Surah Al-Ma'arij
المعارج
Surah Al-Ma'arij is a Meccan surah of 44 verses about the coming Day of Judgment, the anxious nature of human beings, and the qualities of those who are constant in prayer.
- Meaning
- The Ascending Stairways
- Surah
- 70 of 114
- Verses
- 44
- Revealed in
- Mecca
- Found in
- Juz 29
What Surah Al-Ma'arij is about
Al-Ma'arij is the 70th surah of the Quran, revealed in Mecca, with 44 verses. Its name means The Ascending Stairways or The Ways of Ascent, from verse 3, which describes Allah as the Lord of the ways of ascent. It is sometimes also called Surah Sa'ala, after the first word, meaning someone asked.
The surah begins with a questioner asking about the punishment that will befall the disbelievers. Verses 3 and 4 say it comes from Allah, to whom the angels and the Spirit ascend in a Day whose length is fifty thousand years. Verse 5 tells the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to be patient with a beautiful patience, since people see that Day as far off and Allah sees it as near. Verses 8 to 18 describe it: the sky like molten metal, mountains like tufts of wool, no friend asking after a friend, and the guilty wishing to ransom themselves with their children, spouse, brother, family and everyone on earth.
Verses 19 to 21 then describe human nature honestly. People were created anxious: impatient when harm touches them and holding back when good comes to them. Verses 22 to 35 list the exceptions, those who pray and are constant in it; who recognize a known right in their wealth for the one who asks and the one deprived; who believe in the Day of Judgment and fear their Lord's punishment; who guard their chastity; who keep their trusts and promises; who stand by their testimony; and who guard their prayers. They will be honored in gardens. The list begins and ends with prayer.
Verses 36 to 44 return to the deniers gathering around the Prophet ﷺ, and close with an oath by the Lord of the easts and the wests and a picture of people rushing out of their graves on the promised Day, eyes lowered.
Main themes
A Day of fifty thousand years
The surah answers a mocking question about the coming punishment. Verse 4 describes a Day whose length is fifty thousand years, and verses 6 and 7 contrast how far it seems to people with how near it is to Allah.
Verses 1–7Beautiful patience
Verse 5 asks the Prophet ﷺ for a patience that is gracious and free of complaint, in the face of people who doubt and mock.
Verse 5Every tie broken on that Day
The description of the Day focuses on relationships. Friends do not ask about friends, and the guilty would give up children, spouse, brother and family to save themselves.
Verses 8–18Anxious by nature, steadied by prayer
Verses 19 to 21 describe people as restless, fretful in hardship and grasping in good times. Verses 22 to 35 name those who are an exception, beginning and ending with prayer and including generosity, honesty and keeping promises.
Verses 19–35
Verses to know
تَعۡرُجُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيۡهِ فِي يَوۡمٖ كَانَ مِقۡدَارُهُۥ خَمۡسِينَ أَلۡفَ سَنَةٖ ﴿٤﴾
Unto Him the angels and the Spirit ascend on a Day the duration of which is fifty thousand years.
This verse speaks of a Day fifty thousand years long, a reminder that Allah's measure of time is unlike ours.
۞إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا ﴿١٩﴾ إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعٗا ﴿٢٠﴾ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلۡخَيۡرُ مَنُوعًا ﴿٢١﴾
19Man was created restless. 20Touched by adversity, he is fretful. 21Touched by good, he is ungenerous.
A frank description of human nature: restless, panicking when hardship comes and tight-fisted when good comes.
إِلَّا ٱلۡمُصَلِّينَ ﴿٢٢﴾ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمۡ دَآئِمُونَ ﴿٢٣﴾ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِيٓ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ حَقࣱّ مَّعۡلُومࣱ ﴿٢٤﴾ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلۡمَحۡرُومِ ﴿٢٥﴾
22Except the prayerful. 23Those who are constant at their prayers. 24And those in whose wealth is a rightful share. 25For the beggar and the deprived.
The exception to that restlessness begins with prayer kept up constantly and a recognized share of one's wealth for those who ask and those who are deprived.
Surah Al-Ma'arij in Arabic and English
All 44 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
- 1
سَأَلَ سَآئِلُۢ بِعَذَابٖ وَاقِعٖ
Saala sailun biAAathabin waqiAAin
A questioner questioned the imminent torment.
- 2
لِّلۡكَٰفِرِينَ لَيۡسَ لَهُۥ دَافِعࣱ
Lilkafireena laysa lahu dafiAAun
For the disbelievers; none can repel it.
