THE HOLY QUR'AAN
SURAH 70
Al-Ma'arij (The Ascending Stairways)
INTRODUCTION:
This Surah consists of 44 verses, 224 sentences, 929 letters and 2 Ruku’s.
It takes its name from the word dhil Ma'arij in verse 3.
The subject matter bears evidence that this Surah too was sent down in conditions closely resembling those under which Surah Al Haaqqah was sent down.
It admonishes and gives warning to the disbelievers who made fun of the news about Resurrection and the Hereafter, and Hell and Heaven, and challenged the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) to cause Resurrection with which he threatened them to take place if what he said was true and they had become worthy of the punishment in Hell by denying it. The whole Surah is meant to answer this denial.
The Surah opens with words to the effect: "A demander has demanded a torment, the torment which must befall the deniers; and when it takes place, there will be none to prevent it, but it will take place at its own appointed time. Allah has His own way of doing things, but He is not unjust. Therefore, have patience, O Prophet, at what they say. They think it is far off, but We see it as near at hand."
Then it is said:"Resurrection, which they desire to be hastened out of jest and fun, is terrible, and when it comes, it will cause great distress to the culprits. At that time they will even be prepared to give away their wives and children and their nearest kinsfolk in ransom to escape the punishment, but they will not be able to escape it.
Then the people have been warned to the effect; "On that Day the destinies of men will be decided strictly on the basis of their belief and their conduct. Those who turn away from the Truth in the world and amass wealth and withhold it from the needy, will be doomed to Hell; and those who fear the punishment of God here, believe in the Hereafter, keep up the Prayer, discharge the rights of the needy out of their wealth, strictly avoid immoral and wicked deeds, practise honesty in all their dealings, fulfil their pledges and trust and bear true witness, will have a place of honour in Paradise."
In conclusion, the disbelievers of Makkah who rushed in upon the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) from every side as soon as they saw him, in order to make fun of him, have been warned to the effect: "If you do not believe, Allah will replace you by other people who will be better than you", and the Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace) has been consoled, so as to say: "Do not take to heart their mockery and jesting; leave them to indulge in their idle talk and foolish conduct if they are bent upon experiencing the disgrace and humiliation of the Resurrection; they will themselves see their evil end."'
Maududi
THE HOLY QUR'AAN
SURAH 70
AL-MA’AARIJ (THE WAYS OF ASCENT)
Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
Section 1.
70 : 1
1. Saala sa-ilun biAAathabin waqiAAin
A questioner questioned regarding the doom waiting to land –
70 : 2
2. Lilkafireena laysa lahu dafiAAun
Upon the disbelievers which no one can avert, -
70 : 3
3. Mina Allahi thee almaAAariji
From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways –
70 : 4
4. TaAAruju almala-ikatu waalrroohu ilayhi fee yawmin kana miqdaruhu khamseena alfa sanatin
Through which the angels and the Holy Spirit will ascend to Him in a Day the duration of which is fifty thousand years!
70 : 5
5. Faisbir sabran jameelan
But be patient (O Mohammed) with a laudable patience!
70 : 6
6. Innahum yarawnahu baAAeedan
Verily they see it as a distant prospect –
70 : 7
7. Wanarahu qareeban
While We see it closing in!
70 : 8
8. Yawma takoonu alssamao kaalmuhli
The Day when the sky will become like quick-silver –
70 : 9
9. Watakoonu aljibalu kaalAAihni
And the mountains will become like puffs of wool!
70 : 10
10. Wala yas-alu hameemun hameeman
And no friend will bother about the welfare of any friend!
70 : 11
11. Yubassaroonahum yawaddu almujrimu law yaftadee min AAathabi yawmi-ithin bibaneehi
Though they will be within an eye shot of one another! The sinful man would wish to be able to ransom himself from the torment of that Day in exchange for his children,
70 : 12
12. Wasahibatihi waakheehi
And his spouse and his brother, -
70 : 13
13. Wafaseelatihi allatee tu/weehi
And the family which had taken care of him, -
70 : 14
14. Waman fee al-ardi jameeAAan thumma yunjeehi
And everything his upon the earth, if it could buy him deliverance!
