Al-Ma’arij | The Ascending Stairways
[70:1] A demanding person has asked for the punishment that is going to befall
[70:2] the disbelievers; there is no one to avert it,
[70:3] (and it will come) from Allah, the Lord of the stairways,
[70:4] to whom ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the length of which is fifty thousand years.
[70:5] So, observe patience, a good patience.
[70:6] They see it far off,
[70:7] and We see it near.
[70:8] (This punishment will befall) on the Day when the sky will be like dregs of oil,
[70:9] and the mountains will be like dyed wool,
[70:10] and no friend will ask about any friend,
[70:11] (though) they will be made to see each other. A guilty person will desire that he may be able to ransom himself from the torment of that day even by his sons,
[70:12] and his wife and his brother,
[70:13] and his kindred that sheltered him,
[70:14] and all those on earth, then he may redeem himself.
[70:15] By no means! It is the flaming fire
[70:16] that will pull out the skin of the scalp.
[70:17] It will call him who had turned his back and fled away (from the truth)
[70:18] and accumulated (wealth) and hoarded (it).
[70:19] Indeed man is created weak in courage,
[70:20] very upset when touched by evil,
[70:21] and very niggard when visited by good (fortune),
[70:22] except the performers of Salah,
[70:23] who are regular in their Salah,
[70:24] and those in whose riches there is a specified right
[70:25] for the one who asks and the one who is deprived,
[70:26] and those who believe in the Day of Judgment as true,
[70:27] and those who are fearful of the torment of their Lord,
[70:28] Indeed the torment of their Lord is not something to be fearless from.
[70:29] and those who guard their private parts,
[70:30] except from their wives and those (slave-girls) owned by their hands, because they are not to be blamed,
[70:31] but the one who seeks (sexual gratification) beyond that, then such people are the transgressors,
[70:32] and those who are careful about their trusts and covenants,
[70:33] and those who are upright in their testimonies,
[70:34] and those who take due care of their Salah.
[70:35] Those will be honoured in gardens (of Jannah).
[70:36] So what has happened to those who disbelieve that they are rushing towards you
[70:37] from the right and from the left, in groups?
[70:38] Does every one of them aspire to be admitted to the garden of bliss?
[70:39] By no means! We have created them from what they know.
[70:40] So, I swear by the Lord of the points of sunrise and those of sunset, We are powerful
[70:41] to bring those better than them in their place, and We are not to be frustrated.
[70:42] So, leave them involved in pastime and play until they encounter their Day, which they are promised,
[70:43] the Day they will come out of the graves quickly, as if they were rushing toward idols,
[70:44] with their eyes downcast, enveloped by ignominy. That is the Day, which they were being promised.
[70:1] A demanding person has asked for the punishment that is going to befall
[70:2] the disbelievers; there is no one to avert it,
[70:3] (and it will come) from Allah, the Lord of the stairways,
[70:4] to whom ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the length of which is fifty thousand years.
[70:5] So, observe patience, a good patience.
[70:6] They see it far off,
[70:7] and We see it near.
[70:8] (This punishment will befall) on the Day when the sky will be like dregs of oil,
[70:9] and the mountains will be like dyed wool,
[70:10] and no friend will ask about any friend,
[70:11] (though) they will be made to see each other. A guilty person will desire that he may be able to ransom himself from the torment of that day even by his sons,
[70:12] and his wife and his brother,
[70:13] and his kindred that sheltered him,
[70:14] and all those on earth, then he may redeem himself.
[70:15] By no means! It is the flaming fire
[70:16] that will pull out the skin of the scalp.
[70:17] It will call him who had turned his back and fled away (from the truth)
[70:18] and accumulated (wealth) and hoarded (it).
[70:19] Indeed man is created weak in courage,
[70:20] very upset when touched by evil,
[70:21] and very niggard when visited by good (fortune),
[70:22] except the performers of Salah,
[70:23] who are regular in their Salah,
[70:24] and those in whose riches there is a specified right
[70:25] for the one who asks and the one who is deprived,
[70:26] and those who believe in the Day of Judgment as true,
[70:27] and those who are fearful of the torment of their Lord,
[70:28] Indeed the torment of their Lord is not something to be fearless from.
