فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ 67
Translations
So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?
Transliteration
Fa-bi-ayyi alaa'i rabbikuma tukadhdhibaan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah continues the refrain of Surah Ar-Rahman, asking 'So which of the favors of your Lord do you both deny?' The dual form 'you both' (rabbikuma, tukadhdhibaan) is understood by classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir to address both jinn and mankind, emphasizing that despite God's countless blessings and favors upon creation, both groups engage in denial and ingratitude. This rhetorical question serves as a powerful reminder of accountability and the foolishness of rejecting divine mercy.
Revelation Context
Surah Ar-Rahman was revealed in Madinah and is characterized by its rhythmic repetition of this refrain throughout the surah—appearing 31 times. The surah enumerates Allah's blessings (ni'am) across creation: the heavens, earth, vegetation, fruits, and provisions, with each blessing followed by this rhetorical question, highlighting the contrast between divine generosity and human/jinn ingratitude.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best Surah in the Qur'an is Surah Ar-Rahman' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the concept of gratitude (shukr) for blessings is emphasized in the hadith: 'Whoever is not grateful for the little, is not grateful for the much' (Tirmidhi).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to pause and genuinely reflect on the countless blessings they experience daily—from sustenance to health to creation itself—and to recognize that denying or taking these favors for granted is fundamentally irrational and spiritually dangerous. A modern reader should cultivate consistent gratitude and mindfulness of divine mercy as protection against heedlessness and ingratitude.