English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

This noble surah opens with His name Ar-Raḥmān, indicating the vastness of His mercy, the universality of His beneficence, His abundant kindness, and His expansive grace.

Al-Sa‘di says the surah then points to the religious, worldly, and Hereafter blessings that are effects of this mercy.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah taught His servants the Qur’an—its words and meanings—and made it easy for them; Al-Sa‘di calls this one of the greatest favors and acts of mercy toward His servants.

He sent down an Arabic Qur’an with the finest wording and explanation, containing every good and restraining from every evil.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

He created the human being in the best form, complete in limbs and parts, with a finely perfected construction.

Al-Sa‘di emphasizes the precise and excellent fashioning of the human being.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

He distinguished the human being by teaching him clear expression—both spoken and written—so that he can make known what is within him.

Al-Sa‘di counts this ability of expression among Allah’s greatest favors to humanity.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah created the sun and moon and subjected them to move according to exact calculation and measured courses, out of mercy and care for His servants.

Through this, people’s interests are served and they know the number of years and reckoning.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

The stars of the sky and the trees of the earth know their Lord, prostrate to Him, obey, humble themselves, and submit to what He has subjected them to for His servants’ benefits.

Al-Sa‘di describes both as submitting to Allah and serving the benefits for which He subjected them.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah raised the heaven as a roof over earthly creatures and set the balance—that is, justice among His servants in words and deeds.

Al-Sa‘di explains that the balance includes scales and measures, as well as standards by which rights are distinguished and justice is established.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah set the balance so that people would not overstep the limits of justice.

Al-Sa‘di says that if matters were left only to human opinions, grave disorder would result and the heavens and earth would be corrupted.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Establish weight with justice as far as you are able, and do not diminish the balance by acting with injustice, wrongdoing, and transgression.

Al-Sa‘di explains that the command is to keep weighing upright by justice and not to reduce it.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah laid out the earth with its stability and varied qualities for creation, so that they may settle upon it and find it a resting place.

They build, cultivate, plant, dig, travel its roads, and benefit from its resources and necessities.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

On the earth are fruits of every kind that people enjoy, and date-palms with sheaths that open to reveal clusters which mature into food that can be eaten and stored.

Al-Sa‘di describes these fruits and dates as provision and enjoyable food for people at home and while travelling.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

The grain has stalks and husks whose straw benefits livestock and others; this includes wheat, barley, corn, rice, millet, and other grains.

Al-Sa‘di says al-rayḥān may refer broadly to provision eaten by people, or to fragrant plants and pleasant scents.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

After mentioning many blessings seen by the eyes and understood by the hearts, Allah addresses mankind and jinn: which of Allah’s religious and worldly blessings do you both deny?

Al-Sa‘di says the servant should acknowledge these blessings, thank Allah, and praise Him for them.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Among His blessings and signs of power is that He created Adam, the father of mankind, from moistened clay prepared until it dried and became resonant like fired pottery.

Al-Sa‘di presents this creation as an effect of Allah’s power and perfect craftsmanship.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

He created the father of the jinn from a pure flame of fire, or a flame mixed with smoke.

Al-Sa‘di contrasts this fiery origin with the human origin from clay and earth.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

After explaining the creation of mankind and jinn and the materials from which they were created, Allah reminds them that this itself is a blessing from Him.

So which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

He is the Lord of everything over which the sun, moon, and luminous stars rise and set; all are under His management and Lordship.

Al-Sa‘di explains the two easts and two wests as encompassing the sun’s rising and setting points in winter and summer.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s religious and worldly blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

The two seas are the fresh and salt waters; they meet as fresh water pours into the salt sea and the two come together.

Al-Sa‘di identifies the two waters as fresh water and salt water.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah placed between the fresh and salt waters a barrier of land so that neither overwhelms the other and the benefit of each is preserved.

