that every fruit can be plucked.
Translation: — (The people of paradise) will be reclining on couches of thick brocade and in those gardens the fruits will be drooping close and easy to pluck.
فِيهِنَّ قَاصِرَاتُ الطَّرْفِ لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَانٌّ
fīhinna qāṣirātu l-ṭarfi lam yaṭmithhunna insun qablahum wa-lā jānn.
"In them are women restraining their gaze — untouched before them by any man or jinn." (al-Raḥmān 55:56)
Fīhinna — in those gardens — qāṣirātu l-ṭarfi — the ḥūrīs — such women who keep their eyes lowered — they will always keep their gaze directed toward one — they will not look at any other man — lam yaṭmithhunna — they will not have been possessed by — insun wa-lā jānnun — neither human nor jinn — no type of human or jinn has touched them before. Look! Keeping women's eyes low toward unrelated men is against the dignity of a high-ranking woman — it is shameless in a holy city to let dignified women play openly — this is all a consequence — they will always have been untouched before.
Translation: — (In paradise's gardens) women of restrained gaze will be — that no man nor jinn has come close to them before.
كَأَنَّهُنَّ الْيَاقُوتُ وَالْمَرْجَانُ
ka-annahunna l-yāqūtu wa-l-marjān.
"As if they were rubies and coral." (al-Raḥmān 55:58)
Ka-annahunna — as if they are those ḥūrīs — al-yāqūtu wa-l-marjānū — rubies and coral — meaning they are very finely made — saffron and white — the redness of blood from their cheeks will be visible.
Translation: — They will be as if they are rubies and coral.
هَلْ جَزَاءُ الْإِحْسَانِ إِلَّا الْإِحْسَانُ
hal jazāʾu l-iḥsāni illā l-iḥsān.
"Is the reward of excellence anything but excellence?" (al-Raḥmān 55:60)
Hal jazāʾu l-iḥsāni — is the reward of goodness — illā l-iḥsānu — anything but goodness — excellence in reward — the same as it was — the same as obedience is rewarded with gift.
Translation: — Is there anything besides goodness in return for goodness?
وَمِن دُونِهِمَا جَنَّتَانِ
wa-min dūnihimā jannatān.
"And besides those two are two more gardens." (al-Raḥmān 55:62)
Wa-min dūnihimā — and besides those two — more than those — jannatāni — gardens — two more gardens of different kinds.
Translation: — Besides those two another two gardens will be there.
مُدْهَامَّتَانِ
mudhāmmatān.
"Two deep green ones." (al-Raḥmān 55:64)
Mudhāmmatāni — those two gardens will be completely deep green and fresh — absolutely fresh and green.
Translation: — Two deep green ones.
فِيهِمَا عَيْنَانِ نَضَّاخَتَانِ
fīhimā ʿaynāni naḍḍākhatan.
"In them are two overflowing springs." (al-Raḥmān 55:66)
Fīhimā — in both those gardens — two springs — naḍḍākhatāni — gushing, overflowing — bubbling, bursting.
Translation: — In both those gardens there will be two gushing springs.
فِيهِمَا فَاكِهَةٌ وَنَخْلٌ وَرُمَّانٌ
fīhimā fākihaẗun wa-nakhlin wa-rummān.
"In them are fruits and date-palms and pomegranates." (al-Raḥmān 55:68)
Fīhimā fākihaẗun — in those gardens are fruits of every kind — wa-nakhlin wa-rummānin — and date-palms and pomegranates — especially date-palms and pomegranates are very fine in Madīna al-Munawwara — and pomegranates and date-palms appear nowhere in the world constantly — the date-palm and pomegranate tree are also used to mean gardens in some contexts.
Translation: — In both of them are fruits and date-palms and pomegranates.
فِيهِنَّ خَيْرَاتٌ حِسَانٌ
fīhinna khayrātun ḥisān.
"In them are good and beautiful women." (al-Raḥmān 55:70)
Fīhinna — in those palaces — although the description of palaces has not yet appeared it is an implication — by these are meant good and beautiful women — khayrātun — very good — ḥisānun — beautiful in character and appearance.
Translation: — In them will be women of good character and beautiful form.
حُورٌ مَّقْصُورَاتٌ فِي الْخِيَامِ
ḥūrun maqṣūrātun fī l-khiyām.
"Beautiful women secluded in pavilions." (al-Raḥmān 55:72)
And beautiful and good form — ḥūrun — the ḥūrīs — in Urdu the word ḥūr is used as a singular — however it is the plural of ḥawrāʾ — the very dark-eyed — maqṣūrātun fī l-khiyāmi — confined in tents — khiyām — the plural of khayma — tent — pavilion — those ḥūrīs will remain confined in the gardens in tents.
Translation: — Those blessed women are confined in tents.
لَمْ يَطْمِثْهُنَّ إِنسٌ قَبْلَهُمْ وَلَا جَانٌّ
Translation: — Those ḥūrīs no man nor jinn has touched before.
مُتَّكِئِينَ عَلَىٰ رَفْرَفٍ خُضْرٍ وَعَبْقَرِيٍّ حِسَانٍ
muttakiʾīna ʿalā rafrafin khuḍrin wa-ʿabqariyyin ḥisān.
"Reclining on green cushions and beautiful fine carpets." (al-Raḥmān 55:76)
Muttakiʾīna — they will be reclining — ʿalā rafrafin khuḍrin — on green, flowing cushions — rafraf — cushions — wa-ʿabqariyyin — and fine rare carpets — fine, of the best quality — beautiful.
Translation: — (The people of paradise) will be reclining on green fine cushions and seated on splendid, rare carpets — even today people in this age are seated on them.
تَبَارَكَ اسْمُ رَبِّكَ ذِي الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
tabāraka smu rabbika dhī l-jalāli wa-l-ikrām.
"Blessed is the Name of your Lord, the Possessor of Majesty and Honour." (al-Raḥmān 55:78)
Tabāraka — Blessed is — ismu rabbika — the Name of your Lord — it is the possessor of great blessing — dhī l-jalāli wa-l-ikrāmi — the Possessor of grandeur and honour — it also means honour and grace — greatness and honour and grace are also there.
Translation: — Blessed is the Name of your Lord the Possessor of Majesty and Grace.
Friends! The things in Paradise are beyond eyesight, have not been heard by ears, have not reached the mind — ʿālam has changed so that all is different — water is likened to knowledge and rivers — various forms of knowledge in appearance in this world — righteous good deeds in exemplary form will appear — what the heart desires — that will be found — man ṭalaba mawlā fī l-ʿaqibati* — whoever seeks the Lord, this Lord will appear before him and everything else will be useless.
Allāhumma arziḳnā ladhdhata l-naẓari ilā wajhika l-karīm.
حُورٌ مَّقْصُورَاتٌ فِي الْخِيَامِ
See previous page — commentary continues.