Commentary on the Koran: Surah 55 (No. Q055)

Pickthall Translation; Bible Quotes are from the English Standard Version unless otherwise noted.

Introduction

The Surah Ar-Rahman “The Beneficent” is the title with which the Surah begins. It carries the concept of the Mercy and Graciousness of God.

From the question in verse 13: “Which is it, of the favours of our Lord, that ye deny,” ye and the verb to deny are in dual forms. The question is thus held to be addressed to mankind and the djinn. A dispute arose in Hadithic Islam that verses 46-76 refer not to the resurrections of paradise, representing the divisions of Eden, but to the later conquests of the Muslims, representing the four areas of Egypt, Syria, Mesopotamia and Persia, thus relapsing to the physical from the spiritual. Let us examine this suggested double meaning.

This is an Early Beccan Surah and like the others is intended to open the eyes of those being called to educate them to the Scriptures.

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55.1. The Beneficent

55.2. Hath made known the Qur'an.

Psalm 145:8 The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Refer to 2Timothy 3:16 and Deuteronomy 29:29 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 20 (No. Q020) at ayat 6; Nehemiah 9:31 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 40 (No. Q040) at ayat 2, and Deuteronomy 30:19 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 41 (No. Q041) at ayat 4.

55.3. He hath created man.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

The physical creation of the earth followed the Spiritual creation of the Heavenly Host who were then summoned to the creation of the earth as we see in Job 38:4-7 and then Proverbs 30:4-5. Then man was created after the earth had become tohu and bohu and was replenished by the elohim.

55.4. He hath taught him utterance.

Exodus 4:11 Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

Matthew 11:5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

Luke 1:20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

55.5. The sun and the moon are made punctual.

Psalm 19:6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Psalm 104:19 He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting.

55.6. The stars and the trees adore.

Psalm 148 urges all of his creation to praise God.

Refer to Revelation 4:11 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 39 (No. Q039) at ayat 4.

55.7. And the sky He hath uplifted; and He hath set the measure,

55.8. That ye exceed not the measure,

55.9. But observe the measure strictly, nor fall short thereof.

Psalm 104:2 covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.

Isaiah 45:12 I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.

Job 38:5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?

Isaiah 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?

Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you.

55.10. And the earth hath He appointed for (His) creatures,

55.11. Wherein are fruit and sheathed palm-trees,

55.12. Husked grain and scented herb.

See Acts 17:26 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 46 at ayat 3.

Jeremiah 27:5 It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.

Genesis 1:25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 2:19-20 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. ²⁰The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.

Genesis 1:29-30 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. ³⁰And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

Psalm 104:28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

Psalm 145:16 You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

55.13. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

Refer to the Scriptures and the comments at ayat 77 below.

55.14. He created man of clay like the potter's,

Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.

Job 10:9 Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust?

Job 33:6 Look, you and I both belong to God. I, too, was formed from clay. (NLT)

55.15. And the jinn did He create of smokeless fire.

Hebrews 1:7 Of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.”

Scripture tells us of angels of light and that God lives in unapproachable light. The Light of the Temple of God will be God and the Messiah and those surrounding him.

55.16. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

Refer also to the Scriptures and the comments at ayat 77 below.

55.17. Lord of the two Easts, and Lord of the two Wests!

Deuteronomy 10:14 Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.

The texts in verse 17 refer to the two points in the East at the rising of the Sun in midwinter and midsummer and in the West at the setting of the Sun in midwinter and midsummer.

Refer to Nehemiah 9:6 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 40 (No. Q040) at ayat 63.

55.18. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

Refer to the Scriptures and the comments at ayat 77 below.

55.19. He hath loosed the two seas. They meet.

55.20. There is a barrier between them. They encroach not (one upon the other).

This talks about the two bodies of fresh and salt water and the barriers between them.

James 3:11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?

55.21. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

Please refer to the Scriptures and the comments at ayat 77 below.

55.22. There cometh forth from both of them the pearl and coral-stone.

All things come from God or the processes set in place by God.

Psalm 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

Colossians 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Refer to Revelation 4:11 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 39 (No. Q039) at ayat 4.

55.23. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

Please refer to the Scriptures and the comments at ayat 77 below.

55.24. His are the ships displayed upon the sea, like banners.

Psalm 107:23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters.

This text is usually held to refer to the Mountains that rise from the sea as islands and like banners.

55.25. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

Please refer to the Scriptures and the comments at ayat 77 below.

55.26. Everyone that is thereon will pass away;

55.27. There remaineth but the Countenance of thy Lord of Might and Glory.

Refer to 1John 2:17 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 18 (No. Q018) at ayat 8, and 1Timothy 1:17 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 42 (No. Q042) at ayat 5.

1Corinthians 7:31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

Hebrews 1:10-12 And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; ¹¹they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, ¹²like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.”

See 1Timothy 6:16 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 52 (No. Q052) at ayat 38.

55.28. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

Please refer to the Scriptures and to the Introduction and also the comments at ayat 77 below.

55.29. All that are in the heavens and the earth entreat Him. Every day He exerciseth (universal) power.

Psalm 22:28 For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.

See Psalm 145:16 at verse 55.12 above.

Refer to Nehemiah 9:6 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 40 (No. Q040) at ayat 63.

55.30. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

Please refer to the Scriptures and the comments at ayat 77 below.

55.31. We shall dispose of you, O ye two dependents (man and jinn).

55.32. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.33. O company of jinn and men, if ye have power to penetrate (all) regions of the heavens and the earth, then penetrate (them)! Ye will never penetrate them save with (Our) sanction.

55.34. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.35. There will be sent, against you both, heat of fire and flash of brass, and ye will not escape.

