Tafsir of Ar-Rahman 55:45

Surah Ar-Rahman (The Most Merciful): Verse 45

Original Text Segment:

وفيه بحث وهو أن هذه الأمور ليست من الآلاء فكيف قال : { فبأى الاء } ؟ نقول : الجواب من وجهين أحدهما : ما ذكرناه وثانيهما : أن المراد : { فبأى ءالاء ربكما } مما أشرنا إليه في أول السورة . { تكذبان } فتستحقان هذه الأشياء المذكورة من العذاب ، وكذلك نقول : في قوله : { ولمن خاف مقام ربه جنتان } ( الرحمن : 46 ) هي الجنان ثم إن تلك الآلاء لا ترى ، وهذا ظاهر لأن الجنان غير مرئية ، وإنما حصل الإيمان بها بالغيب ، فلا يحسن الاستفهام بمعنى الإنكار مثل ما يحسن الاستفهام عن هيئة السماء والأرض والنجم والشجر والشمس والقمر وغيرها مما يدرك ويشاهد ، لكن النار والجنة ذكرتا للترهيب والترغيب كما بينا أن المراد فبأيهما تكذبان فتستحقان العذاب وتحرمان الثواب .

Translation:

There is a discussion regarding this point: How can these matters [referring to the punishments mentioned previously] be considered Alā’ (Favors/Blessings), since the verse asks, "Then which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?"

We respond: The answer is twofold:

1. The first is what we have already mentioned [in previous verses].
2. The second is that the meaning of "Then which of the favors of your Lord will you deny?" refers to those favors we indicated at the beginning of the Surah. The implication is: "Which of these favors do you deny, leading you to deserve the mentioned punishments?"

Similarly, we say this concerning the next verse: "But for him who feared the standing before his Lord, there will be two Gardens" (Ar-Rahman: 46). These are the Gardens (Jinan).

Furthermore, those specific favors (the Gardens) are not visible. This is evident because the Gardens are unseen; belief in them is established through the unseen (al-ghayb). Therefore, using the interrogative form here to mean denial (as in, "You cannot deny these visible things") is not as appropriate as it is when referring to the structure of the heavens, the earth, the stars, the trees, the sun, and the moon—things that are perceived and witnessed.

However, the Fire (Hell) and the Garden (Paradise) are mentioned here for the purpose of warning (Tahrīb) and encouragement (Targhīb). As we have explained, the intent is: "Which of these two [the rewards or punishments] do you deny, thereby deserving the punishment and being deprived of the reward?"

Original Text Segment:

بم ثم قال تعالى : ! 7 < { ولمن خاف مقام ربه جنتان * فبأى ءالاء ربكما تكذبان } . > 7 <

Translation:

Then, the Almighty said: