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Chapter 55

The All-Beneficental-Raḥmān ( الرحمن )

78 verses • revealed at Medinan

»The surah that crowns the Quran and opens with the chant of a single word proclaiming one of God’s most beautiful names, The All-Beneficent. It takes its name from verse 1 which mentions “the All-beneficent” (al-raḥmān). The surah highlights Gods wonders in this world, describes the end of the world, and paints an evocative picture of the delights of Paradise. Hell is briefly contrasted (verse 43 ff.) with the joys that await the righteous. The surah is characterized by the refrain “So which of your Lord’s bounties will you both deny?” which runs throughout. The surah divides mankind and jinn into three classes: the disbelievers (verse 41 ff.), the best of believers (verse 46 ff.), and the ordinary believers (verse 62 ff.).«

The surah is also known as (God) Most Gracious, The All-Merciful, The Beneficent, The Lord of Mercy, The Merciful, The Mercy-giving, The Most Gracious

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

Ali Unal: IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE ALL-MERCIFUL, THE ALL-COMPASSIONATE

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الرَّحمٰنُ

Ali Unal

Revealed in Makkah, this sūrah of 78 verses derives its name from ar-Rahman (the All-Merciful), which constitutes the first verse. Throughout, it is mentioned that the manifestations of God are a result of His being the All-Merciful. As explained in note 4 on Sūrat al-Fātihah at the very beginning of this study, the term the All-Merciful designates the Divine Being as the One with infinite mercy Who embraces all of creation with mercy, grace, and favor, including humankind, without any discrimination between believers and unbelievers; and as the One Who gives life, maintains, provides, and equips all with the capacities necessary for each. God has created the universe out of, and as the manifestation of, the mercy embodied by His Name the All-Merciful.
The All-Merciful