Sūrah al-Raḥmān

The Merciful taught the Qur’ān because He has created a human being; taught him speech.

[You want a sign; so, observe that] the sun and the moon pursue an ordered course, and the stars and trees all bow down in adoration. And He raised high the sky and placed the balance in it so that you too [in your circle of authority] should not transgress that balance. And weigh justly, and do not measure less.

And He has laid out the earth for His creatures. In it are fruits and date-palms, whose fruits are in coverings, and chaff-covered grain and scented flowers – Then O Jinn and Men! Which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny?

He created human beings from clay which rings like its dry pieces, and the jinn from the flame of fire. Then O Jinn and Men! Which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny?

He alone is the Lord of the East until both of its borders and He alone is the Lord of the West until both of its borders. Then O Jinn and Men! Which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny?

He let loose two oceans: both strike one another, yet between them is a barrier that they cannot cross. Then O Jinn and Men! Which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny?

Pearls and corals come out of both. Then O Jinn and Men! Which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny?

To Him belong these ships that are like mountains rising above the ocean. Then O Jinn and Men! Which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny?

All that lives on the earth is destined to die, and only the glorious and majestic person of your Lord will abide forever. Then O Jinn and Men! Which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny?

Whatever is in the heavens and the earth ask [for their needs] from Him alone. At all times, His majesty has a newer manifestation. Then O Jinn and Men! Which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny?¹

O Mighty Groups! We are about to find time for you! Then speak up which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? O Groups of Men and Jinn! If you have power to escape from the confines of the heavens and earth, try to escape! You will not be able to do so; this requires permission. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? A flame of fire would be hurled at you and [molten] brass, and you would not be able to shield yourself. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny?

Then what will happen at the time when the sky splits asunder and reddens like skin peeled off? At that time, O Jinn and Men! Which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? Then there will be no need to ask either man or jinn of his sins. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? The wrongdoers will be recognized there by their signs; then they will be seized by their forelocks and their feet [and thrown into Hell]. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? This is the very Hell which these wrongdoers had kept denying. [Now] they will keep circling between it and its boiling water. Then O Jinn and Men! Which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny?

[This is the recompense for these wrongdoers.] And for those who feared being brought into the presence of their Lord, there will be two orchards. Then O Jinn and Men! Which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? Both will have abundant branches. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? Both will be watered by two fountains. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? In them, each fruit will be of different types. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? They will sit on floors reclining on cushions lined with thick brocade, and the fruits of both orchards will be drooping down. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? In them will be maidens having bashful eyes whom neither man nor jinn would have touched before. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? So beautiful as if they are like rubies and corals. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? What can be the reward of virtue except virtue? Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny?

And besides these, there will be two other orchards also. Then O Jinn and Men! Which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? Both will be dense and luxuriantly green. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? Two gushing fountains will flow in each. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? They will have fruits, dates and pomegranates. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? In them there will be wives, noble and gorgeous. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? Fair maidens residing in tents. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? Neither man nor jinn would have touched them before. Then which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny? They will recline on green sheets of cloth and beautiful unique carpets. Then O Jinn and Men! Which of your Lord’s majesties will you deny?

Very blessed is the name of your majestic and glorious Lord!