المَعَارِجِ
- Meccan
- 44 verses
- Surah 70 of 114
Introduction to Surah Al-Ma’arij
Forty-four verses, Meccan, seventieth in the written order. The name refers to ways of ascent, from a phrase in the third verse.
The question that starts it
A questioner asks about a punishment about to fall — and the surah’s first move is to answer a question about timing with a statement about scale:
The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years: (70:4)
Then it tells the Prophet to be patient with a patience of a good kind, and says that they see it as far off while God sees it as near. The demand was for a date. What is given is a change of unit.
What it says about people
Truly man was created very impatient;- Fretful when evil touches him; (70:19–20)
The next verse completes it: and grudging when good reaches him. The diagnosis is not wickedness but a temperament that swings, and the surah then lists the exceptions — those constant in prayer, in whose wealth there is a recognised right for the one who asks and the one who is deprived, who hold the day of judgement real, who are afraid of their Lord’s displeasure, who guard their chastity and keep their trusts and stand by their testimony.
It is the same list that appears in Al-Mu’minun, given here as the cure for a character fault rather than as a definition.
The bargain at the end
The closing verses describe a man who, on that day, would like to ransom himself from the punishment with his children, his wife, his brother, the kindred who sheltered him, and everyone on earth altogether — so that it might save him. The escalation is the point: the surah begins with someone asking when the punishment is coming and ends with someone offering everything he has to avoid it.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
سَأَلَ سَآئِلٌۢ بِعَذَابٍۢ وَاقِعٍۢ
Sa ala saaa’ilum bi’azaa binw-waaqi’
A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall-
A questioner questioned concerning the doom about to fall
لِّلْكَٰفِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَافِعٌۭ
Lilkaafireen laisa lahoo daafi’
The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,-
Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel,
مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِى ٱلْمَعَارِجِ
Minal laahi zil ma’aarij
(A Penalty) from Allah, Lord of the Ways of Ascent.
From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways
تَعْرُجُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِى يَوْمٍۢ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُۥ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍۢ
Ta’rujul malaaa’ikatu war Roohu ilaihi fee yawmin kaana miqdaaruhoo khamseena alfa sanah
The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years:
(Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years.
فَٱصْبِرْ صَبْرًۭا جَمِيلًا
Fasbir ssabran jameelaa
Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment).
But be patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see.
إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُۥ بَعِيدًۭا
Inaahum yarawnahoo ba’eedaa
They see the (Day) indeed as a far-off (event):
Lo! they behold it afar off
وَنَرَىٰهُ قَرِيبًۭا
Wa naraahu qareebaa
But We see it (quite) near.
While we behold it nigh:
يَوْمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلْمُهْلِ
Yawma takoonus samaaa’u kalmuhl
The Day that the sky will be like molten brass,
The day when the sky will become as molten copper,
وَتَكُونُ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَٱلْعِهْنِ
Wa takoonul jibaalu kal’ihn
And the mountains will be like wool,
And the hills become as flakes of wool,
وَلَا يَسْـَٔلُ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيمًۭا
Wa laa yas’alu hameemun hameemaa
And no friend will ask after a friend,
And no familiar friend will ask a question of his friend
يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ ۚ يَوَدُّ ٱلْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِى مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍۭ بِبَنِيهِ
Yubassaroonahum; ya waddul mujrimu law yaftadee min ‘azaabi yawma’izim bibaneeh
Though they will be put in sight of each other,- the sinner’s desire will be: Would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children,
Though they will be given sight of them. The guilty man will long to be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children
وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَأَخِيهِ
Wa saahibatihee wa akheeh
His wife and his brother,
And his spouse and his brother
وَفَصِيلَتِهِ ٱلَّتِى تُـْٔوِيهِ
Wa faseelathil latee tu’weeh
His kindred who sheltered him,
And his kin that harboured him
وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًۭا ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ
Wa man fil ardi jamee’an summa yunjeeh
And all, all that is on earth,- so it could deliver him:
And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him.
كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ
Kallaa innahaa lazaa
By no means! for it would be the Fire of Hell!-
But nay! for lo! it is the fire of hell
نَزَّاعَةًۭ لِّلشَّوَىٰ
Nazzaa’atal lishshawaa
Plucking out (his being) right to the skull!-
Eager to roast;
تَدْعُوا۟ مَنْ أَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ
Tad’oo man adbara wa tawallaa
Inviting (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from the Right).
It calleth him who turned and fled (from truth),
وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعَىٰٓ
W jama’a fa aw’aa
And collect (wealth) and hide it (from use)!
And hoarded (wealth) and withheld it.
۞ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا
Innal insaana khuliqa haloo’aa
Truly man was created very impatient;-
Lo! man was created anxious,
إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعًۭا
Izaa massahush sharru jazoo’aa
Fretful when evil touches him;
Fretful when evil befalleth him
وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلْخَيْرُ مَنُوعًا
Wa izaa massahul khairu manoo’aa
And niggardly when good reaches him;-
And, when good befalleth him, grudging;
إِلَّا ٱلْمُصَلِّينَ
Illal musalleen
Not so those devoted to Prayer;-
Save worshippers.
