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QUR’AN · SURAH 70

Al-Ma'aarij

The Ascending Stairways · undefined verses · Meccan

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Translation of meaning: Muhammad Asad. Transliteration is a learning aid; it cannot capture every Arabic sound. Recitation: Mishary Rashid Alafasy via Islamic Network. Recitation is streamed from Islamic Network and requires internet access.
70:1
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ سَأَلَ سَآئِلٌۢ بِعَذَابٍۢ وَاقِعٍۢ

Sa ala saaa'ilum bi'azaa binw-waaqi'

ONE who is minded to ask might ask about the suffering which [in the hereafter] is bound to befall

70:2
لِّلْكَٰفِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَافِعٌۭ

Lilkaafireen laisa lahoo daafi'

those who deny the truth. [Know, then, that] nothing can ward it off,

70:3
مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِى ٱلْمَعَارِجِ

Minal laahi zil ma'aarij

[since it will come] from God, unto whom there are many ways of ascent:

70:4
تَعْرُجُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِى يَوْمٍۢ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُۥ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍۢ

Ta'rujul malaaa'ikatu war Roohu ilaihi fee yawmin kaana miqdaaruhoo khamseena alfa sanah

all the angels and all the inspiration [ever granted to man] ascend unto Him [daily,] in a day the length whereof is [like] fifty thousand years…

70:5
فَٱصْبِرْ صَبْرًۭا جَمِيلًا

Fasbir ssabran jameelaa

Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience:

70:6
إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُۥ بَعِيدًۭا

Inaahum yarawnahoo ba'eedaa

behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away –

70:7
وَنَرَىٰهُ قَرِيبًۭا

Wa naraahu qareebaa

but, We see it as near!

70:8
يَوْمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلْمُهْلِ

Yawma takoonus samaaa'u kalmuhl

[It will take place] on a Day when the sky will be like molten lead,

70:9
وَتَكُونُ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَٱلْعِهْنِ

Wa takoonul jibaalu kal'ihn

and the mountains will be like tufts of wool,

70:10
وَلَا يَسْـَٔلُ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيمًۭا

Wa laa yas'alu hameemun hameemaa

and [when] no friend will ask about his friend,

70:11
يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ ۚ يَوَدُّ ٱلْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِى مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍۭ بِبَنِيهِ

Yubassaroonahum; ya waddul mujrimu law yaftadee min 'azaabi yawma'izim bibaneeh

though they may be in one another's sight: [for,] everyone who was lost in sin will on that Day but desire to ransom himself from suffering at the price of his own children,

70:12
وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَأَخِيهِ

Wa saahibatihee wa akheeh

and of his spouse, and of his brother,

70:13
وَفَصِيلَتِهِ ٱلَّتِى تُـْٔوِيهِ

Wa faseelathil latee tu'weeh

and of all the kinsfolk who ever sheltered him,

70:14
وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًۭا ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ

Wa man fil ardi jamee'an summa yunjeeh

and of whoever [else] lives on earth, all of them - so that he could but save himself.

70:15
كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ

Kallaa innahaa lazaa

But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame,

70:16
نَزَّاعَةًۭ لِّلشَّوَىٰ

Nazzaa'atal lishshawaa

tearing away his skin!

70:17
تَدْعُوا۟ مَنْ أَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

Tad'oo man adbara wa tawallaa

It will claim all such as turn their backs [on what is right], and turn away [from the truth],

70:18
وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعَىٰٓ

W jama'a fa aw'aa

and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men].

70:19
۞ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا

Innal insaana khuliqa haloo'aa

VERILY, man is born with a restless disposition.

70:20
إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعًۭا

Izaa massahush sharru jazoo'aa

[As a rule,] whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity;

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English translation of meaning: Muhammad Asad. Use the interactive reader above for transliteration, recitation and verse controls.

Qur’an 70:1

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ سَأَلَ سَآئِلٌۢ بِعَذَابٍۢ وَاقِعٍۢ

ONE who is minded to ask might ask about the suffering which [in the hereafter] is bound to befall

Qur’an 70:2

لِّلْكَٰفِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَافِعٌۭ

those who deny the truth. [Know, then, that] nothing can ward it off,

Qur’an 70:3

مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِى ٱلْمَعَارِجِ

[since it will come] from God, unto whom there are many ways of ascent:

Qur’an 70:4

تَعْرُجُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِى يَوْمٍۢ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُۥ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍۢ

all the angels and all the inspiration [ever granted to man] ascend unto Him [daily,] in a day the length whereof is [like] fifty thousand years…

Qur’an 70:5

فَٱصْبِرْ صَبْرًۭا جَمِيلًا

Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience:

Qur’an 70:6

إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُۥ بَعِيدًۭا

behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away –

Qur’an 70:7

وَنَرَىٰهُ قَرِيبًۭا

but, We see it as near!

