Surah Ar-Rahman
Surah 55 · The Beneficent · 78 verses · medinan
The Most Merciful — ar-Rahman, the surah's first word. The Prophet ﷺ called it "the beauty of the Quran".
The story
This surah lists all the beautiful things Allah made — the sun, the moon, the stars, the trees, the sea, fruit, pearls — and after each one it asks you the same question: "So which of your Lord's gifts will you deny?"
How it unfolds
AYAH 1-13
Mercy taught it
The Most Merciful, the Quran taught, humanity created, speech given — then the first refrain.
AYAH 7-9
The balance
The scale set in the sky, and the command not to transgress in it.
AYAH 26-30
Everything passes
"Everyone upon it will perish" — and the Face that remains.
AYAH 46-78
Two gardens, then two more
Gardens with spreading branches, flowing springs, fruit in pairs — and two more below them.
Verses to carry
- 55:13"So which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?" — the refrain repeated thirty-one times.
- 55:26"Everyone upon it will perish, and there will remain the Face of your Lord."
- 55:60"Is the reward for good anything but good?"
Remember this
The right answer to that question is: none of them! Every good thing is from Allah.
Talk about it
This surah asks the same question 31 times. Can you name 31 gifts from Allah?