Surah 70. Al-Maarij Ways of Ascent - English Translation

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Verses : 44
المعارج
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بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

1. سَأَلَ سَآئِلٌۢ بِعَذَابٍۢ وَاقِعٍۢ

2. لِّلْكَٰفِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَافِعٌۭ

3. مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِى ٱلْمَعَارِجِ

4. تَعْرُجُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِى يَوْمٍۢ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُۥ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍۢ

5. فَٱصْبِرْ صَبْرًۭا جَمِيلًا

6. إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُۥ بَعِيدًۭا

7. وَنَرَىٰهُ قَرِيبًۭا

8. يَوْمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلْمُهْلِ

9. وَتَكُونُ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَٱلْعِهْنِ

10. وَلَا يَسْـَٔلُ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيمًۭا

11. يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ ۚ يَوَدُّ ٱلْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِى مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍۭ بِبَنِيهِ

12. وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَأَخِيهِ

13. وَفَصِيلَتِهِ ٱلَّتِى تُـْٔوِيهِ

14. وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًۭا ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ

15. كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ

16. نَزَّاعَةًۭ لِّلشَّوَىٰ

17. تَدْعُوا۟ مَنْ أَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

18. وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعَىٰٓ

19. ۞ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا

20. إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعًۭا

21. وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلْخَيْرُ مَنُوعًا

22. إِلَّا ٱلْمُصَلِّينَ

23. ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ دَآئِمُونَ

24. وَٱلَّذِينَ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّۭ مَّعْلُومٌۭ

25. لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ

26. وَٱلَّذِينَ يُصَدِّقُونَ بِيَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ

27. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَ

28. إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَأْمُونٍۢ

29. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَٰفِظُونَ

30. إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ

31. فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَ

32. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَٰنَٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ

33. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِشَهَٰدَٰتِهِمْ قَآئِمُونَ

34. وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ

35. أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍۢ مُّكْرَمُونَ

36. فَمَالِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ قِبَلَكَ مُهْطِعِينَ

37. عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ عِزِينَ

38. أَيَطْمَعُ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُدْخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٍۢ

39. كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰهُم مِّمَّا يَعْلَمُونَ

40. فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْمَشَٰرِقِ وَٱلْمَغَٰرِبِ إِنَّا لَقَٰدِرُونَ

41. عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهُمْ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ

42. فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا۟ وَيَلْعَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يُلَٰقُوا۟ يَوْمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ

43. يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعًۭا كَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ نُصُبٍۢ يُوفِضُونَ

44. خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمُ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ

Context of Revelation

Surah Al-Maʿārij (The Ascending Stairways) is a Meccan surah consisting of 44 verses. It was revealed after Surah Al-Ḥāqqah, during a time when the Quraysh mocked the message of the Hereafter and sarcastically demanded the punishment promised by the Prophet ﷺ. Its name comes from verse 3, where God is described as the “Lord of the Ascending Paths” (dhī al-maʿārij), referring to the stages through which angels ascend to Him.

According to Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr and Al-Qurtubī, one of the Meccan leaders, Al-Naḍr ibn al-Ḥārith, mockingly challenged the Prophet ﷺ, saying: “If what you say is true, bring down upon us the punishment of God!” The surah was revealed in response, affirming the certainty of the Day of Judgment and the inevitability of divine retribution.

Main Teachings and Key Insights

Surah Al-Maʿārij addresses the reality of the Last Day, the moral condition of humanity, and the virtues of true believers. Its central lessons include:

  • The warning of an imminent punishment: none can prevent or hasten it. (vv. 1–7)
  • The description of the angels’ ascent and the Spirit’s journey to God, in a day equal to fifty thousand years. (v. 4)
  • The portrayal of human weakness: man is anxious in hardship and stingy in ease. (vv. 19–21)
  • The qualities of the righteous: steadfast in prayer, generous toward the poor, believing in the Day of Judgment, pure and faithful. (vv. 22–35)
  • The inevitability of the Final Judgment: the guilty will be separated from the righteous, and none will escape divine justice. (vv. 36–44)

The surah condemns arrogance and attachment to worldly gain, presenting patience, prayer, and charity as the spiritual ascent toward divine closeness.

Structure and Main Themes

  • Introduction (vv. 1–7): declaration of the coming punishment and its certainty.
  • The Ascending Paths (vv. 8–18): description of the Day of Judgment and the state of the disbelievers.
  • Human nature and faith (vv. 19–21): exposure of man’s impatience and selfishness.
  • The character of the believers (vv. 22–35): moral and spiritual traits of the faithful.
  • Conclusion (vv. 36–44): the final separation between believers and deniers on the Day of Judgment.

The tone of the surah is vivid, reflective, and moral: it contrasts human fragility with the spiritual strength of sincere believers.

Key Verse

The pivotal verse of the surah is verse 19:

إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا

Indeed, man was created anxious and impatient.

Why this verse is key:

  • It encapsulates the Qur’anic view of human nature: man is inherently restless and fragile, except when strengthened by faith and discipline.
  • It highlights the dual nature of humanity: torn between selfishness and belief, fear and patience.
  • This verse acts as a moral pivot, introducing the traits of true believers who overcome weakness through prayer and generosity.

In summary, Surah Al-Maʿārij depicts the spiritual ascent of humanity — from weakness and impatience to steadfast faith. It calls believers to patience, prayer, and charity as the means to moral elevation and ultimate salvation.

Surah Al-Maarij
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