المعارج

Surah Al-Ma'aarij

Meaning of the name: The Ascending Stairways

Makkan Ayat 44

Reading the ayat before and after can make the meaning clearer.

Listen to this Surah Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husary · Murattal

Recitation by Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husary.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1

سَأَلَ سَآئِلٌۢ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ

A challenger asked for a punishment bound to come[1]

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Translation footnote [1]

[1] In the Hereafter. The pagans of Makkah had challenged the Prophet (ﷺ) in ridicule by asking Allah to bring upon them His punishment. See 8:32.
2

لِّلْكَـٰفِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَافِعٌ

upon the disbelievers, which none can avert,

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3

مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِى ٱلْمَعَارِجِ

from Allah, Lord of the pathways of ascent,

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4

تَعْرُجُ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِى يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُۥ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ

by which the angels and the Spirit[2] will ascend to Him on a Day[3] the length of which is fifty thousand years.

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Translation footnote [2] [3]

[2] i.e., the angel Gabriel. [3] The Day of Judgment will be an extremely long day.
5

فَٱصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيلًا

So be patient [O Prophet] with beautiful patience.

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6

إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُۥ بَعِيدًا

Indeed, they see this [punishment] far off,

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7

وَنَرَىٰهُ قَرِيبًا

but We see it to be close at hand.

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8

يَوْمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلْمُهْلِ

On the Day when the sky will be like molten brass[4]

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Translation footnote [4]

[4] Or "murky oil."
9

وَتَكُونُ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَٱلْعِهْنِ

and the mountains will be like dyed wool[5],

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Translation footnote [5]

[5] While disintegrating.
10

وَلَا يَسْـَٔلُ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيمًا

and no close friend will ask about another,

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11

يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ ۚ يَوَدُّ ٱلْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِى مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍۭ بِبَنِيهِ

even though they will see one another. The wicked will wish he could ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by offering his children,

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12

وَصَـٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَأَخِيهِ

and his wife and his brother,

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13

وَفَصِيلَتِهِ ٱلَّتِى تُـْٔوِيهِ

and his kindred who stood by him,

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14

وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ

and everyone on earth, just to save himself.

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15

كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ

By no means![6] It is a raging Flame,

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Translation footnote [6]

[6] An emphatic denial, meaning "It will never be."
16

نَزَّاعَةً لِّلشَّوَىٰ

that will strip off the scalps[7].

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Translation footnote [7]

[7] Referring to the skin of the head or of the body extremities, which will be burned away by severe heat and flames.
17

تَدْعُوا۟ مَنْ أَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

It will call everyone who turned their backs and disobeyed,

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18

وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعَىٰٓ

and amassed and hoarded wealth.

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19

إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا

Indeed, man was created impatient:

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20

إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعًا

when evil befalls him, he bewails,

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21

وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلْخَيْرُ مَنُوعًا

but when good fortune comes his way, he becomes tight-fisted –

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22

إِلَّا ٱلْمُصَلِّينَ

except those who pray,

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23

ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ دَآئِمُونَ

who are steadfast in their prayers;

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24

وَٱلَّذِينَ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَّعْلُومٌ

and who give a due share[8] of their wealth

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Translation footnote [8]

[8] i.e., obligatory charity; zakah.
25

لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ

to the beggar and the dispossessed;

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26

وَٱلَّذِينَ يُصَدِّقُونَ بِيَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ

and who firmly believe in the Day of Judgment;

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27

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَ

and those who fear the punishment of their Lord –

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28

إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَأْمُونٍ

for none can feel secure from their Lord’s punishment –

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29

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَـٰفِظُونَ

and those who guard their private parts[9],

English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

Translation footnote [9]

[9] i.e., their chastity and honor from immoralities.
30

إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَـٰنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ

except from their wives or bondwomen[10] whom they own, for then they are not to be blamed.

English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

Translation footnote [10]

[10] i.e., female slaves or slave-girls.
31

فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَ

But whoever seeks beyond that, it is they who are the transgressors.

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32

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَـٰنَـٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ

and those who fulfill their trusts and pledges;

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33

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِشَهَـٰدَٰتِهِمْ قَآئِمُونَ

and who are upright in their testimonies;

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34

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ

and who take due care of their prayers;

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35

أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ فِى جَنَّـٰتٍ مُّكْرَمُونَ

they will be honored in gardens[11].

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Translation footnote [11]

[11] Of Paradise.
36

فَمَالِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ قِبَلَكَ مُهْطِعِينَ

What is the matter with the disbelievers that they are rushing towards you [O Prophet][12],

English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

Translation footnote [12]

[12] i.e., rushing to deny you.
37

عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ عِزِينَ

from the right and from the left, in crowds[13]?

English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

Translation footnote [13]

[13] Some pagans of Makkah gathered around the Prophet (ﷺ) mocking and opposing him, claiming that if there is in fact a Hereafter, they would enter Paradise before the believers.
38

أَيَطْمَعُ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُدْخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٍ

Does everyone of them aspire to enter a garden of bliss?

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39

كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰهُم مِّمَّا يَعْلَمُونَ

By no means! We have created them from what they know[14].

English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

Translation footnote [14]

[14] i.e., from a disdained fluid.
40

فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْمَشَـٰرِقِ وَٱلْمَغَـٰرِبِ إِنَّا لَقَـٰدِرُونَ

I swear by the Lord of the sunrises and sunsets[15] that We are surely Capable

English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

Translation footnote [15]

[15] i.e., Allah is the One Who determines the daily points of sunrise and sunset according to each season by the rotation of the earth around its axis.
41

عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ

to replace them with others better than them, and none can escape Our decree.

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42

فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا۟ وَيَلْعَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يُلَـٰقُوا۟ يَوْمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ

So leave them to engage in their falsehood and amuse themselves until they meet their Day which they are promised;

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43

يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعًا كَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ نُصُبٍ يُوفِضُونَ

the Day when they will rush out of their graves as if they are racing towards an idol[16],

English Translation - Rowwad Translation Center

Translation footnote [16]

[16] i.e., just as they used to race towards a newly appointed idol, to be among the first of its worshipers.
44

خَـٰشِعَةً أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمُ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ

with their eyes downcast and overwhelmed with disgrace. That is the Day that they were promised.

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Surah Al-Ma'aarij

Arabic with an established translation