Refer to Job 34:14-15 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 42 (No. Q042) at ayat 29.

See 1Timothy 6:16 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 52 (No. Q052) at ayat 38.

Only Allah is immortal (1Tim. 6:16). All of His creation depends upon Him for their life. They can only do whatever He allows as it is noted in the life story of Job.

Nahum 1:6 Who can stand before his indignation? Who can endure the heat of his anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by him.

Isaiah 66:15 For behold, the LORD will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger in fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

God is able to reduce the fallen angelic host to flesh and bring about their destruction. God will do that towards the end of the next millennium and resurrect them during the Second or General Resurrection of the Dead to face corrective training and judgment to lead them to repentance. Those who do not repent will be allowed to die and be cremated in the Lake of Fire.

Ezekiel 28:18 By the multitude of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries; so I brought fire out from your midst; it consumed you, and I turned you to ashes on the earth in the sight of all who saw you.

55.36. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.37. And when the heaven splitteth asunder and becometh rosy like red hide –

55.38. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny? –

55.39. On that day neither man nor jinni will be questioned of his sin.

Revelation 6:14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

2Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Refer to Revelation 20:11-12 Commentary on the Koran: Surah 17 (No. Q017) at ayat 15.

55.40. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

Please refer to the Scriptures and the comments at ayat 77 below.

55.41. The guilty will be known by their marks, and will be taken by the forelocks and the feet.

55.42. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.43. This is hell which the guilty deny.

55.44. They go circling round between it and fierce, boiling water.

Amos 9:2 If they dig into Sheol, from there shall my hand take them; if they climb up to heaven, from there I will bring them down.

Proverbs 10:9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

See Ecclesiastes 12:14 at verse 39 above.

Refer to Revelation 20:11-15 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 17 (No. Q017) at ayat 15; 1Timothy 5:24-25 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 41 (No. Q041) at ayat 29 and Job 34:22 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 42 (No. Q042) at ayat 35.

55.45. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

Please refer to the Scriptures and the comments at ayat 77 below.

55.46. But for him who feareth the standing before his Lord there are two gardens.

55.47. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.48. Of spreading branches.

55.49. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.50. Wherein are two fountains flowing.

55.51. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.52. Wherein is every kind of fruit in pairs.

55.53. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.54. Reclining upon couches lined with silk brocade, the fruit of both the gardens near to hand.

55.55. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.56. Therein are those of modest gaze, whom neither man nor jinni will have touched before them.

55.57. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.58. (In beauty) like the jacynth and the coral-stone.

55.59. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.60. Is the reward of goodness aught save goodness?

55.61. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.62. And beside them are two other gardens,

55.63. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.64. Dark green with foliage.

55.65. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.66. Wherein are two abundant springs.

55.67. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.68. Wherein is fruit, the date-palm and pomegranate.

55.69. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.70. Wherein (are found) the good and beautiful –

55.71. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny? –

55.72. Fair ones, close-guarded in pavilions –

55.73. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny? –

55.74. Whom neither man nor jinni will have touched before them –

55.75. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

55.76. Reclining on green cushions and fair carpets.

Ayats 46 to 76 refer to the two gardens of paradise one thousand years apart. Some places in our world are really beautiful to behold. Assuredly the two gardens of paradise will be exceedingly beautiful. When all of His creation is reconciled to Him there will be peace and security and many good things.

The saints who are keepers of his laws and testimonies (Rev. 12:17; Rev 14:12) will attain eternal life in the First Resurrection, the first garden of paradise, but the rest of humanity will be raised to face reeducation and corrective training during the Second Resurrection.

But there is also the millennial system which will be turned into a garden of paradise.

The loyal angelic Host will be the companions of the saints of the First Resurrection. They will all be part of the Second Resurrection and the untouched of the innocent of the Second Resurrection are those that were killed or died as innocents and they will be resurrected untouched.

Isaiah 11:6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the LORD.

Malachi 3:16-17 Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name. ¹⁷They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.

1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Refer to Revelation 20:11-12 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 17 (No. Q017) at ayat 15; Revelation 20:6 Commentary on the Koran: Surah 18 (No. Q018) at ayat 31, and Daniel 12:2 Commentary on the Koran: Surah 31 (No. Q031) at ayat 28.

55.77. Which is it, of the favours of your Lord, that ye deny?

Psalm 107:21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!

Ungrateful man needs to be thankful for God. God showers man with blessings and all sorts of benefits yet man remains ungrateful. He does not reflect on what he is.

Psalm 144:3 O LORD, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? ⁴Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.

James 4:14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Isaiah 2:22 Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?

All humanity not led by the Holy Spirit are referred to in the following verses. These are the ones that deny the favors of God and do not give thanks to Him.

Refer to Romans 1:21 Commentary on the Koran: Surah 18 (No. Q018) at ayat 59.

Romans 8:7-8 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. ⁸Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 3:11-12 no one understands; no one seeks for God. ¹²All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.

Titus 1:16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

The elect called, chosen and led by the Holy Spirit continually give thanks and praise to God.

Romans 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Ephesians 5:20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We will never be able to thank our God enough for His favors, His blessings and His benefits.

Psalm 103:2-4 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, ³who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, ⁴who redeems

your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.

55.78. Blessed be the name of thy Lord, Mighty and glorious!

Refer to Jude 1:25 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 40 (No. Q040) at ayat 12, and 1Timothy 1:17 in Commentary on the Koran: Surah 42 (No. Q042) at ayat 5.

Psalm 72:18-19 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. ¹⁹Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!

God restores all mankind to life and trains them all for the redemption of the Spirit.

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