Qur’an 70:8

يَوْمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلْمُهْلِ

[It will take place] on a Day when the sky will be like molten lead,

Qur’an 70:9

وَتَكُونُ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَٱلْعِهْنِ

and the mountains will be like tufts of wool,

Qur’an 70:10

وَلَا يَسْـَٔلُ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيمًۭا

and [when] no friend will ask about his friend,

Qur’an 70:11

يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ ۚ يَوَدُّ ٱلْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِى مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍۭ بِبَنِيهِ

though they may be in one another's sight: [for,] everyone who was lost in sin will on that Day but desire to ransom himself from suffering at the price of his own children,

Qur’an 70:12

وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَأَخِيهِ

and of his spouse, and of his brother,

Qur’an 70:13

وَفَصِيلَتِهِ ٱلَّتِى تُـْٔوِيهِ

and of all the kinsfolk who ever sheltered him,

Qur’an 70:14

وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًۭا ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ

and of whoever [else] lives on earth, all of them - so that he could but save himself.

Qur’an 70:15

كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ

But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame,

Qur’an 70:16

نَزَّاعَةًۭ لِّلشَّوَىٰ

tearing away his skin!

Qur’an 70:17

تَدْعُوا۟ مَنْ أَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

It will claim all such as turn their backs [on what is right], and turn away [from the truth],

Qur’an 70:18

وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعَىٰٓ

and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men].

Qur’an 70:19

۞ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا

VERILY, man is born with a restless disposition.

Qur’an 70:20

إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعًۭا

[As a rule,] whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity;

Qur’an 70:21

وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلْخَيْرُ مَنُوعًا

and whenever good fortune comes to him, he selfishly withholds it [from others].

Qur’an 70:22

إِلَّا ٱلْمُصَلِّينَ

Not so, however, those who consciously turn towards God in prayer.

Qur’an 70:23

ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ دَآئِمُونَ

[and] who incessantly persevere in their prayer

Qur’an 70:24

وَٱلَّذِينَ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّۭ مَّعْلُومٌۭ

and in whose possessions there is a due share, acknowledged [by them],

Qur’an 70:25

لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ

for such as ask [for help] and such as are deprived [of what is good in life];

Qur’an 70:26

وَٱلَّذِينَ يُصَدِّقُونَ بِيَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ

and who accept as true the [coming of the] Day of Judgment;

Qur’an 70:27

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَ

and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement –

Qur’an 70:28

إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَأْمُونٍۢ

for, behold, of their Sustainer's chastisement none may ever feel [wholly] secure;

Qur’an 70:29

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَٰفِظُونَ

and who are mindful of their chastity,

Qur’an 70:30

إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ

[not giving way to their desires] with any but their spouses - that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock] -: for then, behold, they are free of all blame,

Qur’an 70:31

فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَ

whereas such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are truly transgressors;

Qur’an 70:32

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَٰنَٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ

and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges:

Qur’an 70:33

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِشَهَٰدَٰتِهِمْ قَآئِمُونَ

and who stand firm whenever they bear witness;

Qur’an 70:34

وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ

and who guard their prayers [from all worldly intent].

Qur’an 70:35

أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍۢ مُّكْرَمُونَ

These it is who in the gardens [of paradise] shall be honoured!

Qur’an 70:36

فَمَالِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ قِبَلَكَ مُهْطِعِينَ

WHAT, THEN, is amiss with such as are bent on denying the truth, that they run about confusedly to and fro before thee,

Qur’an 70:37

عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ عِزِينَ

[coming upon thee] from the right and from the left, in crowds?

Qur’an 70:38

أَيَطْمَعُ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُدْخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٍۢ

Does every one of them hope to enter [by this means] a garden of bliss?

Qur’an 70:39

كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰهُم مِّمَّا يَعْلَمُونَ

Never! For, behold, We have created them out of something that they know [only too well]!

Qur’an 70:40

فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْمَشَٰرِقِ وَٱلْمَغَٰرِبِ إِنَّا لَقَٰدِرُونَ

But nay! I call to witness [Our being] the Sustainer of all the points of sunrise and sunset: verily, well able are We

Qur’an 70:41

عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهُمْ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ

to replace them with [people] better than they are; for there is nothing to prevent Us [from doing what We will].

Qur’an 70:42

فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا۟ وَيَلْعَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يُلَٰقُوا۟ يَوْمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ

Hence, leave them to indulge in idle talk and play [with words] until they face that [Judgment] Day of theirs which they have been promised –

Qur’an 70:43

يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعًۭا كَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ نُصُبٍۢ يُوفِضُونَ

the Day when they shall come forth in haste from their graves, as if racing towards a goal-post,

Qur’an 70:44

خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمُ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ

with downcast eyes, with ignominy overwhelming them: that Day which they were promised again and…