Surah Al-Ma’arij (The Ways of Ascent)

المعارج

44 Verses

In the Name of Almighty Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
44 آية

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Surah Al-Ma’arij is the 70th chapter of the Quran, containing 44 verses. Revealed in Makkah, it takes its name from verse 3, which describes Allah as the Lord of the Ways of Ascent, the ascending stairways by which the angels and the Spirit rise to Him. The surah warns of an inevitable punishment on a Day when the guilty will wish to ransom themselves with their own children and family, describes man’s tendency to despair in hardship and withhold in prosperity, and sets out the qualities of the true believers: constancy in prayer, generosity to those who ask and are deprived, guarding their chastity, honouring their trusts, and standing firm in their testimony. Below you can read the full Surah Al-Ma’arij in Arabic with a clear English translation and a verse-by-verse tafsir (explanation of the meaning) from Aysar al-Tafaseer, with the option to jump to any specific verse.

Tafsir of the Verses

{ سَأَلَ سَآئِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ }
{ سَآئِلٌ }

(1) – اسْتَعْجَلَ سَائِلٌ مِنَ المُشْرِكِينَ بِإِيقَاعِ العَذَابِ بِهِمْ، وَهُوَ وَاقِعٌ بِهِمْ فِي الآخِرَةِ لاَ مَحَالَةَ، فَلِمَاذَا يَطْلُبُونَهُ اسْتِهْزَاءً؟

(وَقِيلَ إِنَّ هَذَا السَّائِلَ بِوُقُوعِ العَذَابِ هُوَ النَّضْرُ بْنُ الحَارِثِ).
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 1
1. A polytheist asked that the infliction of punishment on them be hastened. Since it will ineluctably befall them in the Hereafter, why do they mockingly request that it be hastened? (It is said that the one who requested the hastening of the punishment was Nadru ibn Hareth ).
{ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ دَافِعٌ }
{ لِّلْكَافِرِينَ }

(2) – وَهَذَا العَذَابُ الذِي سَيََقَعُ هُوَ مُرْصَدٌ لِلْكَافِرِينَ، وَمُعَدٌّ لَهُمْ، وَلاَ دَافِعَ لَهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ اللهُ وُقُوعَهُ بِهِمْ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 2
2. This punishment which will be inflicted is aimed at the unbelievers and prepared for them. No one can ward it off if Allah chooses to inflict it on them.
{ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِي ٱلْمَعَارِجِ }
(3) – وَلَيْسَ لِهَذَا العَذَابِ الصَّادِرِ عَنِ اللهِ دَافِعٌ مِنْ جِهَتِهِ إِذَا جَاءَ وَقْتُهُ، فَإِذَا اقْتَضَتْ حِكْمَتُهُ تَعَالَى وُقُوعَهُ امْتَنَعَ أَلاَّ يَفْعَلَهُ. وَاللهُ سُبْحَانَهُ هُوَ صَاحِبُ النِّعَمِ والأَفْضَالِ التِي تَصِلُ إِلَى النَّاسِ عَلَى دَرَجَاتٍ مُتَفَاوِتَةٍ وَمَرَاتِبَ مُخْتَلِفَةٍ.

المَعَارِجِ – المَرَاتِبِ والدَّرَجَاتِ والمَصَاعِدِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 3
3. There is nothing that can ward this torture from Allah off when the time comes. If Allah’s judgement decrees that it should happen, He does not check its occurrence. Allah Almighty is He Who bestows blessings and favours which reach people at varied degrees and different stages.
{ تَعْرُجُ ٱلْمَلاَئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ }
{ ٱلْمَلاَئِكَةُ }

(4) – وَتَصْعَدُ المَلاَئِكَةُ وَجِبْرِيلُ فِي هَذِهِ المَعَارِجِ فِي زَمَنٍ قَلِيلٍ، مَعَ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الدُّنْيَا لَوْ أَرَادُوا الصُّعُودَ فِيهَا لاَقْتَضَاهُمْ ذَلِكَ زَمَناً طَوِيلاً (خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ – وَقِيلَ إِنَّ ذِكْرَ الخَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ لاَ يَعْنِي هُنَا زَمَناً مُحَدَّداً وَإِنَّمَا هُوَ كِنَايَةٌ عَنْ طُولِ المُدَّةِ).

