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Chapter 70

Lofty Stationsal-Maʿārij ( المعارج )

44 verses • revealed at Meccan

»The surah that proclaims God to be the Lord of the heavenly ascents, Lofty Stations, the points of rising from which the angels ascend to God. It takes is named after the phrase “of lofty stations” (dhi al-maʿārij) in verse 3. The surah describes the Day of Judgement (verse 8 ff.). One of the opponents of the Prophet challenged him to hasten the punishment they had been threatened with (verse 1), so the foolishness of the disbelievers in denying the Resurrection (verse 6) is exposed (verse 36 ff.). The people who will be granted the Garden are described (verse 22 ff.).«

The surah is also known as Elevations, Staircases Upward, The Ascending Steps, The Heavenly Ascents, The Ladders, The Stairways, The Steps, The Ways of Ascent

بِسمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحمٰنِ الرَّحيمِ

Muhammad Asad: In The Name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace:

1
سَأَلَ سائِلٌ بِعَذابٍ واقِعٍ

Muhammad Asad

THUS CALLED after the word al-ma'arij appearing in verse 3, this surah belongs to the middle of the Mecca period. It is mainly devoted to the challenge which unbelief - or, rather, unwillingness to believe - offers to faith, both of them being conditioned by the restlessness inherent in human nature.
ONE who is minded to ask might ask1 about the suffering which [in the hereafter] is bound to befall
  • Lit.," An inquirer inquired" or "might inquire".