Fresh water serves drinking and crops, while salt water provides other benefits including fish, pearls, coral, and passage for ships.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s religious and worldly blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

By Allah’s power, pearls and coral come forth from the two seas.

Al-Sa‘di mentions pearls and coral among the benefits Allah brings forth from the seas.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s religious and worldly blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah subjected the sailing ships to His servants; they cleave the sea by His permission, and because of their great size they are like huge mountains.

People ride them and carry their goods and trade, while Allah preserves them; Al-Sa‘di counts this among His great blessings.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s religious and worldly blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Everyone on the earth—humans, jinn, animals, and all other creatures—will perish, die, and pass away.

Al-Sa‘di states that every creature upon the earth is destined to perish.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

The Ever-Living One who does not die remains—the Owner of Majesty and Honor, possessing greatness, grandeur, and perfect glory, as well as vast grace and generosity.

His honor includes the abundant favor by which He honors His chosen servants.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di says the explanation of this refrain has already been given: it asks mankind and jinn which of their Lord’s favors they deny.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah is self-sufficient while every creature in the heavens and earth is in need of Him and asks Him for every need, never being independent of Him for even a moment.

Every day He is carrying out affairs—giving and withholding, giving life and causing death, raising and lowering—without one affair distracting Him from another.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s religious and worldly blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Allah will turn to the reckoning of mankind and jinn and repay them for the deeds they did in worldly life.

Al-Sa‘di explains this address to the two weighty classes as a warning of their coming account and recompense.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s religious and worldly blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

At the gathering on the Day of Resurrection, Allah will show mankind and jinn their weakness and His complete authority, will, and power: if they can find a way beyond His dominion, let them pass.

They cannot escape except with power and authority of their own—and they possess no such power.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s religious and worldly blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

A pure flame of fire and smoke-laden flame will be sent against mankind and jinn, surrounding them so that they cannot defend themselves, either by themselves or through anyone besides Allah.

Al-Sa‘di says these two terrible things will encompass the two classes so that they cannot gain victory or protection.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains that Allah’s warning of His servants is itself a blessing, driving them toward the highest aims and noblest gifts.

So which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

On the Day of Resurrection the heaven will split from the severity of its terrors; the sun and moon will be darkened and the stars scattered.

Al-Sa‘di explains that the sky will become rose-colored like a molten substance, such as melted lead.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

On that Day, no human or jinn will be questioned in order to discover what they did, for Allah already knows the unseen and seen, the past and future.

Allah will recompense them according to what He knows of their states, and the people of good and evil will have marks by which they are known.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

The criminals will be recognized by their marks; they will be seized by their forelocks and feet, cast into the Fire, and dragged therein.

Any questioning is for rebuke and confirmation, not to gain information, so that Allah’s decisive proof and wisdom are manifest.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

When Hell is kindled, those who denied the promise and warning will be told: this is the Hell which the criminals used to deny.

They will taste its punishment as the recompense for their denial.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

They will move between the layers and flames of Hell and intensely heated water whose heat has reached its utmost.

Al-Sa‘di describes the water as extremely hot and fully heated.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di says the explanation of this refrain has already been given: it asks mankind and jinn which of their Lord’s favors they deny.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Whoever feared his Lord and standing before Him, left what He forbade, and did what He commanded will have two gardens.

Al-Sa‘di says one is a reward for leaving prohibitions and the other for acts of obedience, and describes their vessels, adornment, buildings, and contents as gold.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

The two gardens have abundant flourishing trees with soft branches and plentiful ripe, delicious fruit; the phrase may also mean that they contain many kinds and varieties of bliss.

Al-Sa‘di explains afnān as branches, or as diverse kinds and classes of enjoyment.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

In those two gardens are two flowing springs which the people of Paradise direct as they wish and desire.

Al-Sa‘di describes the two springs as flowing within the two gardens.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

In both gardens are all kinds of fruit in two varieties, each kind having a taste and color distinct from the other.

