Surah Ar-Rahman — "The Most Merciful" (chapter 55) — is known for its beautiful rhythm and its repeated question: فَبِأَيِّ آلَاءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ — "So which of the favours of your Lord would you deny?" This guide explains what the surah is about, why that verse is repeated, and how the Prophet ﷺ taught the Companions to respond to it.
The surah at a glance
Surah number | 55 |
Verses | 78 |
Name | From its first word: الرَّحْمَٰنُ — the Most Merciful |
The repeated verse | 31 times |
Revealed | The Madinah Mushaf lists it as Madani; some scholars consider it Makki |
What the surah is about
Verses | Theme |
|---|---|
The Most Merciful taught the Quran, created the human being and taught him clear speech | |
The sun, moon, stars, trees, the sky and the balance; the earth and its fruits | |
The creation of humans and jinn; the two seas with a barrier between them; ships | |
Everything on earth will perish; only the Face of your Lord remains | |
The Day of Judgement and the fate of the wrongdoers | |
The gardens of Paradise prepared for those who fear their Lord |
Why is one verse repeated 31 times?
The verse "So which of the favours of your Lord would you deny?" comes after almost every blessing the surah mentions. It speaks to two groups — humans and jinn — which is why the Arabic is in the dual form (rabbikuma, tukadhdhiban).
Scholars explain that the repetition works like a reminder after each gift: the sun and moon, food, the seas, and finally Paradise. Each time, the listener is asked to stop and admit the favour.
How to respond to the verse
Jabir reported that the Prophet ﷺ recited Surah Ar-Rahman to his Companions, who listened in silence. He told them that when he recited it to the jinn, they responded better than the Companions: every time he reached fa-bi-ayyi ala'i rabbikuma tukadhdhiban, they said:
لَا بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ نِعَمِكَ رَبَّنَا نُكَذِّبُ، فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ "We deny none of Your favours, our Lord, and to You belongs all praise."
(Reported by al-Tirmidhi, and graded hasan by al-Albani.)
Lessons from the surah
- Mercy comes first. The surah opens with Allah's name Ar-Rahman, and His first gift mentioned is teaching the Quran.
- Everything is a favour. Even ordinary things — fruit, ships, the sea — are blessings to be thankful for.
- This world is temporary. "Everyone upon it will perish, and there will remain the Face of your Lord" (55:26–27).
- Gratitude is the right response. The repeated question asks us to recognise what we've been given.
Reciting it
Ar-Rahman's rhythm makes it a favourite to memorise. Because the refrain repeats, many learners find it easier than its length suggests. Use our memorisation tracker to plan it, and our guides to madd and ghunnah for the rules you'll meet most. For other surahs explained, see Al-Fatiha, Al-Mulk and Al-Ikhlas. To learn with a teacher, see our Quran classes for adults.
FAQ
How many times is "fa-bi-ayyi ala'i rabbikuma tukadhdhiban" repeated?
31 times in Surah Ar-Rahman.
Who is the verse talking to?
To both humans and jinn — which is why the Arabic uses the dual form.
What should I say when I hear the verse?
The Companions learned the response of the jinn: "We deny none of Your favours, our Lord, and to You belongs all praise" (reported by al-Tirmidhi).
How many verses are in Surah Ar-Rahman?
78 verses.
Sources
- Surah Ar-Rahman 55 — Quran.com
- Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3291 — the response of the jinn — Sunnah.com
- Ar-Rahman — Wikipedia