(وَقِيلَ إِنَّ المَقْصُودَ بِهَذَا اليَوْمِ هُوَ يَوْمُ القِيَامَةِ فَإِنَّهُ يَخِفُّ عَلَى المُؤْمِنِينَ حَتَّى يَكُونَ أَخَفَّ مِنْ صَلاَةٍ مَكْتُوبَةٍ، يُصَلِّيهَا فِي الدُّنْيَا مُؤْمِنٌ، وَيَشُقُّ عَلَى الكَافِرِينَ – كَمَا جَاءَ فِي الأَثَرِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم -). (رَوَاهُ أَحْمَدُ).

تَعْرُجُ – تَصْعَدُ فِي تِلْكَ المَعَارِجِ.

الرُّوحُ – جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ.

فِي يَوْمٍ – إِمَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ المَعْنَى مُدَّةَ يَوْمٍ أَوْ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 4
4. The angels and Gabriel ascend these stairways in a short time, although if the people of this life on earth, wished to ascend them, it would take them a long time (fifty thousand years; it has been said that the mention of fifty thousand years is not a reference to a set period of time but a metaphor for a long time). (It is said that this day refers to Judgement Day. It is more effortless for the believer than a written prayer which he performs in his life on earth but for the unbeliever it is very difficult, as stated by the Prophet( peace be upon him.) (Reported by Ahmad.)
{ فَٱصْبِرْ صَبْراً جَمِيلاً }
(5) – فَاصْبِرْ يَا مُحَمَّدُ عَلَى تَكْذِيبِ قَوْمِكَ لَكَ، وَعَلَى اسْتِعْجَالِهِم العَذَابَ اسْتِبْعَاداً لِوُقُوعِهِ، وَاحْتَمِلْ أَذَاهُمْ لَكَ بِلاَ جَزَعٍ وَلاَ شَكْوَى، لأَِنَّ وُقُوعَ العَذَابِ بِهِمْ أَمْرٌ مُحَقَّقٌ، وَكُلُّ آتٍ قَرِيبٌ.

صَبْراً جَمِيلاً – لاَ شَكْوَى فِيهِ لِغَيْرِ اللهِ تَعَالَى.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 5
5. So endure patiently, O Mohammad, the denial of your people to you and their hastening of their punishment because they believe that its occurrence is improbable. And tolerate their harm to you without worrying or complaining, for punishment will surely befall them and all that shall come is near at hand.
{ إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُ بَعِيداً }
(6) – إِنَّ الكَافِرِينَ يَرَوْنَ قِيَامَ السَّاعَةِ، وَوُقُوعَ العَذَابِ أَمْراً مُسْتَبْعَداً.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 6
6. The unbelievers believe that the Hour and the infliction of punishment on them as improbable.
{ وَنَرَاهُ قَرِيباً }
{ نَرَاهُ }

(7) – وَيَعْتَقِدُ المُؤْمِنُونَ أَنَّهُ حَاصِلٌ قَرِيبُ الوُقُوعِ، وَإِنْ كَانَ مَوْعِدُ حُصُولِهِ لاَ يَعْلَمُهُ إِلاَّ اللهُ تَعَالَى، لأَِنَّ كُلَّ مَا هُوَ آتٍ فَهُوَ قَرِيبٌ.

(أَوْ إِنَّ المَعْنَى – وَنَرَاهُ هَيِّناً فِي قُدْرَتِنَا، غَيْرَ مُتَعَذَّرٍ عَلَيْنَا).
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 7
7. The believers know for sure that it will happen shortly, in spite of the fact that no one but Almighty Allah knows its precise time for whatever will come is near at hand (or it could mean: We, with Our Might, find it an easy matter, not impossible.)
{ يَوْمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلْمُهْلِ }
(8) – وَتَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ، وَيَقَعُ العَذَابُ بِالكَافِرِينَ حِينَمَا تُصْبحُ السَّمَاءُ كَعَكَرِ الزَّيْتِ.

المُهْلُ – عَكَرُ الزَّيْتِ، وَقِيلَ إِنَّهُ الفِضَّةُ الذَّائِبَةُ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 8
8. The Hour will take place and the punishment will be inflicted on the unbelievers when the sky becomes like the sediment of oil. (It is said it is like molten silver.)
{ وَتَكُونُ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَٱلْعِهْنِ }
(9) – وَفِي ذَلِكَ اليَوْمِ تُصْبحُ الجِبَالُ هَشَّةً غَيْرَ مُتَمَاسِكَةٍ وَكَأَنَّهَا الصُّوفُ المَتْفُوشُ إِذَا لَعِبَتْ بِهِ الرِّيحُ.