70 : 15
15. Kalla innaha latha
But nay! In his lot are the fierce flames –
70 : 16
16. NazzaAAatan lilshshawa
Restless to singe!
70 : 17
17. TadAAoo man adbara watawalla
hum AAala salatihim yuhafithoona
Beckoning to him who had shown his back to the truth and turned his face away from it, -
70 : 18
18. WajamaAAa faawAAa
Who hoarded his wealth and spent it not!
70 : 19
19. Inna al-insana khuliqa halooAAan
Verily man was created (to be) impatient!
70 : 20
20. Itha massahu alshsharru jazooAAan
Despondent in the face of asperity, -
70 : 21
21. Wa-itha massahu alkhayru manooAAan
And avaricious in times of affluence, -
70 : 22
22. Illa almusalleena
Except the worshippers -
70 : 23
23. Allatheena hum AAala salatihim da-imoona
Who are consistent in offering worship.
70 : 24
24. Waallatheena fee amwalihim haqqun maAAloomun
And in whose wealth there always is a portion earmarked -
70 : 25
25. Lilssa-ili waalmahroomi
For the beggar and the destitute;
70 : 26
26. Waallatheena yusaddiqoona biyawmi alddeeni
And those who acknowledge the Day of Judgement;
70 : 27
27. Waallatheena hum min AAathabi rabbihim mushfiqoona
And those who are tremulous of their Lord's punishment, -
70 : 28
28. Inna AAathaba rabbihim ghayru ma/moonin
Verily the punishment of their Lord is not to be taken for granted by anyone!
70 : 29
29. Waallatheena hum lifuroojihim hafithoona
And those who guard their modesty -
70 : 30
30. Illa AAala azwajihim aw ma malakat aymanuhum fa-innahum ghayru maloomeena
Except from their wives and the maids who are bonded to them, for then they are free of blame.
70 : 31
31. Famani ibtagha waraa thalika faola-ika humu alAAadoona
But whoever covets more than these, they are of those that transgress!
70 : 32
32. Waallatheena hum li-amanatihim waAAahdihim raAAoona
And those who honour their pledges and fulfil their covenants;
70 : 33
33. Waallatheena hum bishahadatihim qa-imoona
And those who stand by their attestations.
70 : 34
34. Waallatheena hum AAala salatihim yuhafithoona
And those who guard their worship.
70 : 35
35. Ola-ika fee jannatin mukramoona
These are they who will dwell in the Gardens with honour! (R)
Section 2.
Context of Revelation : The following verses were revealed with reference to a specific group of disbelievers who used to attend the Prophet's congregations in large numbers, but only to ridicule him saying that if these are the sort of people who would be entered in Paradise, then they would get there before anyone else could!
70 : 36
36. Famali allatheena kafaroo qibalaka muhtiAAeena
What is wrong with these disbelievers who sit staring at you (O Mohammed)
with eyes wide open –
70 : 37
37. AAani alyameeni waAAani alshshimali AAizeena
To your left and to your right, in such large numbers?
70 : 38
38. AyatmaAAu kullu imri-in minhum an yudkhala jannata naAAeemin
Does every man out of them aspire to enter the Gardens of bliss?
70 : 39
39. Kalla inna khalaqnahum mimma yaAAlamoona
Certainly not! We verily created them from the same source with which they are well familiar!
70 : 40
40. Fala oqsimu birabbi almashariqi waalmagharibi inna laqadiroona
So I swear by Him who is Lord of the horizons of the East and the horizons of the West that We have the power –
70 : 41
41. AAala an nubaddila khayran minhum wama nahnu bimasbooqeena
To replace them with others who are better than them! And We are not to be over-ridden!
