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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

Ali Unal: IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE ALL-MERCIFUL, THE ALL-COMPASSIONATE

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سَأَلَ سائِلٌ بِعَذابٍ واقِعٍ

Ali Unal

From the early years of the Revelation of the Qur’an in Makkah, this sūrah of 44 verses takes its name from the word al-ma’ārij (the stairs of ascent) in the third verse. Its central concern is the rejection of the Makkan polytheists’ denial of the afterlife and of the Prophethood of Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings.
A questioner (in mocking denial of the Day of Resurrection) has asked about the punishment certain to befall,