Al-Furqaan (The Criterion)

60. “And when it is said to them: ‘Prostrate you to Rahman (The Beneficent Allah), they say: ‘And what is Rahman (the Beneficent Allah)? Shall we prostrate to what you bid us?’ And it increases them in aversion.”

In this verse the Arabic word /ma/ (what), which is use for inanimate and solid bodies, is repeated two times. The pagans used this word to scorn the Holy Divine Essence.

Therefore, instead of saying ‘Wa Man ir-Rahman’ (and who is the Beneficent?), they said: ‘Wa-Mar-Rahman’ (And what is the Beneficent?), and instead of saying ‘Liman Ta’muruna’ (to whom you bid us), they said ‘Lima Ta’muruna’ (to what you bid us).

Since the previous verses spoke about both the might and magnificence of Allah and His encompassing mercy, this verse implies that when they are told adore the Beneficent Allah, Whose mercy encompasses soul and body of yours, they say out of pride and conceit, or for redacting, what the Beneficent Allah is.

The verse says:

“And when it is said to them: ‘Prostrate you to Rahman (The Beneficent Allah), they say: ‘And what is Rahman (the Beneficent Allah)?...”

They said that they did not basically know Rahman and his word had no clear sense for them.

They continued saying:

“...Shall we prostrate to what you bid us?’...”

We will not submit anybody and we are not the follower of the command of this and that.

They say this statement and, consequently, their hate and their distance from Allah will be increased.

Certainly the most proper name of Allah’s names for calling people to adoration and worship in His presence is ‘Rahman’ (the Beneficent) with its extensive meaning of His mercy, but because of blind-heartedness and stubbornness they not only presented no flexibility for this invitation, but also they embarked on scorning and mocking and they mockingly said:

“...what is Rahman (the Beneficent Allah)?”

As Pharaoh said in the opposition of Moses (as):

“And what is the Lord of the Worlds?”1 ,

they did not even say: ‘and who is...?’

However, the root and the form of this word, ‘Rahman’ is Arabic, and the Prophet (S) always, at the beginning of each Surah of the Qur’an, said this name for them by the phrase:

‘Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim’ (In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful).

Therefore, their aim was nothing but mocking and pretext-seeking.

The next sentence also testifies to this fact, for they say implicitly:

‘Are we to adore whatever you (Muhammad) bid us and prostrate by your command?’

But as a matter of fact, the propagation of divine leaders only has effect on those persons whose hearts are receptive and the blind-hearted stubborn persons not only do not enjoy it, but also their hatefumess increases, for the verses of the Qur’an are like enlivening drops of rain that grows flower and meadow in gardens and grows thorn in the brackish lands.

So it is not surprisingly that it says:

“...And it increases them in aversion.”