About Surah Al-Ma'arij

A scoffing polytheist challenged Allah to bring down His punishment immediately. In response, this Makkan revelation arrived. Known by three names—Sa'ala Sa'il (A Questioner Asked), Al-Waqi' (The Occurring), and Al-Ma'arij (The Ascending Stairways)—it falls into the chronological sequence between Surat al-Haqqah and Surat al-Naba'.

The text opens by confirming the inevitability of the requested punishment, establishing Allah as the possessor of the ways of ascent. It moves into the terrifying scale of the Final Day, describing a time when the sky turns to molten brass and mountains resemble colored wool. From these terrors, the verses pivot to detail the precise virtues that grant believers eternal honor—maintaining prayer, giving wealth, and fulfilling trusts—contrasting them directly with those who mocked the Prophet.

As you read its 44 verses, notice the dual focus on warning and consolation. While the deniers are told Allah can easily replace them with a better people, the Prophet is instructed to remain steadfast against their rejection.

Surah 70 Juz 29 44 verses

Al-Ma'arij

The Ascending Stairways Meccan

070

Surah Info Reflections Layers

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

A man [mockingly] demanded the punishment.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

It will fall on the disbelievers––none can deflect it––

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from God, the Lord of the Ways of Ascent,

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by which the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him, on a Day whose length is fifty thousand years.

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So be patient, [Prophet], as befits you.

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The disbelievers think it is distant,

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but We know it to be close.

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On a Day when the heavens will be like molten brass

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and the mountains like tufts of wool,

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when no friend will ask about his friend,

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even when they are within sight of one another. The guilty person will wish he could save himself from the suffering of that Day by sacrificing his sons,

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his spouse, his brother,

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the kinsfolk who gave him shelter,

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and everyone on earth, if it could save him.

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But no! There is a raging flame

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that strips away the skin,

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and it will claim everyone who rejects the truth, turns away,

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amasses wealth and hoards it.

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Man was truly created anxious:

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he is fretful when misfortune touches him,

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but tight-fisted when good fortune comes his way.

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Not so those who pray

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and are constant in their prayers;

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who give a due share of their wealth

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to beggars and the deprived;

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who believe in the Day of Judgement

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and fear the punishment of their Lord––

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none may feel wholly secure from it––

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who guard their chastity

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from all but their spouses or their slave-girls––there is no blame attached to [relations with] these,

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but those whose desires exceed this limit are truly transgressors––

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who are faithful to their trusts and their pledges;

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who give honest testimony

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and are steadfast in their prayers.

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They will be honoured in Gardens of bliss.

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What is wrong with the disbelievers? Why do they rush to peer at you [Prophet],

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from right and left, in crowds?

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Does every one of them expect to enter a Garden of bliss?

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No! We created them from the substance they know,

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and, by the Lord of every sunrise and sunset, We have the power

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to substitute for them others better than they are- nothing can prevent Us from doing this.

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So leave them to wallow in idle talk, until they come face to face with their promised Day,

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the Day they will rush out of their graves as if rallying to a flag,

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eyes downcast and covered in shame: that is the Day of which they were warned.

M.A.S. Abdel Haleem

End of Al-Ma'arij

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