[70:29] and those who guard their private parts,
[70:30] except from their wives and those (slave-girls) owned by their hands, because they are not to be blamed,
[70:31] but the one who seeks (sexual gratification) beyond that, then such people are the transgressors,
[70:32] and those who are careful about their trusts and covenants,
[70:33] and those who are upright in their testimonies,
[70:34] and those who take due care of their Salah.
[70:35] Those will be honoured in gardens (of Jannah).
[70:36] So what has happened to those who disbelieve that they are rushing towards you
[70:37] from the right and from the left, in groups?
[70:38] Does every one of them aspire to be admitted to the garden of bliss?
[70:39] By no means! We have created them from what they know.
[70:40] So, I swear by the Lord of the points of sunrise and those of sunset, We are powerful
[70:41] to bring those better than them in their place, and We are not to be frustrated.
[70:42] So, leave them involved in pastime and play until they encounter their Day, which they are promised,
[70:43] the Day they will come out of the graves quickly, as if they were rushing toward idols,
[70:44] with their eyes downcast, enveloped by ignominy. That is the Day, which they were being promised.
Tafsir
Overview of Surah Al-Ma’arij
- Title and Position: Surah Al-Ma’arij is the 70th chapter of the Quran. The title “Al-Ma’arij” translates to “The Ascending Stairways,” referring to the ways or stairways angels ascend to God, and it also alludes to the various levels through which the soul ascends to its final destination.
- Verses and Structure: This surah contains 44 verses. It is known for its emphasis on the Day of Judgment, the character of human beings in times of difficulty, and the ultimate accountability of individuals.
- Themes and Messages: Major themes include the certainty of the Day of Judgment, the impatient nature of humans, the reality of divine punishment and reward, and the importance of patience and prayer.
- Significance in Islamic Thought: Surah Al-Ma’arij is significant for its exploration of human psychology, ethical behavior, and the spiritual journey of the soul, offering profound insights into the consequences of human actions.
Detailed Explanation
- The Day of Judgment: The surah describes the Day of Judgment as a period of overwhelming calamity and inescapable reality, emphasizing its inevitability and the intense experience it will bring.
- Human Impatience: It highlights the impatient nature of humans, who are quick to pray for evil as they do for good, illustrating the short-sightedness and ingratitude often displayed by individuals.
- Accountability and Punishment: The surah warns of the severe punishment awaiting those who persist in wrongdoing and disbelief, depicting the meticulous accounting of deeds and the inescapability of divine justice.
- Virtues of the Righteous: It contrasts the behavior of the wicked with the virtues of the righteous, who are patient, consistent in their prayers, and mindful of the hereafter, underscoring the values that lead to salvation.
- Encouragement for Righteous Conduct: Surah Al-Ma’arij encourages adherence to prayer, patience, and steadfastness, presenting these virtues as essential for overcoming the trials of life and achieving success in the hereafter.
FAQs
- Why is Surah Al-Ma’arij named “The Ascending Stairways”?
- The surah is named “Al-Ma’arij” due to its reference to the stairways by which matters ascend to God, symbolizing the multiple dimensions of the spiritual journey and the divine ascent of angelic beings.
- How does Surah Al-Ma’arij describe the Day of Judgment?
- It portrays the Day of Judgment as a time of extreme distress and chaos, where individuals will be overwhelmed by the gravity of their reckoning and the reality of their fate.
- What does the surah reveal about human nature?
- It delves into the impatient and often contradictory nature of humans, who are quick to despair and equally hasty in their demands, highlighting the need for self-awareness and spiritual growth.
- How are the righteous characterized in the surah?
- The righteous are depicted as individuals who maintain their prayers, exhibit patience, uphold moral integrity, and remain conscious of the accountability in the hereafter.
- The surah is named “Al-Ma’arij” due to its reference to the stairways by which matters ascend to God, symbolizing the multiple dimensions of the spiritual journey and the divine ascent of angelic beings.
- It portrays the Day of Judgment as a time of extreme distress and chaos, where individuals will be overwhelmed by the gravity of their reckoning and the reality of their fate.
- It delves into the impatient and often contradictory nature of humans, who are quick to despair and equally hasty in their demands, highlighting the need for self-awareness and spiritual growth.
- The righteous are depicted as individuals who maintain their prayers, exhibit patience, uphold moral integrity, and remain conscious of the accountability in the hereafter.
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