Ar-Rahman · Madani · ayah 65 of 78

Ar-Rahman 55:65

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ

“So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?”

Saheeh International

Essence

After a single word for deep green, the question points at a favour we walk past daily: the water and green He keeps sending.

A reflection

Rain on the forearm: fresh from its Lord

Most of us treat rain as weather. An inconvenience, a forecast, a reason to cancel. The green that follows it is scenery. So a refrain asked straight after 'deep green' can sound like a question about decoration.

The Prophet ﷺ did not treat rain as weather.

A Companion describes a day when rain began to fall while they were with him. The Prophet ﷺ drew back part of his garment so that the rain fell on his body. They asked him why. He said: because it has only just come from its Lord. Muslim records it.

That is an extraordinary way to look at a shower. Fresh from its Lord. Newly arrived from the One who sent it, with nothing in between.

And when rain fell, he would pray: O Allah, let it be a beneficial downpour. Al-Bukhari records it.

Now hear this refrain with that picture in mind. The ayah before named the lower gardens with one word: green so deep with water that it looks black. The refrain asks which of your Lord's favours you would deny. The water that makes that green is a favour. And a sample of it falls on you, freely, in this world.

A man has been through a long, dry summer. The first rain comes at night. Instead of closing the window, he steps out into the garden in his slippers and rolls up a sleeve. He stands there for a minute with the rain on his forearm, and says the Prophet's prayer under his breath.

His neighbours would think him strange. But he has done what the refrain asks. He has refused to deny a favour simply because it arrives every week.

Next time it rains, before you reach for the umbrella, let a few drops land on your hand.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.