- 3
مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِي ٱلۡمَعَارِجِ
Mina Allahi thee almaAAariji
From Allah, Lord of the Ways of Ascent.
- 4
تَعۡرُجُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيۡهِ فِي يَوۡمٖ كَانَ مِقۡدَارُهُۥ خَمۡسِينَ أَلۡفَ سَنَةٖ
TaAAruju almalaikatu waalrroohu ilayhi fee yawmin kana miqdaruhu khamseena alfa sanatin
Unto Him the angels and the Spirit ascend on a Day the duration of which is fifty thousand years.
- 5
فَٱصۡبِرۡ صَبۡرٗا جَمِيلًا
Faisbir sabran jameelan
So be patient, with sweet patience.
- 6
إِنَّهُمۡ يَرَوۡنَهُۥ بَعِيدٗا
Innahum yarawnahu baAAeedan
They see it distant.
- 7
وَنَرَىٰهُ قَرِيبٗا
Wanarahu qareeban
But We see it near.
- 8
يَوۡمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلۡمُهۡلِ
Yawma takoonu alssamao kaalmuhli
On the Day when the sky will be like molten brass.
- 9
وَتَكُونُ ٱلۡجِبَالُ كَٱلۡعِهۡنِ
Watakoonu aljibalu kaalAAihni
And the mountains will be like tufted wool.
- 10
وَلَا يَسۡـَٔلُ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيمٗا
Wala yasalu hameemun hameeman
No friend will care about his friend.
- 11
يُبَصَّرُونَهُمۡۚ يَوَدُّ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُ لَوۡ يَفۡتَدِي مِنۡ عَذَابِ يَوۡمِئِذِۭ بِبَنِيهِ
Yubassaroonahum yawaddu almujrimu law yaftadee min AAathabi yawmiithin bibaneehi
They will be shown each other. The criminal wishes he would be redeemed from the punishment of that Day by his children.
- 12
وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَأَخِيهِ
Wasahibatihi waakheehi
And his spouse, and his brother.
- 13
وَفَصِيلَتِهِ ٱلَّتِي تُـٔۡوِيهِ
Wafaseelatihi allatee tuweehi
And his family that sheltered him.
- 14
وَمَن فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعٗا ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ
Waman fee alardi jameeAAan thumma yunjeehi
And everyone on earth, in order to save him.
- 15
كَلَّآۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ
Kalla innaha latha
By no means! It is a Raging Fire.
- 16
نَزَّاعَةٗ لِّلشَّوَىٰ
NazzaAAatan lilshshawa
It strips away the scalps.
- 17
تَدۡعُواْ مَنۡ أَدۡبَرَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ
TadAAoo man adbara watawalla
It invites him who once turned his back and fled.
- 18
وَجَمَعَ فَأَوۡعَىٰٓ
WajamaAAa faawAAa
And accumulated and hoarded.
- 19
۞إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا
Inna alinsana khuliqa halooAAan
Man was created restless.
- 20
إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعٗا
Itha massahu alshsharru jazooAAan
Touched by adversity, he is fretful.
- 21
وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلۡخَيۡرُ مَنُوعًا
Waitha massahu alkhayru manooAAan
Touched by good, he is ungenerous.
- 22
إِلَّا ٱلۡمُصَلِّينَ
Illa almusalleena
Except the prayerful.
- 23
ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمۡ دَآئِمُونَ
Allatheena hum AAala salatihim daimoona
Those who are constant at their prayers.
- 24
وَٱلَّذِينَ فِيٓ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ حَقࣱّ مَّعۡلُومࣱ
Waallatheena fee amwalihim haqqun maAAloomun
And those in whose wealth is a rightful share.
- 25
لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلۡمَحۡرُومِ
Lilssaili waalmahroomi
For the beggar and the deprived.
- 26
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُصَدِّقُونَ بِيَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ
Waallatheena yusaddiqoona biyawmi alddeeni
And those who affirm the Day of Judgment.
- 27
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنۡ عَذَابِ رَبِّهِم مُّشۡفِقُونَ
Waallatheena hum min AAathabi rabbihim mushfiqoona
And those who fear the punishment of their Lord.
- 28
إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمۡ غَيۡرُ مَأۡمُونٖ
Inna AAathaba rabbihim ghayru mamoonin
Their Lord’s punishment is not to be taken for granted.
- 29
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِفُرُوجِهِمۡ حَٰفِظُونَ
Waallatheena hum lifuroojihim hafithoona
And those who guard their chastity.