العِهْنِ – الصُّوفِ المَنْفُوشِ أَوِ المَصْبُوغِ أَلْوَاناً.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 9
9. On that day, the mountains become brittle and lose their cohesion as if they were carded wool blown by the wind.
{ وَلاَ يَسْأَلُ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيماً }
{ يَسْأَلُ }

(10) – وَلاَ يَسْأَلُ قَرِيبٌ مُشفِقٌ قَرِيباً مُشْفِقاً عَنْ حَالِهِ، وَلاَ يُكَلِّمُهُ، لأَِنَّ كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مِنَ الخَلْقِ مُنْشَغِلٌ بِمَا هُوَ فِيهِ.

الحَمِيمُ – القَرِيبُ المُشْفِقُ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 10
10. No compassionate relative inquires about the state of another compassionate relation nor even talks to him, because each is preoccupied with his own affairs.
{ يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ يَوَدُّ ٱلْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِي مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍ بِبَنِيهِ }
{ يَوْمِئِذٍ }

(11) – وَيُبْصِرُ الأَقَارِبُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً، فِي ذَلِكَ اليَوْمِ، وَيَتَعَارَفُونَ، ثُمَّ يَفِرُّ بَعْضُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْضٍ، وَيَتَمَنَّى الكَافِرُ لَوْ أَنَّهُ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يَفْدِيَ نَفْسَهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ ذَلِكَ اليَوْمِ بِأَبْنَائِهِ، وَهُمْ أَعَزُّ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ، فَيَدْفَعُ بِهِمْ إِلَى العَذَابِ لِيَنْجُوَ هُوَ مِنْهُ.

يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ – يَجْعَلُونَهُمْ يُبْصِرُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 11
11. The relations see and recognize one another on that day, then they flee from each other. The unbeliever wishes that he could redeem himself from the punishment on that day by sacrificing his children who are dearest to him; yet he pushes them to the punishment to save himself from it.
{ وَصَاحِبَتِهِ وَأَخِيهِ }
{ صَاحِبَتِهِ }

(12) – أَوْ أَنْ يُقَدِّم فِدَاءً عَنْهُ زَوْجَتَهُ أَوْ أَخَاهُ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 12
12. Or he could offer his wife or brother as ransom,
{ وَفَصِيلَتِهِ ٱلَّتِي تُؤْوِيهِ }
{ تُؤْوِيهِ }

(13) – أَوْ أَنْ يُقَدِّمَ جَمِيعَ أَفْرَادِ عَشِيرَتِهِ التِي تَضُمُّهُ إِلَيْهَا.

فَصِيلَتِهِ – عَشِيرَتِهِ الأَقْرَبِينَ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 13
13. or all the members of his tribe who sheltered him,
{ وَمَن فِي ٱلأَرْضِ جَمِيعاً ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ }
(14) – أَوْ أَنْ يُقَدِّمَ جَمِيعَ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ فِدَاءً لَهُ لِيَخْلُصَ هُوَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ العَذَابِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 14
14. or offer all the people on earth in his stead to save himself from the punishment.
{ كَلاَّ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ }
(15) – كَلاَّ لاَ يُقْبَلُ فِدَاءٌ مِنَ الكَافِرِ، وَلَوْ أَنَّهُ افْتَدَى بِجَمِيعِ أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ، وَبِجَمِيعِ مَا فِي الأَرْضِ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ وَمَالٍ، إِنَّهَا النَّارُ الشَّدِيدَةُ الحَرَارَةِ.

اللَّظَى – النَّارُ ذَاتُ اللَّهَبِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 15
15. No indeed! No ransom will be accepted from the unbeliever even if he were to sacrifice all the people and all the gold and riches on earth. It is a severely hot fire.
{ نَزَّاعَةً لِّلشَّوَىٰ }
(16) – تَحْرُقُ كُلَّ شَيءٍ بَارِزٍ مِنْ جِسْمِ الإِنْسَانِ فَتُزِيلُهُ وَكَأَنَّهَا تَنْزِعُهُ انْتِزَاعاً.

