Overview - Surah 70: al-Ma`arij (The Ways of Ascent)
It talks about the ways of the ascent of the Believers. The rise of truth will be gradual, but it is sure. The Surah talks about the problems of human beings in general, but those who believe their character is different. It warns about the coming doom of the disbelievers.
The Surah takes its name from the Ayat, مِّنَ اللَّـهِ ذِي الْمَعَارِجِ "[It is] from Allah, owner of the ways of ascent." [70:3].
There are 44 Ayat in this Surah.
Overview
| Total Ayat | 44 |
| Total Words * | 217 |
| Root Words * | 110 |
| Unique Root Words * | 3 |
| Makki / Madani | Makki |
| Chronological Order* | 79th (according to Ibn Abbas) |
| Year of Revelation* | |
| Events during/before this Surah*
N/A
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| Events during/after still to occur*
N/A
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| Names of Prophets Mentioned
No Prophets names are mentioned in this Surah
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| Surah Index
Adversity (patience during) , God (a thousand human years) (fifty thousand years), Angels, Astronomy (sunrise) , Astronomy (sunset) , Chastity, Gabriel, Grave, Hell, Humankind (born with a restless disposition) , Judgement (Day) , Judgement (Day) (like tufts of wool), Judgement (Day) (like molten lead), Prayer, Sexual Relations, Slaves
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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 Prophet 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. God 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, practice honesty in all their dealings, fulfill 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 Prophet 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, God will replace you by other people who will be better than you,” and the Prophet 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.”
The ascending of the Angels in the heavens. The urging of the believers to ascend the grades the heaven and work harder to earn the higher ranks of Paradise.
- In the beginning of the Surah, Allah tells the Prophet to have beautiful patience [70:5] and towards the end, He tells him, "So leave them to converse vainly and amuse themselves until they meet their Day which they are promised." [70:42].
Manuscripts / Inscriptions
713 H 1313 CE
713 H 1313 CE
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
1st Century Hijrah (7th Century CE)
- In Surah al-Ma'arij [70:5], Allah advises the Prophet to have beautiful patience. The following Surah is on the Prophet Nuh who had much patience with this people for the great of time he spent in their midst.
- The Day of Judgement has been mentioned at least 9 times in this Surah. Ayat, [70:1], [70:6], [70:7], [70:8], [70:11], [70:26], [70:42], [70:43] and [70:44].
Total Word Count per Ayat (shows how many words per Ayat) = 3* | ||
| # | Root Word | Frequency in Surah | Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | ٱلَّذِى | 12 | 1464 |
| 2. | ي و م | 6 | 405 |
| 3. | س أ ل | 4 | 129 |
| 4. | ع ذ ب | 4 | 373 |
| 5. | ك و ن | 4 | 1390 |
| 6. | ص ل و | 3 | 99 |
| 7. | ر ب ب | 3 | 980 |
| 8. | ك ف ر | 2 | 525 |
| 9. | ع ر ج | 2 | 9 |
| 10. | م ل ك | 2 | 206 |
| Root Word | Frequency in Surah |
Frequency in Qur'an |
|---|---|---|
| ٱلَّذِى | 12 | 1464 |
| ي و م | 6 | 405 |
| س أ ل | 4 | 129 |
| ع ذ ب | 4 | 373 |
| ك و ن | 4 | 1390 |
| ص ل و | 3 | 99 |
| ر ب ب | 3 | 980 |
| ك ف ر | 2 | 525 |
| ع ر ج | 2 | 9 |
| م ل ك | 2 | 206 |
The subject matter bears evidence that this Surah too was sent down in conditions closely resembling those under which Surah 69: al-Haqqah (The Manifest Reality) was sent down.