70 : 42
42. Fatharhum yakhoodoo wayalAAaboo hatta yulaqoo yawmahumu allathee yooAAadoona
So let them get on with their preoccupations and pastimes until they come face to face with the Day which is promised to them –
70 : 43
43. Yawma yakhrujoona mina al-ajdathi siraAAan kaannahum ila nusubin yoofidoona
The Day when they will emerge from their graves in a great rush as though they are racing towards the flag post -
70 : 44
44. KhashiAAatan absaruhum tarhaquhum thillatun thalika alyawmu allathee kanoo yooAAadoona
With eyes aghast, abasement stupefying them: Such is the Day which they are promised (R)
MUHSIN:
1. A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall
2. Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert,
3. From Allâh, the Lord of the ways of ascent.
4. The angels and the Rűh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years,
5. So be patient (O Muhammad SAW ), with a good patience.
6. Verily! They see it (the torment) afar off,
7. But We see it (quite) near.
8. The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.).
9. And the mountains will be like flakes of wool,
10. And no friend will ask of a friend,
11. Though they shall be made to see one another [(i.e. on the Day of Resurrection), there will be none but see his father, children and relatives, but he will neither speak to them nor will ask them for any help)], - the Mujrim, (criminal, sinner, disbeliever, etc.) would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children.
12. And his wife and his brother,
13. And his kindred who sheltered him,
14. And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him[] .
15. By no means! Verily, it will be the Fire of Hell!
16. Taking away (burning completely) the head skin!
17. Calling: "[O Kafir (O disbeliever in Allâh, His angels, His Book, His Messengers, Day of Resurrection and in Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments), O Mushrik (O polytheist, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allâh)] (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from Faith) [picking and swallowing them up from that great gathering of mankind (on the Day of Resurrection) just as a bird picks up a food-grain from the earth with its beak and swallows it up] [Tafsir Al-Qurtubî, Vol. 18, Page 289]
18. And collect (wealth) and hide it (from spending it in the Cause of Allâh).
19. Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient;
20. Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him;
21. And niggardly when good touches him;-
22. Except those devoted to Salât (prayers)[]
23. Those who remain constant in their Salât (prayers);
24. And those in whose wealth there is a known right,
25. For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened);
26. And those who believe in the Day of Recompense,
27. And those who fear the torment of their Lord,
28. Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure,
29. And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts)[] .
30. Except with their wives and the (women slaves and captives) whom their right hands possess, for (then) they are not to be blamed,
31. But whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers.[]
32. And those who keep their trusts and covenants;
33. And those who stand firm in their testimonies;
34. And those who guard their Salât (prayers) well[] ,
35. Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured.
36. So what is the matter with those who disbelieve that they hasten to listen from you (O Muhammad SAW), in order to belie you and to mock at you, and at Allâh's Book (this Qur'ân).
37. (Sitting) in groups on the right and on the left (of you, O Muhammad SAW)?
38. Does every man of them hope to enter the Paradise of delight?
39. No, that is not like that! Verily, We have created them out of that which they know!
40. So I swear by the Lord of all [the three hundred and sixty (360)] points of sunrise and sunset in the east and the west that surely We are Able
41. To replace them by (others) better than them; and We are not to be outrun.
42. So leave them to plunge in vain talk[] and play about, until they meet their Day which they are promised.
43. The Day when they will come out of the graves quickly as racing to a goal,
44. With their eyes lowered in fear and humility, ignominy covering them (all over)! That is the Day which they were promised!
070.001
YUSUFALI: A questioner
asked about a Penalty to befall-
PICKTHAL: A questioner
questioned concerning the doom about to fall
SHAKIR: One demanding,
demanded the chastisement which must befall
070.002
YUSUFALI: The
Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,-
PICKTHAL: Upon the
disbelievers, which none can repel,
SHAKIR: The
unbelievers-- there is none to avert it--
070.003
YUSUFALI: (A Penalty)
from Allah, Lord of the Ways of Ascent.
PICKTHAL: From Allah,
Lord of the Ascending Stairways
SHAKIR: From Allah,
the Lord of the ways of Ascent.
070.004
YUSUFALI: The angels
and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty
thousand years:
PICKTHAL: (Whereby)
the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty
thousand years.
SHAKIR: To Him ascend
the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years.
070.005
YUSUFALI: Therefore do
thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment).