الشَّوَى – الأَطْرَافُ البَارِزَةُ كَاليَدَيْنِ والرِّجْلَيْنِ والرَّأْسِ. وَقِيلَ إِنَّهَا جِلْدَةُ الرَّأْسِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 16
16. It burns every prominent part of the human body and removes it as if it were extracting it.
{ تَدْعُواْ مَنْ أَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ }
{ تَدْعُواْ }

(17) – إِنَّهَا النَّارُ المُحْرِقَةُ تُنَادِي إِلَيهَا أَصْحَابَهَا مِنَ الكَفَرَةِ الذِينَ خَلَقَهُمُ اللهُ لَهَا، وَهُمُ الذِينَ تَوَلَّوْا حِينَمَا دَعَاهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِلَى الإِيْمَانِ بِاللهِ، وَوَلّوْا مُدْبِرِينَ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 17
17. It is the burning fire. It invites to it the unbelievers whom Allah created for it, those who turned their backs when their messengers called them to believe in Allah.
{ وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعَىٰ }
(18) – وَيَكُونُ مِنْ أَهْلِ النَّارِ الذِي جَمَعَ المَالَ وَأَوْدَعَهُ فِي الأَوْعِيَةِ كَانِزاً لَهُ، وَلَمْ يُنْفِقْهُ فِي وُجُوهِ البِرِّ والطَّاعَاتِ والخَيْرِ.

أَوْعَى – أَوْدَعَ مَالَهُ فِي وِعَاءٍ حِرْصاً عَلَيْهِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 18
18. Among the people of the Fire is he who amassed money, put it in containers, treasured it and did not spend it in the cause of good, obedience and charity.
{ إِنَّ ٱلإِنسَانَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعاً }
{ ٱلإِنسَانَ }

(19) – إِنَّ الإِنْسَانَ خُلِقَ سَرِيعَ الانْفِعَالِ والتَّأَثُّرِ، فَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الجَزَعِ، إِذَا مَسَّهُ مَكْرُوهٌ، كَثِيرُ المَنْعِ، إِذَا نَزَلَتْ بِهِ نِعْمَةٌ.

نَاقَةٌ هَلُوعٌ – سَرِيعَةُ السَّيْرِ.

وَالهَلُوعُ – الكَثِيرُ الجَزَعِ الشَّدِيدُ الحِرْصِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 19
19. Man was created to be quickly moved to passion and affected. He is much concerned when evil touches him, and very denying when granted a blessing.
{ إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعاً }
(20) – ثُمَّ فَسَّرَ تَعَالَى فِي هَذِهِ الآيَةِ الكَرِيمَةِ والتِي بَعْدَهَا مَعْنَى قَوْلِهِ (هَلُوعاً)، فَقَالَ: إِنَّ الإِنْسَانَ إِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ والضُّرُّ اسْتَوْلَى عَلَيْهِ الحُزْنُ، وَانْخَلَعَ قَلْبُهُ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الرُّعْبِ، وَيَئِسَ مِنْ أَنْ يَصِلَ إِلَيهِ خَيْرٌ بَعْدَهَا أَبَداً.

الجَزُوعُ – الكَثِيرُ الجَزَعِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 20
20. Allah Almighty explained in this verse and the following one the meaning of the Arabic word halou’ which means “fretful”. He says: If harm or evil are inflicted on man, he becomes sad, and his heart rends with fear. He despairs of any good ever reaching him after that.
{ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلْخَيْرُ مَنُوعاً }
(21) – وَإِذَا حَصَلَتْ لَهُ نِعْمَةٌ مِنَ اللهِ بَخِلَ بِهَا عَلَى غَيْرِهِ، وَمَنَعَ حَقَّ اللهِ فِيهَا.

المَنُوعُ – الكَثِيرُ المَنْعِ وَالإِمْسَاكِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 21
21. But when a blessing from Allah reaches him, he becomes miserly and deprives others of the right to it.
{ إِلاَّ ٱلْمُصَلِّينَ }
(22) – وَلاَ يَسْتَثْنِي اللهُ تَعَالَى مِنْ صِفَاتِ الإِنْسَانِ الذَمِيمَةِ، التِي تَتَمَثَّلُ بِالهَلَعِ وَالجَزَعِ وَالمَنْعِ، إِلاَّ المُؤْمِنِينَ الذِينَ هَدَاهُمُ اللهُ إِلَى الخَيْرِ، وَهُمْ المُصَلُّونَ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 22
22. Allah Almighty does not exclude from those detestable qualities of man represented by fretting, worry and preventing good from others, except the believers whom He guided to virtue. Those are the ones who pray,
{ ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلاَتِهِمْ دَآئِمُونَ }
{ دَآئِمُونَ }

