55. Ar-Rah Man (The Most Gracious)

Period Uncertain

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

رَبُّ الْمَشْرِقَيْنِ وَرَبُّ الْمَغْرِبَيْنِ ﴿١٧﴾

55: 17.  (He is) Lord of the two Easts and Lord of the two Wests:

C5184. The two Easts are the two extreme points where the sun rises during the year, and includes all the points between. Similarly the two Wests include the two extreme points of the sun's setting and all the points between. The Dual Number fits with the general atmosphere of Duality in this Sura. Allah is Lord of every region of the earth and sky, and He scatters His bounties everywhere.

See also n. 4641 to 43:38, and n. 4034 to 37:5.

فَبِأَيِّ آلَاء رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ﴿١٨﴾

55: 18.  Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?

Asad’s Version:

(55:17) [He is] the Sustainer of the two farthest points of sunrise, and the Sustainer of the two farthest points of sunset. 7

(55:18) Which, then, of your Sustainer's powers can you disavow?

Yuksel’s Version:

55:17 The Lord of the two easts and the two wests.

55:18 So which of your Lord's favors will you deny?

[[Asad’s note - 7 I.e., of the extreme points of sunrise and sunset in summer and in winter (see 37:5 and 70:40), including "all that is between them" : a metonym for God's being the Ultimate Cause of the orbital movement within the universe. ]]