Sura al-Rahman: Difference between revisions

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'''Sūra al-Raḥmān''' (Arabic:{{ia|سورة الرحمن}}) known as '''the bride of the Qur'an''' is the 55th 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.

According to narrations if someone recites sura al-Rahman, God will grant him/her the chance of being grateful to the blessings, he/she is given, and if he/she pass away in that night or day, he/she will be considered as a [[martyr]].

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 bride of the Qur'an ('Arus al-Qur'an); this titles is given based on the narrations from [[Prophet Muhammad (s)]] and Shiite [[Imams (a)]].

This chapter of the Qur'an was the 97th sura revealed to the [[Prophet (s)]]. It is the 55th sura of the Qur'an which is located in the 27th [[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 78 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:

# The gifts in the hereafter: After mentioning punishment of disbelievers in the [[hell]] then blessings for believers are mentioned including the gardens, streams, fruits and beautiful and loyal damsels. (verses 31 to 78).

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 60th 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 Shiite exegesis books including ''[[Majma' al-Bayan]]'' by [[al-Tabrisi]] and Sunni exegesis books including ''Dur al-Manthur'' by [[al-Suyuti]].

In previous verses, God promised those who fear standing before their God, they will be rewarded with two heaven with countless blessings. In this verse, it is stated that rewards for goodness by God is due to goodness of those who feared standing before God, and then the reaction to goodness is goodness as well. Based on a narration from [[Imam al-Sadiq (a)]], this verse is about disbelievers and believers who have done good deeds and those who have done evil deeds. If someone does someone else a favor, he should compensate, and the way to it is that the compensation should be even greater that the action itself. Because if the reaction is at the same level of the action, then the action is better, because it started the good deed first. Therefore, the reaction should be greater that the action in order to gain the same value comparing to each other.

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 Iran, has finished weaving it in 1996. It is kept in the museum of [[Astan Quds Razavi]].

According to a number of narrations if someone recites Sura al-Rahman, God will be merciful to his weaknesses and inabilities and he/she will have the chance of being grateful to His blessings. Also it is narrated to recites the phrase "{{ia|لابشیء من الائک رب اکذب}}" (Oh God, I will not deny any of your favors) after reciting the verse "{{ia| فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ}}". If he/she pass away in that night or day, he/she will be considered as a [[martyr]]. It is recommended to recite this chapter of Qur'an in the [[prayer]]s after reciting [[Ziyara]] of [[Imam al-Rida (a)]]. Facilitation of harsh matters, healing of pain in eyes and having protection are among the merits of reciting sura al-Rahman.

* The material for writing this article has been mainly taken from [[:fa:سوره رحمن|سوره رحمن]] in Farsi wikishia.