PICKTHAL: But be
patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see.
SHAKIR: Therefore
endure with a goodly patience.
070.006
YUSUFALI: They see the
(Day) indeed as a far-off (event):
PICKTHAL: Lo! they
behold it afar off
SHAKIR: Surely they
think it to be far off,
070.007
YUSUFALI: But We see
it (quite) near.
PICKTHAL: While we
behold it nigh:
SHAKIR: And We see it
nigh.
070.008
YUSUFALI: The Day that
the sky will be like molten brass,
PICKTHAL: The day when
the sky will become as molten copper,
SHAKIR: On the day
when the heaven shall be as molten copper
070.009
YUSUFALI: And the
mountains will be like wool,
PICKTHAL: And the
hills become as flakes of wool,
SHAKIR: And the
mountains shall be as tufts of wool
070.010
YUSUFALI: And no
friend will ask after a friend,
PICKTHAL: And no
familiar friend will ask a question of his friend
SHAKIR: And friend
shall not ask of friend
070.011
YUSUFALI: 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,
PICKTHAL: 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
SHAKIR: (Though) they
shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from
the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children,
070.012
YUSUFALI: His wife and
his brother,
PICKTHAL: And his
spouse and his brother
SHAKIR: And his wife
and his brother
070.013
YUSUFALI: His kindred
who sheltered him,
PICKTHAL: And his kin
that harboured him
SHAKIR: And the
nearest of his kinsfolk who gave him shelter,
070.014
YUSUFALI: And all, all
that is on earth,- so it could deliver him:
PICKTHAL: And all that
are in the earth, if then it might deliver him.
SHAKIR: And all those
that are in the earth, (wishing) then (that) this might deliver him.
070.015
YUSUFALI: By no means!
for it would be the Fire of Hell!-
PICKTHAL: But nay! for
lo! it is the fire of hell
SHAKIR: By no means!
Surely it is a flaming fire
070.016
YUSUFALI: Plucking out
(his being) right to the skull!-
PICKTHAL: Eager to
roast;
SHAKIR: Dragging by
the head,
070.017
YUSUFALI: Inviting
(all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from the Right).
PICKTHAL: It calleth
him who turned and fled (from truth),
SHAKIR: It shall claim
him who turned and fled (from truth),
070.018
YUSUFALI: And collect
(wealth) and hide it (from use)!
PICKTHAL: And hoarded
(wealth) and withheld it.
SHAKIR: And amasses
(wealth) then shuts it up.
070.019
YUSUFALI: Truly man
was created very impatient;-
PICKTHAL: Lo! man was
created anxious,
SHAKIR: Surely man is
created of a hasty temperament
070.020
YUSUFALI: Fretful when
evil touches him;
PICKTHAL: Fretful when
evil befalleth him
SHAKIR: Being greatly
grieved when evil afflicts him
070.021
YUSUFALI: And
niggardly when good reaches him;-
PICKTHAL: And, when
good befalleth him, grudging;
SHAKIR: And niggardly
when good befalls him
070.022
YUSUFALI: Not so those
devoted to Prayer;-
PICKTHAL: Save
worshippers.
SHAKIR: Except those
who pray,
070.023
YUSUFALI: Those who
remain steadfast to their prayer;
PICKTHAL: Who are
constant at their worship
SHAKIR: Those who are
constant at their prayer
070.024
YUSUFALI: And those in
whose wealth is a recognised right.
PICKTHAL: And in whose
wealth there is a right acknowledged
SHAKIR: And those in
whose wealth there is a fixed portion.