(23) – الذِينَ يُحَافِظُونَ عَلَى أَدَاءِ الصَّلَوَاتِ فِي أَوْقَاتِهَا، لاَ يَشْغَلُهُمْ عَنْهَا شَاغِلٌ، وَفِي هَذَا إِشَارَةٌ إِلَى فَضْلِ المُدَاوَمَةِ عَلَى العِبَادَةِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 23
23. those who perform their prayers at their exact times and are not kept away them from them by anything. This refers to the merit of timely worship.
{ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِيۤ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَّعْلُومٌ }
{ ۤ أَمْوَالِهِمْ }

(24) – والذِينَ يَجْعَلُونَ فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ نَصِيباً مُعَيَّناً يُنْفِقُونَهُ تَقَرُّباً مِنَ اللهِ، وَطَلَباً لِمَرْضَاتِهِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 24
24. And He also accepts those who assign a share of their money to be spent in ways that draw them closer to Allah, in the hope of gaining His satisfaction.
{ لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ }
{ لِّلسَّآئِلِ }

(25) – يُنْفِقُونَهُ عَلَى ذَوِي الحَاجَاتِ والبَائِسِينَ الذِينَ يَسْأَلُونَهُمُ العَوْنَ.

المَحْرُومِ – مِنَ العَطَاءِ لِتَعَفُّفِهِ عَنِ السُّؤَالِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 25
25. They spend it on the needy and the poor who seek their help.
{ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُصَدِّقُونَ بِيَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ }
(26) – وَالذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِيَوْمِ المَعَادِ وَالحِسَابِ فَيَعْمَلُونَ لَهُ وَتَظْهَرُ آثَارُ ذَلِكَ فِي أَفْعَالِهِمْ وَأَقْوَالِهِمْ وَتَصَرُّفَاتِهِمْ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 26
26. And He accepts those who believe in the Day of Judgement and strive for it. The result of their belief is seen in their deeds, words and behaviour.
{ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَ }
(27) – وَالذِينَ هُمْ خَائِفُونَ وَجِلُونَ مِنْ تَرْكِهِم الفُرُوضَ وَالوَاجِبَاتِ، وَمِنِ ارْتِكَابِ المَحْظُورَاتِ، فَيَكُونُ ذَلِكَ سَبَباً فِي حِرْصِهِمْ عَلَى أَدَاءِ المَزِيدِ مِنَ الطَّاعَاتِ.

مُشْفِقُونَ – خَائِفُونَ اسْتِعْظَاماً للهِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 27
27. He also accepts those who are afraid of and apprehensive about abandoning their religious duties and committing illegal acts. This is the reason why they are anxious to perform more religious duties.
{ إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَأْمُونٍ }
(28) – وَلاَ يَنْبَغِي لِعَاقِلِ أَنْ يَأْمَنَ عَذَابَ اللهِ، وَإِنْ زَادَ فِي الطَّاعَاتِ، وَلاَ يَأْمَنُهُ أَحَدٌ إِلاَّ بِأَمَانٍ مِنَ اللهِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 28
28. No reasonable person should feel safe from Allah’s punishment even if he performed many religious duties. None can be safe from Allah unless He grants him security.
{ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ }
{ حَافِظُونَ }

(29) – والذِينَ يَكُفُّونَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ عَمَّا حَرَّمَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ، وَيَحْرِصُونَ عَلَى أَلاَّ يُقَارِفُوا مُحَرَّماً لَمْ يُبِحْهُ اللهُ لَهُمْ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 29
29. Allah accepts those who restrain themselves from the women whom Allah has forbidden to them and are careful not to commit the forbidden acts which Allah has made unlawful to them.
{ إِلاَّ عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ }
{ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ } { أَيْمَانُهُمْ }

(30) – وَلاَ يَقْرَبُونَ إِلاَّ مَا أَحَلَّهُ اللهُ مِنْ أَزْوَاجٍ، أَوْ مِنْ إِمَاءٍ يَمْلِكُونَهُنَّ، فَإِنَّهُمْ لاَ يَأْثَمُونَ، وَلاَ يُلاَمُونَ إِذَا أَتَوا نِسَاءَهُمْ وَإِمَاءَهُمْ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 30
30. They only approach their wives whom Allah made lawful to them or the slaves they possess. For they then do not sin and are not blamed for the physical contact with their wives or slaves.
{ فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَلِكَ فَأُوْلَـٰئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَ }
{ فَأُوْلَـٰئِكَ }

(31) – وَمَنْ سَعَى إِلَى مُوَاقَعَةِ غَيْرِ مَنْ أَحَلَّهُنَّ اللهُ لَهُ مِنَ الأَزْوَاجِ وَالإِمَاءِ، فَهُوَ مُعْتَدٍ عَلَى حُرُمَاتِ اللهِ، مُتَجَاوِزٌ حُدُودَهُ.

