Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 1
سَأَلَ سَآئِلٌۢ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍA challenger has demanded a punishment bound to come
Al-Ma’ârij (Surah 70)
Al-Ma'ârij (Pathways of ˹Heavenly˺ Ascent)
Makki SurahIntroduction
This Meccan sûrah, which takes its name from verse 3, condemns the pagans for ridiculing the Day of Judgment (verses 1-2) and the Prophet (verses 36-37). The truth of the Hour is reaffirmed, along with the horrors that will ensue. The qualities of the people of Hell and the people of Paradise are described (verses 16-35). The Prophet (ﷺ) is reassured, while the pagans are warned—both themes are embedded in the story of Noah (ﷺ) in the next sûrah.
In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
A Mocker Asks for Judgment Day
1. A challenger has demanded a punishment bound to come 2. for the disbelievers—to be averted by none— 3. . from Allah, Lord of pathways of (heavenly) ascent, 4. (through which) the angels and the (holy) spirit will ascend to Him on a Day fifty thousand years in length. 5. So endure (this denial, O Prophet,) with beautiful patience. 6. They truly see this (Day) as impossible, 7. but We see it as inevitable.
سَأَلَ سَآئِلٌۢ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ
١
لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَافِعٌ٢
مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِى ٱلْمَعَارِجِ٣
تَعْرُجُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِى يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُۥ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ٤
فَٱصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيلًا٥
إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُۥ بَعِيدًا٦
وَنَرَىٰهُ قَرِيبًا٧
Surah 70 - Al-Ma'ârij (Pathways of ˹Heavenly˺ Ascent) - Verses 1-7
Horrors of Judgment Day
8. On that Day the sky will be like molten brass 9. and the mountains like (tufts of) wool. 10. And no close friend will ask (about) their friends, 11. (although) they will be made to see each other. The wicked will wish to ransom themselves from the punishment of that Day by their children, 12. their spouses, their siblings, 13. their clan that sheltered them, 14. and everyone on earth altogether, just to save themselves. 15. But no! There will certainly be a raging Flame 16. ripping off scalps. 17. It will summon whoever turned their backs (on Allah) and turned away (from the truth), 18. and gathered and hoarded (wealth).
يَوْمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلْمُهْلِ
٨
وَتَكُونُ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَٱلْعِهْنِ٩
وَلَا يَسْـَٔلُ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيمًا١٠
يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ ۚ يَوَدُّ ٱلْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِى مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍۭ بِبَنِيهِ١١
وَصَـٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَأَخِيهِ١٢
وَفَصِيلَتِهِ ٱلَّتِى تُـْٔوِيهِ١٣
وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ١٤
كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ١٥
نَزَّاعَةً لِّلشَّوَىٰ١٦
تَدْعُوا مَنْ أَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ١٧
وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعَىٰٓ١٨
Surah 70 - Al-Ma'ârij (Pathways of ˹Heavenly˺ Ascent) - Verses 8-18
Excellence of the Faithful
19. Indeed, humankind was created impatient: 20. distressed when touched with evil, 21. and withholding when touched with good— 22. except those who pray, 23. consistently performing their prayers; 24. and who give the rightful share of their wealth 25. to the beggar and the poor; 26. and who (firmly) believe in the Day of Judgment; 27. and those who fear the punishment of their Lord— 28. (knowing that) none should feel secure from their Lord’s punishment— 29. and those who guard their chastity 30. except with their wives or those (bondwomen) in their possession, for then they are free from blame, 31. but whoever seeks beyond that are the transgressors. 32. (The faithful are) also those who are true to their trusts and covenants; 33. and who are honest in their testimony; 34. and who are (properly) observant of their prayers. 35. These will be in Gardens, held in honour.
۞ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا
١٩
إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعًا٢٠
وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلْخَيْرُ مَنُوعًا٢١
إِلَّا ٱلْمُصَلِّينَ٢٢
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ دَآئِمُونَ٢٣
وَٱلَّذِينَ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَّعْلُومٌ٢٤
لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ٢٥
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُصَدِّقُونَ بِيَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ٢٦
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَ٢٧
إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَأْمُونٍ٢٨
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَـٰفِظُونَ٢٩
إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ٣٠
فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَ٣١
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ٣٢
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِشَهَـٰدَٰتِهِمْ قَآئِمُونَ٣٣
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ٣٤
أُولَـٰٓئِكَ فِى جَنَّـٰتٍ مُّكْرَمُونَ٣٥
Surah 70 - Al-Ma'ârij (Pathways of ˹Heavenly˺ Ascent) - Verses 19-35
Warning to the Mockers
36. So what is the matter with the disbelievers that they rush (head-long) towards you (O Prophet), 37. from the right and the left, in groups (to mock you)? 38. Does every one of them expect to be admitted into a Garden of Bliss? 39. But no! Indeed, they (already) know what We created them from. 40. So, I do swear by the Lord of (all) the points of sunrise and sunset that We are truly capable 41. of replacing them with (others) better than them, and We cannot be prevented (from doing so). 42. So let them indulge (in falsehood) and amuse (themselves) until they face their Day, which they have been threatened with— 43. the Day they will come forth from the graves swiftly, as if racing to an idol (for a blessing), 44. with eyes downcast, utterly covered with disgrace. That is the Day they have (always) been warned of.
فَمَالِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا قِبَلَكَ مُهْطِعِينَ
٣٦
عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ عِزِينَ٣٧
أَيَطْمَعُ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُدْخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٍ٣٨
كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰهُم مِّمَّا يَعْلَمُونَ٣٩
فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْمَشَـٰرِقِ وَٱلْمَغَـٰرِبِ إِنَّا لَقَـٰدِرُونَ٤٠
عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ٤١
فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا وَيَلْعَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يُلَـٰقُوا يَوْمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ٤٢
يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعًا كَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ نُصُبٍ يُوفِضُونَ٤٣
خَـٰشِعَةً أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمُ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا يُوعَدُونَ٤٤
Surah 70 - Al-Ma'ârij (Pathways of ˹Heavenly˺ Ascent) - Verses 36-44
Full text of Surah Al-Ma'ârij with translation
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 2
لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَافِعٌfor the disbelievers—to be averted by none—
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 3
مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِى ٱلْمَعَارِجِ. from Allah, Lord of pathways of (heavenly) ascent,
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 4
تَعْرُجُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِى يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُۥ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ(through which) the angels and the (holy) spirit will ascend to Him on a Day fifty thousand years in length.
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 5
فَٱصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيلًاSo endure (this denial, O Prophet,) with beautiful patience.
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 6
إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُۥ بَعِيدًاThey truly see this (Day) as impossible,
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 7
وَنَرَىٰهُ قَرِيبًاbut We see it as inevitable.
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 8
يَوْمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلْمُهْلِOn that Day the sky will be like molten brass
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 9
وَتَكُونُ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَٱلْعِهْنِand the mountains like (tufts of) wool.
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 10
وَلَا يَسْـَٔلُ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيمًاAnd no close friend will ask (about) their friends,
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 11
يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ ۚ يَوَدُّ ٱلْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِى مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍۭ بِبَنِيهِ(although) they will be made to see each other. The wicked will wish to ransom themselves from the punishment of that Day by their children,
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 12
وَصَـٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَأَخِيهِtheir spouses, their siblings,
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 13
وَفَصِيلَتِهِ ٱلَّتِى تُـْٔوِيهِtheir clan that sheltered them,
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 14
وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِand everyone on earth altogether, just to save themselves.
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 15
كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰBut no! There will certainly be a raging Flame
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 16
نَزَّاعَةً لِّلشَّوَىٰripping off scalps.
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 17
تَدْعُوا مَنْ أَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلَّىٰIt will summon whoever turned their backs (on Allah) and turned away (from the truth),
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 18
وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعَىٰٓand gathered and hoarded (wealth).
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 19
۞ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًاIndeed, humankind was created impatient:
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 20
إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعًاdistressed when touched with evil,
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 21
وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلْخَيْرُ مَنُوعًاand withholding when touched with good—
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 22
إِلَّا ٱلْمُصَلِّينَexcept those who pray,
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 23
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ دَآئِمُونَconsistently performing their prayers;
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 24
وَٱلَّذِينَ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَّعْلُومٌand who give the rightful share of their wealth
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 25
لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِto the beggar and the poor;
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 26
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُصَدِّقُونَ بِيَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِand who (firmly) believe in the Day of Judgment;
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 27
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَand those who fear the punishment of their Lord—
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 28
إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَأْمُونٍ(knowing that) none should feel secure from their Lord’s punishment—
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 29
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَـٰفِظُونَand those who guard their chastity
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 30
إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَexcept with their wives or those (bondwomen) in their possession, for then they are free from blame,
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 31
فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَbut whoever seeks beyond that are the transgressors.
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 32
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ(The faithful are) also those who are true to their trusts and covenants;
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 33
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِشَهَـٰدَٰتِهِمْ قَآئِمُونَand who are honest in their testimony;
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 34
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَand who are (properly) observant of their prayers.
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 35
أُولَـٰٓئِكَ فِى جَنَّـٰتٍ مُّكْرَمُونَThese will be in Gardens, held in honour.
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 36
فَمَالِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا قِبَلَكَ مُهْطِعِينَSo what is the matter with the disbelievers that they rush (head-long) towards you (O Prophet),
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 37
عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ عِزِينَfrom the right and the left, in groups (to mock you)?
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 38
أَيَطْمَعُ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُدْخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٍDoes every one of them expect to be admitted into a Garden of Bliss?
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 39
كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰهُم مِّمَّا يَعْلَمُونَBut no! Indeed, they (already) know what We created them from.
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 40
فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْمَشَـٰرِقِ وَٱلْمَغَـٰرِبِ إِنَّا لَقَـٰدِرُونَSo, I do swear by the Lord of (all) the points of sunrise and sunset that We are truly capable
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 41
عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَof replacing them with (others) better than them, and We cannot be prevented (from doing so).
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 42
فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا وَيَلْعَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يُلَـٰقُوا يَوْمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَSo let them indulge (in falsehood) and amuse (themselves) until they face their Day, which they have been threatened with—
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 43
يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعًا كَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ نُصُبٍ يُوفِضُونَthe Day they will come forth from the graves swiftly, as if racing to an idol (for a blessing),
Surah Al-Ma'ârij, verse 44
خَـٰشِعَةً أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمُ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا يُوعَدُونَwith eyes downcast, utterly covered with disgrace. That is the Day they have (always) been warned of.