070.025
YUSUFALI: For the
(needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking);
PICKTHAL: For the
beggar and the destitute;
SHAKIR: For him who
begs and for him who is denied (good)
070.026
YUSUFALI: And those
who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment;
PICKTHAL: And those
who believe in the Day of Judgment,
SHAKIR: And those who
accept the truth of the judgment day
070.027
YUSUFALI: And those
who fear the displeasure of their Lord,-
PICKTHAL: And those
who are fearful of their Lord's doom -
SHAKIR: And those who
are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord--
070.028
YUSUFALI: For their
Lord's displeasure is the opposite of Peace and Tranquillity;-
PICKTHAL: Lo! the doom
of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure -
SHAKIR: Surely the
chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure of--
070.029
YUSUFALI: And those
who guard their chastity,
PICKTHAL: And those
who preserve their chastity
SHAKIR: And those who
guard their private parts,
070.030
YUSUFALI: Except with
their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (then) they
are not to be blamed,
PICKTHAL: Save with
their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not
blameworthy;
SHAKIR: Except in the
case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely
are not to be blamed,
070.031
YUSUFALI: But those
who trespass beyond this are transgressors;-
PICKTHAL: But whoso
seeketh more than that, those are they who are transgressors;
SHAKIR: But he who
seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits--
070.032
YUSUFALI: And those
who respect their trusts and covenants;
PICKTHAL: And those
who keep their pledges and their covenant,
SHAKIR: And those who
are faithful to their trusts and their covenant
070.033
YUSUFALI: And those
who stand firm in their testimonies;
PICKTHAL: And those
who stand by their testimony
SHAKIR: And those who
are upright in their testimonies,
070.034
YUSUFALI: And those
who guard (the sacredness) of their worship;-
PICKTHAL: And those
who are attentive at their worship.
SHAKIR: And those who
keep a guard on their prayer,
070.035
YUSUFALI: Such will be
the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss).
PICKTHAL: These will
dwell in Gardens, honoured.
SHAKIR: Those shall be
in gardens, honored.
070.036
YUSUFALI: Now what is
the matter with the Unbelievers that they rush madly before thee-
PICKTHAL: What aileth
those who disbelieve, that they keep staring toward thee (O Muhammad),
open-eyed,
SHAKIR: But what is
the matter with those who disbelieve that they hasten on around you,
070.037
YUSUFALI: From the
right and from the left, in crowds?
PICKTHAL: On the right
and on the left, in groups?
SHAKIR: On the right
hand and on the left, in sundry parties?
070.038
YUSUFALI: Does every
man of them long to enter the Garden of Bliss?
PICKTHAL: Doth every
man among them hope to enter the Garden of Delight?
SHAKIR: Does every man
of them desire that he should be made to enter the garden of bliss?
070.039
YUSUFALI: By no means!
For We have created them out of the (base matter) they know!
PICKTHAL: Nay, verily.
Lo! We created them from what they know.
SHAKIR: By no means!
Surely We have created them of what they know.
070.040
YUSUFALI: Now I do
call to witness the Lord of all points in the East and the West that We can
certainly-
PICKTHAL: But nay! I
swear by the Lord of the rising-places and the setting-places of the planets
that We verily are Able
SHAKIR: But nay! I
swear by the Lord of the Easts and the Wests that We are certainly able
070.041
YUSUFALI: Substitute
for them better (men) than they; And We are not to be defeated (in Our Plan).
PICKTHAL: To replace
them by (others) better than them. And we are not to be outrun.
SHAKIR: To bring
instead (others) better than them, and We shall not be overcome.
070.042
YUSUFALI: So leave
them to plunge in vain talk and play about, until they encounter that Day of
theirs which they have been promised!-
PICKTHAL: So let them
chat and play until they meet their Day which they are promised,
SHAKIR: Therefore
leave them alone to go on with the false discourses and to sport until they come
face to face with that day of theirs with which they are threatened;
070.043
YUSUFALI: The Day
whereon they will issue from their sepulchres in sudden haste as if they were
rushing to a goal-post (fixed for them),-
PICKTHAL: The day when
they come forth from the graves in haste, as racing to a goal,
SHAKIR: The day on
which they shall come forth from their graves in haste, as if they were
hastening on to a goal,
070.044
YUSUFALI: Their eyes
lowered in dejection,- ignominy covering them (all over)! such is the Day the
which they are promised!
PICKTHAL: With eyes
aghast, abasement stupefying them: Such is the Day which they are promised.
SHAKIR: Their eyes
cast down; disgrace shall overtake them; that is the day which they were
threatened with.