العَادُونَ – المُعْتَدُونَ المُتَجَاوِزُونَ الحَلاَلَ إِلَى الحَرَامِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 31
31. He who seeks to have intercourse with any other woman except the wives and slaves, goes beyond the bounds of what Allah made lawful.
{ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ }
{ لأَمَانَاتِهِمْ } { رَاعُونَ }

(32) – وَالذِينَ إِذَا ائْتُمِنُوا عَلَى أَمَانَةٍ رَدُّوهَا إِلَى أَصْحَابِهَا، وَلَمْ يَخُونُوا، وَالذِينَ إِذَا عَاهَدُوا عَهْداً رَاعَوْهُ وَوَفَوْا بِهِ، وَلَمْ يَغْدِرُوا، وَلَمْ يَتَأَوَّلُوا.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 32
32. And He accepts those who, if charged with a trust, return it to its rightful owners and do not betray their trust. They do not breach the faith, and if they make a covenant they respect it. They do not act treacherously.
{ وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ بِشَهَادَاتِهِم قَائِمُونَ }
{ بِشَهَادَاتِهِم } { قَائِمُونَ }

(33) – وَالذِينَ يُؤَدُّونَ الشَّهَادَةَ، إِذَا دُعُوا إِلَى أَدَائِهَا عِنْدَ الحُكَّامِ، وَلاَ يَكْتمُونَهَا وَلاَ يُغَيِّرُونَهَا، والشَّهَادَةُ أَمَانَةٌ مِنَ الأَمَانَاتِ التِي أَمَرَ اللهُ تَعَالَى المُؤْمِنِينَ بِأَدَائِهَا عَلَى الوَجْهِ الأَكْمَلِ والصَّحِيحِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 33
33. And He accepts those who give their testimony when they are called upon to testify, and do not hide the truth nor alter it. Testimony is one of the trusts which Allah has commanded the believers to do honestly and fully.
{وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ}
(34) – [Tafsir not available in the source document for this verse; to be added.]
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 34
34. And He also accepts those who perform their prayers well and on time. They carry them out completely with their kneeling down, prostration and submissiveness. Before they start their prayers, they make the effort to dismiss from their minds anything which might divert their attention from praising Allah, understanding the Quran they recite and being conscious of their actions of praising Allah, kneeling down to Him and prostrating themselves before Him.
{ أُوْلَـٰئِكَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ مُّكْرَمُونَ }
{ أُوْلَـٰئِكَ } { جَنَّاتٍ }

(35) – وَهَؤُلاَءِ الذِينَ يَتَمَتَّعُونَ بِالصِّفَاتِ السَّالِفَةِ وَيَقُومُونَ بِالعِبَادَاتِ عَلَى الوَجْهِ الأَكْمَلِ كَمَا أَمَرَ اللهُ تَعَالَى يُدْخِلُهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ فِي جَنَّتِهِ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ، وَيُؤَمِّنُهُمْ مِنْ هَوْلِ الفَزَعِ فِي ذَلِكَ اليَوْمِ، وَيُكْرِمُهُمْ بِفَيْضٍِ مِنَ الكَرَامَاتِ التِي اخْتَصَّ اللهُ بِهَا عِبَادَهُ الصَّالِحِينَ المُخْلِصِينَ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 35
35. Those who enjoy the qualities mentioned above, and who perform their worship perfectly as Allah Almighty has commanded, their Lord will admit them to His Paradise in the Hereafter and protect them from the terrors of that day. Allah will bestow abundant favours upon them that are reserved for His faithful, righteous servants.
{ فَمَالِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ قِبَلَكَ مُهْطِعِينَ }
{ فَمَالِ الَّذِينَ }

(36) – فَمَا لِهَؤُلاَءِ الكَافِرِينَ الذِينَ عِنْدَكَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ يَنْطَلِقُونَ نَافِرِينَ مِنْكَ مُسْرِعِينَ؟. قِبَلَكَ – الذِينَ فِي زَمَنِكَ، أَو الذِينَ عِنْدَكَ. مُهْطِعِينَ – مُسْرِعينَ وُهُمْ يَمُدُّونَ أَعْنَاقَهُمْ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 36
36. What is the matter with those unbelievers of your time that they rush away from you, O Mohammad?
{ عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ عِزِينَ }
(37) – يَمُرُّونَ عَنِ اليَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ، مُتَفَرِّقِينَ، مُعْرِضِينَ، وَهُمْ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ بِالرَّسُولِ الكَرِيمِ صلى الله عليه وسلم.

