Tafsir of Ar-Rahman 55:46

{The standing before his Lord}: The position in which the servants shall stand for the reckoning on the Day of Resurrection, as in: {The day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds} (Al-Mutaffifin: 6), and similarly: {For whoever has feared My standing} (Ibrahim: 14).

It is also permissible that "the standing of his Lord" means that Allah is standing over him—that is, a Guardian and Watcher—derived from the Almighty’s saying: {Is then He who is standing over every soul with what it has earned...} (Ar-Ra'd: 33). He observes that, so he does not dare to disobey Him.

It is also said: It is an expletive (muqham), as you say, "I fear the side (janb) of so-and-so," or "I did this for your sake (li-makanika)." A poet recited: I frightened away the sand grouse with it, and I warded off from it The standing (maqam) of the wolf, like the accursed man. Meaning: I warded off the wolf from it.

If you ask: Why did He say {two gardens}? I say: The address is to both Jinn and Mankind. It is as if it were said: For every two who fear [Me] among you, there are two gardens: a garden for the human who fears, and a garden for the Jinn who fears.

It is also permissible to say: A garden for performing acts of obedience, and a garden for abandoning sins, because religious obligation revolves around these two. Or it may be said: A garden as a reward, and another added to it as a favor, like the Almighty’s saying: {For those who have done good is the best [reward] and extra} (Yunus: 26).

{Having branches (afnan)}: He specified the afnan—which are the boughs that branch out from the limbs of the tree—because they are what sprout leaves and bear fruit; from them shadows extend, and from them fruits are gathered.

It is also said: Afnan are the various types of blessings that the souls desire and the eyes delight in. A poet said: And from every branch (afnan) of pleasure and youth I enjoyed it while life was green and fresh.

{Two flowing springs}: Flowing wherever they wish, in the high places and the low. It is said: They flow from a mountain of musk. Al-Hasan said: They flow with clear water; one is Tasnim and the other is Salsabil.

{Two pairs}: Two types. It is said: A familiar type and a strange/exotic type.

{Reclining}: In the accusative case as a commendation for those who fear, or as a state (hal) describing them, because "whoever fears" carries the meaning of a plural.

{Their linings are of thick silk (istabraq)}: Of thick brocade. If the linings are of istabraq, what do you think of the outer layers? It is said: Their outer layers are of sundus (fine silk), and it is said: of light.

{And the fruit (jana)}: Near, reachable by the one standing, the sitting, and the reclining. It is also read as jina (with a kasra on the jim).

{In them are women limiting [their] glances, untouched before them by man or jinn. So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? As if they were rubies and coral. So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? Is the reward for good [anything] but good? So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?}