55: The Mercy-giving
This apocalyptic chapter containing
78 verses was completed after Thunder 13
and before [Every]man (or This
[Day and] Age) 76. It may possibly be an
early Meccan revelation. God in His role as Ar-Rahman or The Mercy-giving
is also expounded in Chapter 19 on Mary.
Another unifying refrain similar to that in Psalm 136 and its refrain on
how
the Lord's mercy endureth for ever runs through this chapter: So
which of
your Lord's blessings will both of you deny? . This is repeated 31
times, carried
along on rhyme or assonance (in -an) in a strophic form. The measured prose
is very effective: the chapter is in fact a long poem dealing with proofs
of Cod's
favors. Duals or pairs give it another special figure which is difficult
to bring out
through English verbs or nouns.
Its inspiring message also describes the future life which is offered the
faithful,
while there is a passage on Creation at the end of section (I). Hell (II)
and Heaven
(III) are likewise pictured.