عِزِينَ – مُتَفَرِّقِينَ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 37
37. They pass you on the right and on the left, separately, and turn away as they mock the noble Messenger?
{ أَيَطْمَعُ كُلُّ ٱمْرِىءٍ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُدْخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٍ }
{ ٱمْرِىءٍ }

(38) – فَهَلْ يَطْمَعُ هَؤُلاَءِ، وَهُمْ نَافِرُونَ مِنَ الرَّسُولِ الكَرِيمِ، مُعْرِضُونَ عَنْ سَمَاعِ الحَقِّ، أَنْ يَدْخُلُوا جَنَّةَ رَبِّهِمْ كَمَا يَدْخُلُهَا المُؤْمِنُونَ المُخْلِصُونَ؟. كَلاَّ لاَ مَطْمَعُ لَهُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ مَا دَامُوا مُقِيمِينَ عَلَى كُفْرِهِمْ وَاسْتِهْزَائِهِمْ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 38
38. Do those who are averse to the noble Messenger and who turn away from hearing the truth expect to enter their Lord’s Paradise like the sincere believers enter it? No indeed! There is no hope for them as long as they persist in their disbelief and their derision.
{ كَلاَّ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُم مِّمَّا يَعْلَمُونَ }
{ خَلَقْنَاهُم }

(39) – كَلاَّ إِنَّهُمْ لَنْ يَدْخُلُوا الجَنَّةَ، وَسَيَدْخُلُونَ النَّارَ وَسَتَكُونُ مَأْوَاهُمْ وَمُسْتَقَرَّهُمْ. فَإِذَا كَانُوا يَسْتَبْعِدُونَ البَعْثَ وَالمَعَادَ، فَلْيَنْظُرُوا إِلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ مِنْ أَيْ شَيءٍ خَلَقَهُمُ اللهُ؟ إِنَّهُ خَلَقَهُمْ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ مِنْ مَنِيٍّ يُمْنَى، ثُمَّ جَعَلَهُمْ بَعْدَ أَطْوَارٍ كَثِيرَةٍ بَشَراً يَمْشُونَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ، ثُمَّ يُمِيتُهُمْ حِينَمَا تَحِينُ آجَالُهُمْ، ثُمَّ يَعُودُ فَيَبْعَثُهُمْ مِنْ جَدِيدٍ، وَالإِعَادَةُ أَهْوَنُ مِنَ البَدْءِ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 39
39. No! they will not enter Paradise! They will enter Hellfire which will be their abode. If they believe that the Resurrection and Assembly are improbable, then let them look at themselves and see from what Allah has created them. He created them from a drop of sperm which is ejected. Then after a number developments, He made them humans who walk the earth. Then He will cause them to die when their time comes. After that He will resurrect them again; and repeating is easier than initiating.
{ فَلآ أُقْسِمُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْمَشَٰرِقِ وَٱلْمَغَٰرِبِ إِنَّا لَقَٰدِرُونَ }
{ ٱلْمَشَارِقِ } { ٱلْمَغَارِبِ } { لَقَادِرُونَ }

(40) – يُقْسِمُ تَعَالَى بِنَفْسِهِ الكَرِيمَةِ (وَهُوَ تَعَالَى رَبُّ المَشَارِقِ وَالمَغَارِبِ) عَلَى أَنَّهُ قَادِرٌ عَلَى أَنْ يَخْلُقَ مَنْ هُمْ أَمْثَلُ مِنْهُمْ، وَأَكْثَرُ طَاعَةً.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 40
40. Allah Almighty swears by Himself (He is the Lord of the Easts and the Wests) that He is able to create better men than them and who are more obedient.
{ عَلَىٰ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ خَيْراً مِّنْهُمْ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ }
(41) – إِنَّهُ لَقَادِرٌ عَلَى أَنْ يُبَدِّلَ هَذَا الخَلْقَ الأَمْثَلَ بِهَؤُلاَءِ المُشْرِكِينَ، وأَنْ يَجْعَلَهُمْ يَسْتَمِعُونَ دَعْوَةَ الرُّسُلِ وَنُصْحَهُمْ، وَأَنَّهُ تَعَالَى لاَ يُعْجِزُهُ ذَلِكَ، وَلاَ يَفُوتُهُ هَؤُلاَءِ المُشْرِكُونَ هَرَباً فِي الأَرْضِ.