Al-Sa‘di explains that every fruit appears in two kinds, each with its own delight and color.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

The people of Paradise recline securely and comfortably on couches whose inner linings are of istabraq, the finest heavy silk.

The ripe fruit of both gardens is close at hand, reachable by one standing, sitting, or reclining.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

In the gardens are women who restrict their gaze to their husbands because of their husbands’ beauty, their love for them, and their own beauty.

No human or jinn has touched them before; Al-Sa‘di describes them as untouched and devoted to their spouses.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di says the explanation of this refrain has already been given: it asks mankind and jinn which of their Lord’s favors they deny.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

They are like rubies and coral in purity, beauty of appearance, and radiance.

Al-Sa‘di gives this comparison because of their purity, beauty, and splendor.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

The reward of the one who does good in worshipping the Creator and benefiting His servants is that Allah does good to him with immense reward, great success, lasting bliss, and a wholesome life.

Al-Sa‘di says the two higher gardens are for those brought near.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Below those two are two other gardens, whose buildings, vessels, adornments, and contents are of silver, prepared for the people of the right.

Al-Sa‘di distinguishes these two gardens from the first pair mentioned earlier.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Those two gardens are very dark green because of the intensity of their lushness, which is the effect of abundant watering.

Al-Sa‘di explains mudhāmmatān as so intensely green that the gardens appear dark.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

In both gardens are two springs gushing forth.

Al-Sa‘di explains naḍḍākhatān as two springs that gush and bubble up.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

In both are fruits of every kind, especially date-palms and pomegranates, in which there are many benefits.

Al-Sa‘di singles out date-palms and pomegranates among the fruits because of the benefits they contain.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

In all the gardens are women who are good in character and beautiful in appearance, combining inward and outward beauty.

Al-Sa‘di explains khayrāt ḥisān as goodness of character together with beauty of face.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

They are fair ones kept within pavilions of pearl, prepared for their husbands; this does not prevent them from going out into the gardens of Paradise.

Al-Sa‘di describes them as reserved in pavilions and prepared for their spouses.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

No human or jinn has touched them before their husbands.

As Al-Sa‘di explained earlier, they are untouched before those for whom they are prepared.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

The people of the latter two gardens recline on green rafraf—furnishings spread over elevated seats—and on beautiful, finely woven carpets.

Al-Sa‘di explains that these latter two gardens are below the first two, while all the mentioned gardens contain immense delight and complete comfort.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Al-Sa‘di explains this refrain as a direct question to mankind and jinn about Allah’s blessings.

Which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

After mentioning the vastness of His grace and beneficence, Allah says that the name of your Lord is blessed: His goodness is abundant, His majesty splendid, His glory perfect, and He honors His close servants.

Al-Sa‘di closes the surah by affirming Allah’s abundant goodness, perfect majesty, glory, and honoring of His allies.

Summary of the Meanings (Al-Sa‘di):

Verses 1–13: Al-Sa‘di explains that the surah opens with Ar-Raḥmān, whose name points to vast mercy and abundant grace. It then recounts major religious and worldly blessings: teaching the Qur’an, creating humanity and teaching expression, the measured courses of the sun and moon, universal submission to Allah, justice and balance, and the provisions placed on earth.

Verses 14–45: The surah points to the creation of humans and jinn, Allah’s lordship over the two easts and two wests, the fresh and salt seas and their benefits, ships, the passing away of all creatures while the Lord of Majesty and Honor remains, every creature’s constant need of Him, and the coming reckoning from which mankind and jinn cannot escape.

Verses 46–78: Al-Sa‘di describes the two higher gardens for the one who fears standing before his Lord and does what Allah commands, then two further gardens for the people of the right, with their springs, fruits, furnishings, and companions. The surah ends by declaring the blessedness and abundant goodness of the name of the Lord of Majesty and Honor.

The repeated question calls mankind and jinn to acknowledge Allah’s blessings, thank Him, and praise Him for them.