Sūrah Ar-Raḥmān The Most Gracious

سورة الرحمن

A Makkan sūrah of 78 verses. Al-Ṭabarī examines the debate over whether humans or jinn are primarily addressed by the repeating refrain, the nature of the two Paradises described, and the grammatical signature of universal accountability.

Surah Overview

DetailInformationClassificationSignificance

SurahالرحمنMakkī/Madanī debate 78 versesDivine favors, dual Paradise, jinn and human address

Key DisagreementWho is "tukadhdhibān" addressed to jinn and humans together?Addressee identificationAl-Ṭabarī: both jinn and humans simultaneously the dual form is the grammatical signature of this universal address

Competing OpinionsAre the two Paradises (55:46, 55:62) for two groups or two aspects of one Paradise?Dual Paradise structureAl-Ṭabarī: through chains from Ibn ʿAbbās two distinct Paradises for the foremost and the righteous

MethodologyGrammatical analysis of dual forms to establish the universal jinn+human addressGrammatical tafsīrAl-Ṭabarī uses Arabic grammar to establish the theological point of universal accountability

Key Themes from Al-Ṭabarī

The recurring refrain "fa-bi-ayyi ālaʾi rabbikumā tukadhdhibān" (31 times total) is analyzed by al-Ṭabarī as the Quran's most deliberate rhetorical repetition. He traces through chains the question of the addressee: the dual "kumā" and "tukadhdhibān" indicate both jinn and humans are addressed. He then documents the prophetic account of the jinn responding to each verse with "wa-lā bi-shayʾin min ālaʾika rabbanā nustakdhibu" (we do not deny any of Your favors, our Lord) a chain from Jābir ibn ʿAbdillāh through the Prophet.

The two Paradises (55:46–77) are analyzed through chains from Ibn ʿAbbās as two distinct categories: one for the muqarrabīn (those brought near) and one for the aṣḥāb al-yamīn (companions of the right). Al-Ṭabarī connects this to the three-category classification of 56:7–10 though this surah shows only two, they map onto the top two categories.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ Fa-bi-ayyi ālaʾi rabbikumā tukadhdhibān "So which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?" (55:13 et al.) Al-Ṭabarī presents the chain from Jābir: the Prophet recited this surah to the jinn, and after each verse they responded with affirmation. The repetition 31 times is explained as each divine favor requiring a specific acknowledgment.

وَلِمَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ جَنَّتَانِ Wa-li-man khāfa maqāma rabbihi jannatān "And for whoever fears the standing before his Lord are two gardens." (55:46) Al-Ṭabarī traces chains on the dual Paradises and connects this to the question of whether the believer receives both or only one.

Universal address: The dual grammatical form is al-Ṭabarī's evidence for the simultaneous address of jinn and humans both are held accountable.
Jinn response chain: The Jābir chain of jinn responding to each verse is treated as authentic documenting a real prophetic encounter with jinn.
Two Paradises: Al-Ṭabarī distinguishes the two through chains, connecting them to the three-category classification of Sūrah 56.
Deliberate repetition: 31 repetitions of the refrain are not stylistic decoration but a theological structure each favor named requires acknowledgment.
Raḥmān as name: The surah opening is analyzed through chains on whether "al-Raḥmān" is a name or a description al-Ṭabarī: a proper name with a meaning, not merely a descriptor.

Surah Overview

Key Themes from Al-Ṭabarī

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