(أَيْ إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى قَادِرٌ عَلَى أَنْ يَذْهَبَ بِهَؤُلاَءِ الكَافِرِينَ، وَأَنْ يَأْتِيَ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ أَفْضَلَ وَأَمْثَلَ مِنْهُمْ لِيَخْلُفُوهُمْ فِي الأَرْضِ).

مَسْبُوقِينَ – مَغْلُوبِينَ أَوْ عَاجِزِينَ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 41
41. He is able to replace those polytheists with better men than them. He will make them respond to the call of the messengers and to their
advise. Nothing can incapacitate Allah Almighty, and these polytheists cannot escape from Him on earth. (That means that Allah can destroy these unbelievers and replace them with new creatures who are better than them to be their successors on earth.)
{ فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُواْ وَيَلْعَبُواْ حَتَّىٰ يُلَٰقُواْ يَوْمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِي يُوعَدُونَ }
{ يُلاَقُواْ }

(42) – فَدَعْهُمْ فِي تَكْذِيبِهِمْ وَعِنَادِهِمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ البَعْثِ، وَحِينَئِذٍ يَعْلَمُونَ عَاقِبَةَ أَمْرِهِمْ، وَسُوءَ مُنْقَلَبِهِمْ، وَيَذُوقُونَ العَذَابَ بِمَا كَسبَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ.

يَخُوضُوا – يَنْغَمِسُوا فِي أَبَاطِيلِهِمْ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 42
42. Let them cry lies and remain obstinate till the Day of Resurrection. Then they will know the consequence of their actions and their evil fate, and taste the torture for their wicked deeds.
{ يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلأَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعاً كَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ نُصُبٍ يُوفِضُونَ }
(43) – وَفِي ذَلِكَ اليَومِ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ القُبُورِ سِرَاعاً، حِينَ يَدْعُوهُم الدَّاعِي، يُسَابِقُ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضاً، كَمَا كَانُوا يُهَرْوِلُونَ فِي الدُّنْيَا إِلَى النُّصُبِ حِينَ يُعَايِنُونَهُ، وَكُلُّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يَسْتَلِمَهُ قَبْلَ غَيْرِهِ تَبَرُّكاً بِهِ.

يُوفِضُونَ – يُسَارِعُونَ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 43
43. On that day, they will rise from their tombs in haste when the caller calls them, racing ahead of each other, just as they rushed to the idol in their life on earth when they saw it, each wanting to obtain it before the other to be blessed by it.
{ خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ذَلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمُ ٱلَّذِي كَانُواْ يُوعَدُونَ }
{ خَاشِعَةً } { أَبْصَارُهُمْ }

(44) – وَتَكُونُ أَبْصَارُهُمْ خَاشِعَةً ذَلِيلَةً مِنْ هَوْلِ مَا تَحَقَّقُوهُ مِنْ سُوءِ المُنْقَلَبِ والمَصِيرِ، فَذَلِكَ اليَوْمُ هُوَ اليَوْمُ الذِي كَانَ الرُّسُلُ يَعِدُونَهُمْ بِهِ فَلاَ يُصَدِّقُونَ، بَلْ كَانُوا يُكَذِّبُونَ، وَيَسْخَرُونَ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ، وَمِنْ هَذَا اليَومِ، فَلْيَذُوقُوا اليَومَ العَذَابَ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ وَيَكْفُرُونَ.

خَاشِعَةً – ذَلِيلَةً مُنْكَسِرَةً.

تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ – تَغْشَاهُمْ مَهَانَةٌ شَدِيدَةٌ.
Surah Al-Ma’arij: Verse 44
44. Their eyes will be lowered and humiliated by the terrors of the evil fate which they deserve. That day is the day which the messengers promised them would take place but they did not believe them. Instead, they denied it, mocked the messengers and ridiculed this day. Let them taste then the torture for their evil deeds and their disbelief.
Source: This series of Tafsir books has been made available online by the family of Dr. Assaad Homad (may Allah have mercy on him). These volumes were entirely digitized to provide an accessible and easy format for todays digital age. Please keep Dr. Assaad and his family in your sincere prayers.
تم إتاحة هذه السلسلة من كتب التفسير عبر الإنترنت من قبل عائلة الدكتور أسعد حومد (رحمه الله). لقد قمنا برقمنة هذه المجلدات بالكامل لتوفير تنسيق يسهل الوصول إليه واستخدامه في عصرنا الرقمي الحالي. نرجو منكم ألا تنسوا الدكتور أسعد وعائلته من صالح دعائكم.