Sura al-Rahman: Difference between revisions

'''Sūra al-Raḥmān''' (Arabic:{{ia|سورة الرحمن}}) known as '''the bride of the Qur'an''' is the fifty fifth chapter of the [[Qur'an]] which is located in the twenty seventh [[juz']]. The name of this sura is one of the names of God, which is the first word of this chapter. There are disagreements about whether this sura is [[Makki]] or [[Madani]]. The sixty forth verse of this sura is the shortest verse in the Qur'an, "{{ia|مُدهامَّتان}}" (Densely shaded with dark green trees).

A large number of God's blessings in this world and in the [[Hereafter]] are mentioned in this chapter of the Qur'an. Also the [[Resurrection]] and its features as well as evaluation of deeds. In this [[sura]], after mentioning each blessing God asks His servants the question "{{ia|فبای آلاء ربکما تکذبان}}" (Then, O Jinns and men, which of your Rabb's favors will both of you deny?) which is repeated thirty one times in this chapter. Based on a narration from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]], it is recommended to recite the phrase "{{ia|لا بشیء من آلائک رب اکذب}}" (Oh God, I will not deny any of your favors.) after reciting this verse of the Qur'an.

This sura of the Qur'an is called al-Rahman because this sura is started with this word which is one of the names of God. Ala' (the plural form of Ilay) which means blessings is the other name of this [[sura]], because it mentions the blessings of God. Sura al-Rahman is known to be the "'Arus al-Qur'an" bride of the [[Qur'an]]; this titles is given based on the narrations from [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] and Shi'ite [[Imams]].

This chapter of the Qur'an was the ninety seventh sura revealed to [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]]. It is the fifty fifth sura of the Qur'an which is located in the twenty seventh [[juz']]. There are disagreements about whether this sura is [[Makki]] or [[Madani]]. [[Muhammad Hadi Ma'rifat]], a researcher in Qur'anic sciences believe that al-Rahman is most probably a Madani sura.

This sura has seventy eight verses, 352 words and 1648 letters. Al-Rahman is regarded one of the [[Mufassalat]] suras which have relatively short and numerous verses; its size is about half of a [[hizb]]. The sixty forth verse of this Sura is the shortest verse in Qur'an, "Mudhammatan" (Densely shaded with dark green trees).

A large number of God's blessings in this world and in the [[Hereafter]] are mentioned in sura al-Rahman, which represents the quality of being Rahman (the All-beneficent). The content of this chapter of the Qur'an can be divided into three parts:

 

A number of exegetes believe this sura was revealed in order to raise awareness of disbelievers of [[Quraysh]] about the word al-Rahman (the All-Beneficent), as when the sixtieth verse of [[sura al-Furqan]] was revealed in which it ordered humans to prostate to the All-Beneficent, and they said what is and who is Rahman? Then God revealed sura al-Rahman to [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]]. Also based on a narration from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]], some believe this sura was revealed about [[Ahl al-Bayt (a)]].

According to a narration from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]] the term "al-bahrayn ({{ia|الْبَحْرَيْنِ}})" in the verse "{{ia|مَرَجَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَلْتَقِيَانِ بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخٌ لَّا يَبْغِيَانِ}}" (He has made the two oceans appearently meeting together, yet between them is a barrier which they cannot cross) is about [['Ali b. Abi Talib (a)]] and [[Lady Fatima (a)]] and the terms "Lu'lu' ({{ia|اللُّؤْلُؤُ}})" and "Marjan ({{ia|الْمَرْجَانُ}})" in the verse "{{ia|يَخْرُجُ مِنْهُمَا اللُّؤْلُؤُ وَالْمَرْجَانُ}}" (He produces pearls and coral, from both of them) is attributed to [[Imam al-Hasan (a)]] and [[Imam al-Husayn (a)]]. Such exegeses are stated in Shi'ite exegesis books including ''[[Majma' al-Bayan]]'' by [[al-Tabrisi]] and Sunni exegesis books including ''Dur al-Manthur'' by [[al-Suyuti]].

Sura al-Rahman is one of the chapters of the [[Qur'an]] which is highly regarded in public culture. This sura has social roles in Islamic countries including [[Iran]] and [[Pakistan]]. In Pakistan this sura is recited in wedding ceremonies and it is recited in mourning ceremonies of the departed ones in Iran; however some disagree with reciting it in mourning ceremonies.

This [[sura]] of Qur'an was also highly regarded by artists. For example the whole sura was woven on a carpet, each verse of this sura is woven with the verse "{{ia| فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ}}" (Then, O Jinns and men, which of your Rabb's favors will both of you deny?). The Qur'anic verse are written in beautiful and decorative calligraphy; also pictures related to each verse is woven near each verse. Hojjat Allah Khodayari, the artist from Tabriz, has finished weaving it in 1996. It is kept in the museum of Astan Quds Razavi.