Surah Ar-Rahman - English Translation by Shabbir Ahmed

ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُ

Ar-Rahman, the Beneficent, the Instant Source of all Mercy and Kindness
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 1

عَلَّمَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ

He it is Who has made known and taught the Qur'an
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 2

خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ

He has created the human being. (And taken care of his mental and physical needs)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 3

عَلَّمَهُ ٱلۡبَيَانَ

He has distinguished him with the ability to clearly express his feelings and thoughts
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 4

ٱلشَّمۡسُ وَٱلۡقَمَرُ بِحُسۡبَانٖ

The sun and the moon run by a mathematical design. (Such are the changeless Laws given in this Book)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 5

وَٱلنَّجۡمُ وَٱلشَّجَرُ يَسۡجُدَانِ

The stars and the trees all adore Him (and follow His Laws)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 6

وَٱلسَّمَآءَ رَفَعَهَا وَوَضَعَ ٱلۡمِيزَانَ

And the sky has He raised high and has kept perfect balance in the Universe
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 7

أَلَّا تَطۡغَوۡاْ فِي ٱلۡمِيزَانِ

So that you, too, never violate balance in your lives
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 8

وَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلۡوَزۡنَ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ وَلَا تُخۡسِرُواْ ٱلۡمِيزَانَ

Therefore, establish Balance in the society in absolute justice. And never belittle the Scale of Justice in the community and in all your transactions with your own 'Self' and with others
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 9

وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَضَعَهَا لِلۡأَنَامِ

And (know that) the earth He has spread out for all His creatures. ('Anam' = All living beings)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 10

فِيهَا فَٰكِهَةٞ وَٱلنَّخۡلُ ذَاتُ ٱلۡأَكۡمَامِ

Wherein are fruit and palms with clusters protected in sheaths
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 11

وَٱلۡحَبُّ ذُو ٱلۡعَصۡفِ وَٱلرَّيۡحَانُ

And grain, corn, leaves, stalks, colorful herbs, vegetables, spices, sweet-smelling plants and fragrant flowers. (The three Arabic terms used in this verse include all the meanings rendered)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 12

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 13

خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِن صَلۡصَٰلٖ كَٱلۡفَخَّارِ

He created the human out of inorganic matter that sounded like an empty pot. (And it was empty of a trace of the finished form)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 14

وَخَلَقَ ٱلۡجَآنَّ مِن مَّارِجٖ مِّن نَّارٖ

And the Jinns (nomads) He has created from a confused flame of fire (with a confused fiery disposition)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 15

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 16

رَبُّ ٱلۡمَشۡرِقَيۡنِ وَرَبُّ ٱلۡمَغۡرِبَيۡنِ

Lord of the two Easts and the two Wests. (The East and the West of the summer, and the East and the West of the winter)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 17

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 18

مَرَجَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَيۡنِ يَلۡتَقِيَانِ

He has let free the two seas. They meet
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 19

بَيۡنَهُمَا بَرۡزَخٞ لَّا يَبۡغِيَانِ

Yet, there is a Barrier between them that they cannot exceed. (The great bodies of salt water and fresh water)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 20

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 21

يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡهُمَا ٱللُّؤۡلُؤُ وَٱلۡمَرۡجَانُ

From both of them come forth pearl and coral
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 22

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 23

وَلَهُ ٱلۡجَوَارِ ٱلۡمُنشَـَٔاتُ فِي ٱلۡبَحۡرِ كَٱلۡأَعۡلَٰمِ

And His are the bannered ships sailing through the sea lofty like mountains. (All creativity and invention of human beings issues forth from His gifts of mind and body. So all man-made things belong to Him)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 24

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 25

كُلُّ مَنۡ عَلَيۡهَا فَانٖ

All things thereon (in the Universe) are ever changing. ('Fani' = Ever-changing = Mortal)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 26

وَيَبۡقَىٰ وَجۡهُ رَبِّكَ ذُو ٱلۡجَلَٰلِ وَٱلۡإِكۡرَامِ

But forever is Changeless the 'Self' of your Lord, the Lord of Majesty and Honor. ('Baqi' = Remaining = Eternal = Survivor = Remainder = Changeless. 'Wajh' = Face = Countenance = Self = Whole being = Personality)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 27

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 28

يَسۡـَٔلُهُۥ مَن فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ كُلَّ يَوۡمٍ هُوَ فِي شَأۡنٖ

All creatures in the heavens and the earth seek their needs from Him. And every day is He in a Marvelous Splendor
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 29

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 30

سَنَفۡرُغُ لَكُمۡ أَيُّهَ ٱلثَّقَلَانِ

Soon shall We lighten your burdens, O Burdened men and women
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 31