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ دَآئِمُونَ
Allazeena hum ‘alaa Salaatihim daaa’imoon
Those who remain steadfast to their prayer;
Who are constant at their worship
وَٱلَّذِينَ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّۭ مَّعْلُومٌۭ
Wallazeena feee amwaalihim haqqum ma’loom
And those in whose wealth is a recognised right.
And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged
لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ
Lissaaa ‘ili walmahroom
For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking);
For the beggar and the destitute;
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُصَدِّقُونَ بِيَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ
Wallazeena yusaddiqoona bi yawmid Deen
And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment;
And those who believe in the Day of Judgment,
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَ
Wallazeena hum min ‘azaabi Rabbihim mushfiqoon
And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,-
And those who are fearful of their Lord’s doom –
إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَأْمُونٍۢ
Inna ‘azaaba Rabbihim ghairu maamoon
For their Lord’s displeasure is the opposite of Peace and Tranquillity;-
Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure –
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَٰفِظُونَ
Wallazeena hum lifuroo jihim haafizoon
And those who guard their chastity,
And those who preserve their chastity
إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ
Illaa ‘alaaa azwaajihim aw maa malakat aymaanuhum fainnahum ghairu maloomeen
Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (then) they are not to be blamed,
Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy;
فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَ
Famanib taghaa waraaa’a zaalika fa ulaaa’ika humul ‘aadoon
But those who trespass beyond this are transgressors;-
But whoso seeketh more than that, those are they who are transgressors;
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَٰنَٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ
Wallazeena hum li amaa naatihim wa ‘ahdihim raa’oon
And those who respect their trusts and covenants;
And those who keep their pledges and their covenant,
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِشَهَٰدَٰتِهِمْ قَآئِمُونَ
Wallazeena hum bishahaadaatihim qaaa’imoon
And those who stand firm in their testimonies;
And those who stand by their testimony
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ
Wallazeena hum ‘alaa salaatihim yuhaafizoon
And those who guard (the sacredness) of their worship;-
And those who are attentive at their worship.
أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍۢ مُّكْرَمُونَ
Ulaaa’ika fee jannaatim mukramoon
Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss).
These will dwell in Gardens, honoured.
فَمَالِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ قِبَلَكَ مُهْطِعِينَ
Famaa lil lazeena kafaroo qibalaka muhti’een
Now what is the matter with the Unbelievers that they rush madly before thee-
What aileth those who disbelieve, that they keep staring toward thee (O Muhammad), open-eyed,
عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ عِزِينَ
‘Anil yameeni wa ‘anish shimaali ‘izeen
From the right and from the left, in crowds?
On the right and on the left, in groups?
أَيَطْمَعُ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُدْخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٍۢ
Ayatma’u kullum ri’im minhum anyyudkhala jannata Na’eem
Does every man of them long to enter the Garden of Bliss?
Doth every man among them hope to enter the Garden of Delight?
كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰهُم مِّمَّا يَعْلَمُونَ
Kallaaa innaa khalaq nahum mimmaa ya’lamoon
By no means! For We have created them out of the (base matter) they know!
Nay, verily. Lo! We created them from what they know.
فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْمَشَٰرِقِ وَٱلْمَغَٰرِبِ إِنَّا لَقَٰدِرُونَ
Falaaa uqsimu bi Rabbil mashaariqi wal maghaaribi innaa laqaadiroon
Now I do call to witness the Lord of all points in the East and the West that We can certainly-
But nay! I swear by the Lord of the rising-places and the setting-places of the planets that We verily are Able
عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهُمْ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ
‘Alaaa an nubaddila khairam minhum wa maa Nahnu bimasbooqeen
Substitute for them better (men) than they; And We are not to be defeated (in Our Plan).
To replace them by (others) better than them. And we are not to be outrun.
فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا۟ وَيَلْعَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يُلَٰقُوا۟ يَوْمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ
Fazarhum yakhoodoo wa yal’aboo hattaa yulaaqoo yaw mahumul lazee yoo’adoon
So leave them to plunge in vain talk and play about, until they encounter that Day of theirs which they have been promised!-
So let them chat and play until they meet their Day which they are promised,
يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعًۭا كَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ نُصُبٍۢ يُوفِضُونَ
Yawma yakhrujoona minal ajdaasi siraa’an ka anna hum ilaa nusubiny yoofidoon
The Day whereon they will issue from their sepulchres in sudden haste as if they were rushing to a goal-post (fixed for them),-
The day when they come forth from the graves in haste, as racing to a goal,
خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمُ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ
Khaashi’atan absaaruhum tarhaquhum zillah; zaalikal yawmul lazee kaanoo yoo’adoon
Their eyes lowered in dejection,- ignominy covering them (all over)! such is the Day the which they are promised!
With eyes aghast, abasement stupefying them: Such is the Day which they are promised.
Sources. Arabic text: Tanzil Uthmani edition. Translations: Abdullah Yusuf Ali (original edition, 1934–1938) and Marmaduke Pickthall (1930), both in the public domain. Any introduction above is original writing and is not part of any translation.