Tafsir of Ar-Rahman 55:47-48

[ذواتا أفنان] is an adjective for jannatan (two gardens), and what lies between them is a parenthetical clause placed in the middle to alert that denying both the described [subject] and the description [itself] warrants denunciation and rebuke. It is also permissible that it is the predicate of an omitted subject, meaning: "They are both dhawata..." Regardless, it is the dual form of dhat, meaning "possessor." When it is dualized, there are two linguistic schools of thought: dhata based on its pronunciation, which is the more analogical form, just as its masculine dhawa is dualized. The other is dhawata, by returning it to its root, for dualization returns things to their roots. It has been said that the root of dhat is dhawat, but the waw was dropped for ease of pronunciation and to distinguish the singular from the plural. The dualization and the return of the waw therein indicate the root of the singular, and it is not the dualization of the plural as some might imagine; its details are found in the chapter on dualization in Sharh al-Tashil.

Afnan is either the plural of fann, meaning "type," and hence it is used idiomatically to mean knowledge, meaning: "possessing various types of trees and fruits." This is narrated from Ibn Abbas, Ibn Jubayr, and al-Dahhak, and upon this is the saying of the poet: "And from all the afnan (types) of pleasure and youth, I indulged in them while life was green and flourishing." Or, it is the plural of fannan, which is what is meant by "branches," as Ibn al-Jawzi stated, though it may be interpreted as "bough" and taken figuratively.

Specifying them [the branches] in mention—even though they [the gardens] are also possessors of trunks, leaves, and fruits—is because these [branches] are what bear foliage and fruit; from them shadows extend, and from them fruits are gathered. Thus, the description serves as a reminder for both [jinn and mankind]. It is as if it were said: "Possessing fruits and shadows," but by way of metonymy, which is more eloquent. Interpreting it as "branches," on the basis that it is the plural of fannan, is also narrated from Ibn Abbas, and Ibn Jarir transmitted it from Mujahid. Abu Hayyan said: "It is more appropriate, because af'al for the form fa'al [like fannan] is more frequent than for fa'n [like fann] with a quiescent second letter, and it is pluralized as funun."