Tafsir Zone
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Sayyid Qutb Overview (Verses 36 - 44) The surah then depicts a Makkan scene in which we see the unbelievers going hurriedly to where the Prophet was reading the Qur'an. Once there, they would split into groups around him. The surah criticizes their hurrying and grouping when they had no intention of listening to or of heeding his advice: What is wrong with the unbelievers that they run confusedly before you, from the right and the left, in crowds? (Verses 36-37) There is implied sarcasm in the question. It describes their confused movement, with the Arabic expression adding a connotation of their being led. The question wonders at their confusion: they move hurriedly, but without any intention of receiving guidance. They only want to learn what the Prophet says before splitting into small groups discussing how to resist what they have heard. What is wrong with them, then? "Does every one of them hope to enter a garden of bliss?" (Verse 38) How can they entertain such hopes when their behaviour leads only to hell, and not to heaven and its gardens of bliss? Do they think that they have a high position with God to ensure that they will enter heaven despite the fact that they disbelieve in Him, oppose the Prophet, scheme against Islam? They must imagine that they command very high value with God to achieve such elevation. The answer is swift and decisive: "No!" It is delivered in the negative, implying contempt. "We have created them from the substance they know." (Verse 39) They are aware that they have been created from a humble fluid they know well enough. There is an implicit, yet profound touch here, destroying all their pride and arrogance without using a single objectionable word. Yet the verse is so expressed that it depicts a state of utter humiliation and ignominy. How can they hope to be in heaven when they disbelieve and commit evil deeds, knowing from what substance they are created? In God's measure, they are too lowly to hold favour with Him. Why would He waive His law of administering justice to all according to their deeds just for them? Confirming their unimportance and lowly status, the surah states that God is able to replace them with better creatures. Furthermore, they cannot escape the punishment their actions deserve: By the Lord of all star risings and settings, We certainly have the power to replace them with better people. There is nothing to prevent Us from doing so. (Verses 40-41) The point at issue needs no oath, but the mention of risings and settings reflects God's greatness. These movements may refer to the rise risings and settings of the millions upon millions of stars in the universe. On the other hand, this may be a reference to sunrise and sunset over every point on our planet. At every moment, there is a sunrise and a sunset, as the earth continues to revolve. Whichever the meaning intended, the mention of these risings and settings gives us a feeling of the greatness of the universe and the Almightiness of God who created the universe. Do those people, created from humble fluid, need an oath by the Lord of all star risings and settings to realize that He is able to create better people? Do they need an oath confirming that they cannot escape from Him? The surah concludes with an address to the Prophet telling him to leave them to face their fate on that promised day. It shows their status then when they utterly distressed: Leave them to indulge in idle talk and play until they face the day they have been promised, the day when they shall come in haste from their graves, as if rallying to a flag, with eyes downcast, with ignominy overwhelming them. Such is the day they have been promised. (Verses 42-44) This address implies a definite warning that should fill them with worry and anticipation. Indeed, the image describing them and their movements on that day should add intense fear. Moreover, it carries a clear element of sarcasm to parallel their pride and conceit. We see them corning out of their graves, hurrying on like people rallying to a flag or to a statue they worship. This is consistent with what they do in this life when they rally to flags and statues on festive days. Now they do the same, but there is no festivity on that day. Their description is completed by the statement, `with ignominy overwhelming them.' We can almost see their faces clearly through these words. We see them humiliated, overwhelmed by ignominy. They used to play and indulge in idle talk, but now they are exhausted, broken: "Such is the day they have been promised." (Verse 44) That is the day they doubted would ever happen. Yet in their denial, they tried to hasten its arrival. Thus the surah ends, with perfect harmony between its opening and end. It represents an episode in the long discussion of the major issue of resurrection, reckoning and requital, setting the Islamic concept of life in contrast with un-Islamic concepts.
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Ibn Kathir (English)
Sayyid Qutb
Sha'rawi
Al Jalalain
Mawdudi
الطبري - جامع البيان
ابن كثير - تفسير القرآن العظيم
القرطبي - الجامع لأحكام
البغوي - معالم التنزيل
ابن أبي حاتم الرازي - تفسير القرآن
ابن عاشور - التحرير والتنوير
ابن القيم - تفسير ابن قيّم
السيوطي - الدر المنثور
الشنقيطي - أضواء البيان
ابن الجوزي - زاد المسير
الآلوسي - روح المعاني
ابن عطية - المحرر الوجيز
الرازي - مفاتيح الغيب
أبو السعود - إرشاد العقل السليم
الزمخشري - الكشاف
البقاعي - نظم الدرر
الهداية إلى بلوغ النهاية — مكي ابن أبي طالب
القاسمي - محاسن التأويل
الماوردي - النكت والعيون
السعدي - تيسير الكريم الرحمن
عبد الرحمن الثعالبي - الجواهر الحسان
السمرقندي - بحر العلوم
أبو إسحاق الثعلبي - الكشف والبيان
الشوكاني - فتح القدير
النيسابوري - التفسير البسيط
أبو حيان - البحر المحيط
البيضاوي - أنوار التنزيل
النسفي - مدارك التنزيل
ابن جُزَيّ - التسهيل لعلوم التنزيل
علي الواحدي النيسابوري - الوجيز
السيوطي - تفسير الجلالين
المختصر في التفسير — مركز تفسير
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- Surah 70. Al-Ma'arij - Saad al Ghamidi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfTMM4Floik&list=PLhM2xiAUdw2cAqW_o3zZkbhJNw0bnaBZN&index=70
- Surah 70. Al-Ma'arij Mahmoud Khalil Al Hussary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGXSicX5cFU&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfMFWX22VZWOKpzjr-vH_BM&index=70
- Surah 70. Al-Ma'arij Muhammad Al Luhaydan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDB_65XOahk&index=70&list=PLxpAkjlGauHfKAYuQLRNAZomoezhfhRZe
- Idris Akbar Surah Al-Ma'ari https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzLQR0Ea8Z4
- Surah 70. Al-Ma'arij Muhammad MInshawi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS4LIwZ_0cU&list=PLxpAkjlGauHdUcO_uc-8F8J2NUQRDZjPG&index=70
- Dr Israr Ahmed Tafsir Surah Al Ma'rij to Surah Al Qayammah 1 221 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ui-MH5O7yE&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263&index=105
- Surah Al Ma'rij to Surah Al Qayammah 1 222 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNIJiDh_a9Y&index=106&list=PLB4B8D1654A8BD263