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 32

يَٰمَعۡشَرَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ إِنِ ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ أَن تَنفُذُواْ مِنۡ أَقۡطَارِ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنفُذُواْۚ لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلۡطَٰنٖ

O Communities of the rural and the urban! If you can break through the 'fences' of the heavens and the earth, then break through. Never can you break through without an Authority. Can you bring an evidence
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 33

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 34

يُرۡسَلُ عَلَيۡكُمَا شُوَاظٞ مِّن نَّارٖ وَنُحَاسٞ فَلَا تَنتَصِرَانِ

A blaze will be unleashed upon you - and thick smoke - and you will not be able to defend yourselves. (If you think that you can escape Divine Laws, you will never find your way in the thick smoke of conjecture)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 35

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 36

فَإِذَا ٱنشَقَّتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَكَانَتۡ وَرۡدَةٗ كَٱلدِّهَانِ

And when the high elite will disperse and adapt to a stunning change
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 37

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 38

فَيَوۡمَئِذٖ لَّا يُسۡـَٔلُ عَن ذَنۢبِهِۦٓ إِنسٞ وَلَا جَآنّٞ

In that Era neither the urban nor the rural will be asked why they trailed behind
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 39

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 40

يُعۡرَفُ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ بِسِيمَٰهُمۡ فَيُؤۡخَذُ بِٱلنَّوَٰصِي وَٱلۡأَقۡدَامِ

The violators of human rights will be clearly identified, firmly seized and held accountable. ('Mujrim' = Guilty = One who steals the fruit of others' labor = Violator of human rights)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 41

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 42

هَٰذِهِۦ جَهَنَّمُ ٱلَّتِي يُكَذِّبُ بِهَا ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُونَ

This is Hell which the guilty deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 43

يَطُوفُونَ بَيۡنَهَا وَبَيۡنَ حَمِيمٍ ءَانٖ

They wander between it and their smoldering anguish
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 44

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 45

وَلِمَنۡ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِۦ جَنَّتَانِ

And for him who stands in fear of his Lord's Presence, are two Paradises - one here one there
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 46

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 47

ذَوَاتَآ أَفۡنَانٖ

Abounding in two facets, art and science. ('Afnan' = Creative works, art and science)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 48

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 49

فِيهِمَا عَيۡنَانِ تَجۡرِيَانِ

Wherein flow two springs, creativity and aesthetics
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 50

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 51

فِيهِمَا مِن كُلِّ فَٰكِهَةٖ زَوۡجَانِ

Wherein is two kinds of fruit, of their own labor and of the added Reward
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 52

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 53

مُتَّكِـِٔينَ عَلَىٰ فُرُشِۭ بَطَآئِنُهَا مِنۡ إِسۡتَبۡرَقٖۚ وَجَنَى ٱلۡجَنَّتَيۡنِ دَانٖ

Reclining on luxurious carpets lined with rich brocade, the fruit of both Gardens at hand
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 54

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 55

فِيهِنَّ قَٰصِرَٰتُ ٱلطَّرۡفِ لَمۡ يَطۡمِثۡهُنَّ إِنسٞ قَبۡلَهُمۡ وَلَا جَآنّٞ

Therein women have a modest gaze, never touched by human vices or evil prompting
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 56

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 57

كَأَنَّهُنَّ ٱلۡيَاقُوتُ وَٱلۡمَرۡجَانُ

Like unto rubies and pearls
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 58

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 59

هَلۡ جَزَآءُ ٱلۡإِحۡسَٰنِ إِلَّا ٱلۡإِحۡسَٰنُ

Is the reward of goodness anything but goodness? (10:26), (
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 60

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 61

وَمِن دُونِهِمَا جَنَّتَانِ

And other than these two, shall be two more Gardens. (The human 'Self' and the new Universe will keep evolving)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 62

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 63

مُدۡهَآمَّتَانِ

Both ever-fresh, lush green, pleasing
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 64

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 65

فِيهِمَا عَيۡنَانِ نَضَّاخَتَانِ

Therein are two springs gushing forth. (Personal delight and shared joy)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 66

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 67

فِيهِمَا فَٰكِهَةٞ وَنَخۡلٞ وَرُمَّانٞ

Therein is fruit, and palms and pomegranate. (Fruit within the fruit of Reward)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 68

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

Then, O Men and women! Which Authority of your Lord will you deny
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 69

فِيهِنَّ خَيۡرَٰتٌ حِسَانٞ

Therein are all things most excellent, symmetrical, beautiful. ('Khair' = Good thing = Excellent. 'Hisan' = Nicely balanced = Beautifully symmetrical = Symmetrically beautiful)
Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 70