»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