70: Al-Ma'arij المعارج

Text and Translation

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

BISMIL LAAHIR RAHMAANIR RAHEEM

In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful

سَاَلَ سَآئِلٌ ۢ بِعَذَابٍ وَّاقِعٍۙ‏(1)

SA-ALA SAAA-ELUM BE-A’ZAABINW WAAQE’.

An asker asked for a punishment sure to befall

لِّلْكٰفِرِيْنَ لَيْسَ لَهٗ دَافِعٌ ۙ‏(2)

LIL-KAAFEREENA LAYSA LAHU DAAFE’.

—which none can avert from the faithless —

مِّنَ اللّٰهِ ذِى الْمَعَارِجِؕ‏(3)

MENAL LAAHE ZIL MA-A’AREJ.

from Allah, Lord of the lofty stations.

تَعْرُجُ الْمَلٰٓئِكَةُ وَ الرُّوْحُ اِلَيْهِ فِىْ يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهٗ خَمْسِيْنَ اَلْفَ سَنَةٍ‌ۚ‏(4)

TA’ROJUL MALAAA-EKATO WAR ROOHO ELAYHE FEE YAWMIN KAANA MIQDAAROHU KHAMSEENA ALFA SANAH.

The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose span is fifty thousand years.

فَاصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيْلًا‏(5)

FASBIR SABRAN JAMEELAA.

So be patient, with a patience that is graceful.

اِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهٗ بَعِيْدًا ۙ‏(6)

INNAHUM YARAWNAHU BA-E’EDAA.

Indeed they see it to be far off,

وَّنَرٰٮهُ قَرِيْبًا ؕ‏(7)

WA NARAAHO QAREEBAA.

and We see it to be near.

يَوْمَ تَكُوْنُ السَّمَآءُ كَالْمُهْلِۙ‏(8)

YAWMA TAKOONUS SAMAAA-O KAL-MOHL.

The day when the sky will be like molten copper,

وَتَكُوْنُ الْجِبَالُ كَالْعِهْنِۙ‏(9)

WA TAKOONUL JEBAALO KAL-E’HN.

and the mountains like [tufts of] dyed wool,

وَلَا يَسْئَلُ حَمِيْمٌ حَمِيْمًا ۖۚ‏(10)

WA LAA YAS-ALO HAMEEMUN HAMEEMAA.

and no friend will inquire about [the welfare of his] friend,

يُّبَصَّرُوْنَهُمْ‌ؕ يَوَدُّ الْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِىْ مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍۢ بِبَنِيْهِۙ‏(11)

YOBASSAROONAHUM, YAWADDUL MUJREMO LAW YAFTADEE MIN A’ZAABE YAWME-EZIM BE-BANEEH.

[though] they will be placed within each other’s sight. The guilty one will wish he could ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children,

وَ صَاحِبَتِهٖ وَاَخِيْهِۙ‏(12)

WA SAAHEBATEHI WA AKHEEH.

his spouse and his brother,

وَفَصِيْلَتِهِ الَّتِىْ تُئْوِيْهِۙ‏(13)

WA FASEELATEHIL LATEE TOAWEEH.

his kin, which had sheltered him

وَمَنْ فِى الْاَرْضِ جَمِيْعًا ۙ ثُمَّ يُنْجِيْهِۙ‏(14)

WA MAN FIL ARZE JAMEE-A’N, SUMMA YUNJEEH.

and all those who are upon the earth, if that might deliver him.

كَلَّاؕ اِنَّهَا لَظٰىۙ‏(15)

KALLAA, INNAHAA LAZAA.

Never! Indeed, it is a blazing fire,

نَزَّاعَةً لِّلشَّوٰى‌ ۖ‌ۚ‏(16)

NAZZAA-A’TAL LISH-SHAWAA.

which strips away the scalp.

تَدْعُوْا مَنْ اَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلّٰىۙ‏(17)

TAD-O’O MAN ADBARA WA TAWALLAA.

It invites him, who has turned back [from the truth] and forsaken [it],

وَجَمَعَ فَاَوْعٰى‏(18)

WA JAMA-A’ FA-AW-A’A.

amassing [wealth] and hoarding [it].

اِنَّ الْاِنْسَانَ خُلِقَ هَلُوْعًا ۙ‏(19)

INNAL INSAANA KHOLEQA HALOO-A’A.

Indeed man has been created covetous:

اِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ جَزُوْعًا ۙ‏(20)

EZAA MASSAHUSH SHARRO JAZOO-A’A.

anxious when an ill befalls him

وَاِذَا مَسَّهُ الْخَيْرُ مَنُوْعًا ۙ‏(21)

WA EZAA MASSAHUL KHAYRO MANOO-A’A.

and grudging [charity] when good comes his way

اِلَّا الْمُصَلِّيْنَۙ‏(22)

ILLAL MOSALLEEN.

—[all are such] except the prayerful,

الَّذِيْنَ هُمْ عَلٰى صَلَاتِهِمْ دَآئِمُوْنَۙ‏(23)

LAZEENA HUM A’LAA SALAATEHIM DAAA-EMOON.

those who persevere in their prayers

وَالَّذِيْنَ فِىْۤ اَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَّعْلُوْمٌۙ‏(24)

WAL LAZEENA FEE AMWAALEHIM HAQQUM MA’LOOM.

and there is a known share in whose wealth

لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَالْمَحْرُوْمِۙ‏(25)

LIS-SAAA-ELE WAL MAHROOM.

for the beggar and the deprived,

وَالَّذِيْنَ يُصَدِّقُوْنَ بِيَوْمِ الدِّيْنِۙ‏(26)

WAL LAZEENA YOSADDEQOONA BE-YAWMID DEEN.

and who affirm the Day of Retribution,

وَالَّذِيْنَ هُمْ مِّنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّهِمْ مُّشْفِقُوْنَ‌ۚ‏(27)

WAL LAZEENA HUM MIN A’ZAABE RABBEHIM MUSHFEQOON.

and those who are apprehensive of the punishment of their Lord

اِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَاْمُوْنٍ‏(28)

INNA A’ZAABA RABBEHIM GHAYRO MAAMOON.