- 30
إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزۡوَٰجِهِمۡ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُهُمۡ فَإِنَّهُمۡ غَيۡرُ مَلُومِينَ
Illa AAala azwajihim aw ma malakat aymanuhum fainnahum ghayru maloomeena
Except from their spouses or those living under their control, for then they are free of blame.
- 31
فَمَنِ ٱبۡتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡعَادُونَ
Famani ibtagha waraa thalika faolaika humu alAAadoona
But whoever seeks to go beyond that—these are the transgressors.
- 32
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِأَمَٰنَٰتِهِمۡ وَعَهۡدِهِمۡ رَٰعُونَ
Waallatheena hum liamanatihim waAAahdihim raAAoona
And those who honor their trusts and their pledges.
- 33
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِشَهَٰدَٰتِهِمۡ قَآئِمُونَ
Waallatheena hum bishahadatihim qaimoona
And those who stand by their testimonies.
- 34
وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمۡ يُحَافِظُونَ
Waallatheena hum AAala salatihim yuhafithoona
And those who are dedicated to their prayers.
- 35
أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ فِي جَنَّـٰتٖ مُّكۡرَمُونَ
Olaika fee jannatin mukramoona
These will be honored in Gardens.
- 36
فَمَالِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ قِبَلَكَ مُهۡطِعِينَ
Famali allatheena kafaroo qibalaka muhtiAAeena
What is with those who disbelieve, stretching their necks towards you.
- 37
عَنِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ عِزِينَ
AAani alyameeni waAAani alshshimali AAizeena
From the right, and from the left, banding together?
- 38
أَيَطۡمَعُ كُلُّ ٱمۡرِيٕٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ أَن يُدۡخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٖ
AyatmaAAu kullu imriin minhum an yudkhala jannata naAAeemin
Is every one of them aspiring to be admitted into a Garden of Bliss?
- 39
كَلَّآۖ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰهُم مِّمَّا يَعۡلَمُونَ
Kalla inna khalaqnahum mimma yaAAlamoona
No indeed! We created them from what they know.
- 40
فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِرَبِّ ٱلۡمَشَٰرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغَٰرِبِ إِنَّا لَقَٰدِرُونَ
Fala oqsimu birabbi almashariqi waalmagharibi inna laqadiroona
I swear by the Lord of the Easts and the Wests, that We are Able.
- 41
عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهُمۡ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَسۡبُوقِينَ
AAala an nubaddila khayran minhum wama nahnu bimasbooqeena
To replace them with better than they, and We are not to be outdone.
- 42
فَذَرۡهُمۡ يَخُوضُواْ وَيَلۡعَبُواْ حَتَّىٰ يُلَٰقُواْ يَوۡمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِي يُوعَدُونَ
Fatharhum yakhoodoo wayalAAaboo hatta yulaqoo yawmahumu allathee yooAAadoona
So leave them to blunder and play, until they meet their Day which they are promised.
- 43
يَوۡمَ يَخۡرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَجۡدَاثِ سِرَاعٗا كَأَنَّهُمۡ إِلَىٰ نُصُبٖ يُوفِضُونَ
Yawma yakhrujoona mina alajdathi siraAAan kaannahum ila nusubin yoofidoona
The Day when they will emerge from the tombs in a rush, as though they were hurrying towards a target.
- 44
خَٰشِعَةً أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ تَرۡهَقُهُمۡ ذِلَّةࣱۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمُ ٱلَّذِي كَانُواْ يُوعَدُونَ
KhashiAAatan absaruhum tarhaquhum thillatun thalika alyawmu allathee kanoo yooAAadoona
Their eyes cast down; overwhelmed by humiliation. This is the Day which they were promised.
Surah Al-Ma'arij PDF
The whole surah on printable pages: Arabic, transliteration and English side by side. Free to download, print and share.
Questions about Surah Al-Ma'arij
How many verses are in Surah Al-Ma'arij?
Surah Al-Ma'arij has 44 verses. It is a Meccan surah and the 70th in the Quran.
Which verse mentions a day of fifty thousand years?
Verse 4 of Surah Al-Ma'arij says the angels and the Spirit ascend to Allah in a Day whose length is fifty thousand years.
What does Surah Maarij say about human nature?
Verses 19 to 21 say people were created restless, anxious when harm touches them and stingy when good comes. Verses 22 to 35 describe those who are steadied by prayer and good character.
What does Ma'arij mean?
Ma'arij means ways of ascent or stairways. The name comes from verse 3, which calls Allah the Lord of the ways of ascent.