Tafsir of Ar-Rahman 55:70-78

{ خَيْرَاتٌ }: The word is khayyirāt (good women), but the ya has been lightened [by removing the shadda], similar to the Prophet’s saying: "They are hayyinūn layyinūn (easy-going and gentle)." As for khayr (better), which is the comparative form, one does not say khayyirūn or khayyirāt. It is also recited as khayyirāt in its original form. The meaning is: women of excellent character and beautiful appearance.

{ مَقْصُورَاتٌ }: They are confined to their pavilions. It is said of a woman that she is qaṣīrah, qaṣūrah, or maqṣūrah, meaning she is secluded. It is also said that each of their tents is a hollowed-out pearl.

{ قَبْلَهُمْ }: Before them—meaning before the inhabitants of the two gardens [mentioned previously]. The mention of the two gardens points to them.

{ مُتَّكِئِينَ }: In the accusative case as a state of specification (ikhtiṣāṣ).

{ وَرَفْرَفٍ }: A type of carpet. Some say it means cushions, and others say any wide cloth is a rafraf. The edges of carpets are called rafārif. The rafraf of clouds refers to their fringes.

{ وَعَبْقَرِيٍّ }: Attributed to ‘Abqar, which the Arabs claim is the land of the Jinn; thus, they attribute everything wondrous to it. It is recited as rafārifu khuḍrun (with two dammahs). It is also recited as ‘abāqariyy (like madā’inī), attributed to ‘Abāqari as the name of the land. Abū Ḥātim narrated ‘abāqari with a fatḥa on the qāf and diptote declension, but there is no basis for its correctness.

If you ask: How do the descriptions of these two gardens fall short of the first two, such that it is said: "And besides them [are two other gardens]"? I say: Mudhammatān (dark green) is less than dhawātā afnān (possessing spreading branches). Naḍḍākhatān (gushing) is less than tajriyān (flowing). Fākiha (fruit) is less than kullu fākiha (every fruit). The same applies to the description of the Ḥūr (houris) and the muttaka’ (cushions).

{ ذُو الْجَلَالِ }: Recited as an adjective for the Name [of Allah].

From the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Whoever recites Sūrat al-Raḥmān has fulfilled the gratitude for the blessings Allah has bestowed upon him."