(there is indeed no security from the punishment of their Lord)

وَالَّذِيْنَ هُمْ لِفُرُوْجِهِمْ حٰفِظُوْنَۙ‏(29)

WAL LAZEENA HUM LE-FOROOJEHIM HAAFEZOON.

and those who guard their private parts

اِلَّا عَلٰٓى اَزْوَاجِهِمْ اَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ اَيْمَانُهُمْ فَاِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُوْمِيْنَ‌ۚ‏(30)

ILLAA A’LAA AZWAAJEHIM AW MAA MALAKAT AYMAANOHUM FA-INNAHUM GHAYRO MALOOMEEN.

(apart from their spouses and their slave women, for then they are not blameworthy;

فَمَنِ ابْتَغٰى وَرَآءَ ذٰلِكَ فَاُولٰٓئِكَ هُمُ الْعٰدُوْنَ‌ۚ‏(31)

FAMANIB TAGHAA WARAAA-A ZAALEKA FA-OOLAAA-EKA HOMUL A’ADOON.

but whoever seeks beyond that—it is they who are the transgressors)

وَالَّذِيْنَ هُمْ لِاَمٰنٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رٰعُوْنَ ۙ‏(32)

WAL LAZEENA HUM LE-AMAANAATEHIM WA A’HDEHIM RAA-O’ON.

and those who keep their trusts and covenants,

وَالَّذِيْنَ هُمْ بِشَهٰدٰتِهِمْ قَآئِمُوْنَ ۙ‏(33)

WAL LAZEENA HUM BE-SHAHAADAATEHIM QAAA-EMOON.

and those who are observant of their testimonies,

وَالَّذِيْنَ هُمْ عَلٰى صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُوْنَؕ‏(34)

WAL LAZEENA HUM A’LAA SALAATEHIM YOHAAFEZOON.

and those who are watchful of their prayers.

اُولٰٓئِكَ فِىْ جَنّٰتٍ مُّكْرَمُوْنَؕ‏(35)

OOLAAA-EKA FEE JANNAATIM MUKRAMOON.

They will be in gardens, held in honour.

فَمَالِ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا قِبَلَكَ مُهْطِعِيْنَۙ‏(36)

FAMAALIL LAZEENA KAFAROO QEBALAKA MOHTE-E’EN.

What is the matter with the faithless that they scramble toward you,

عَنِ الْيَمِيْنِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ عِزِيْنَ‏(37)

A’NIL YAMEENE WA A’NISH SHEMAALE E’ZEEN.

from left and right, in groups?

اَيَطْمَعُ كُلُّ امْرِىءٍ مِّنْهُمْ اَنْ يُّدْخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيْمٍۙ‏(38)

AYATMA-O’ KULLUM RE-IM MINHUM AN-Y YUDKHALA JANNATA NA-E’EM.

Does each man among them hope to enter the garden of bliss?

كَلَّا ؕ اِنَّا خَلَقْنٰهُمْ مِّمَّا يَعْلَمُوْنَ‏(39)

KALLAA, INNAA KHALAQNAAHUM MIMMAA YA’LAMOON.

Never! Indeed, We created them from what they know.

فَلَاۤ اُقْسِمُ بِرَبِّ الْمَشٰرِقِ وَالْمَغٰرِبِ اِنَّا لَقٰدِرُوْنَۙ‏(40)

FALAA UQSEMO BE-RABBIL MASHAAREQE WAL MAGHAAREBE INNAA LA-QAADEROON.

So I swear by the Lord of the easts and the wests that We are able

عَلٰٓى اَنْ نُّبَدِّلَ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْۙ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوْقِيْنَ‏(41)

A’LAA AN NOBADDELA KHAYRAM MINHUM, WA MAA NAHNO BE-MASBOOQEEN.

to replace them with [others] better than them and We are not to be outmaneuvered.

فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوْضُوْا وَيَلْعَبُوْا حَتّٰى يُلٰقُوْا يَوْمَهُمُ الَّذِىْ يُوْعَدُوْنَۙ‏(42)

FA-ZARHUM YAKHOOZOO WA YAL-A’BOO HATTAA YOLAAQOO YAWMAHOMUL LAZEE YOO-A’DOON.

So leave them to gossip and play till they encounter the day they are promised:

يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُوْنَ مِنَ الْاَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعًا كَاَنَّهُمْ اِلٰى نُصُبٍ يُّوْفِضُوْنَۙ‏(43)

YAWMA YAKHROJOONA MENAL AJDAASE SERAA-A’N KA-ANNAHUM ELAA NOSOBIN-Y YOOFEZOON.

the day when they emerge from graves, hastening, as if racing toward a target,

خَاشِعَةً اَبْصَارُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ؕ ذٰلِكَ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِىْ كَانُوْا يُوْعَدُوْنَ‏(44)

KHAASHE-A’TAN ABSAAROHUM TARHAQOHUM ZILLAH, ZAALEKAL YAWMUL LAZEE KAANOO YOO-A’DOON.

with a humbled look [in their eyes], overcast by abasement. That is the day they had been promised.