SURAH AL-MA’ARIJ (THE WAYS OF ASCENT)

This surah has 44 verses and it was revealed in Mecca. It is narrated from the Holy Prophet (S) that the reward for reciting this surah is equivalent to the total number of people who keep up prayer and safeguard the property which has been entrusted to them.

Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) has said that the one who recites this surah will have his sins hidden on the Day of Judgement and he will enter Paradise alongside the Holy Prophet (S). If a prisoner recites this surah, he will secure his release. Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) said that if this surah is recited before sleeping, one keeps safe from the temptations of Shaitan.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

سَاَلَ سَآئِلٌ ۢ بِعَذَابٍ وَّاقِعٍۙ‏(1)

(1) One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall

لِّلْكٰفِرِيْنَ لَيْسَ لَهٗ دَافِعٌ ۙ‏(2)

(2) The unbelievers-- there is none to avert it--

مِّنَ اللّٰهِ ذِى الْمَعَارِجِؕ‏(3)

(3) From Allah, the Lord of the ways of Ascent.

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

(4) To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years.

فَاصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيْلًا‏(5)

(5) Therefore endure with a goodly patience.

اِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهٗ بَعِيْدًا ۙ‏(6)

(6) Surely they think it to be far off,

وَّنَرٰٮهُ قَرِيْبًا ؕ‏(7)

(7) And We see it nigh.

يَوْمَ تَكُوْنُ السَّمَآءُ كَالْمُهْلِۙ‏(8)

(8) On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper

وَتَكُوْنُ الْجِبَالُ كَالْعِهْنِۙ‏(9)

(9) And the mountains shall be as tufts of wool

وَلَا يَسْئَلُ حَمِيْمٌ حَمِيْمًا ۖۚ‏(10)

(10) And friend shall not ask of friend

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

(11) (Though) they shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children,

وَ صَاحِبَتِهٖ وَاَخِيْهِۙ‏(12)

(12) And his wife and his brother

وَفَصِيْلَتِهِ الَّتِىْ تُئْوِيْهِۙ‏(13)

(13) And the nearest of his kinsfolk who gave him shelter,

وَمَنْ فِى الْاَرْضِ جَمِيْعًا ۙ ثُمَّ يُنْجِيْهِۙ‏(14)

(14) And all those that are in the earth, (wishing) then (that) this might deliver him.

كَلَّاؕ اِنَّهَا لَظٰىۙ‏(15)

(15) By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire

نَزَّاعَةً لِّلشَّوٰى‌ ۖ‌ۚ‏(16)

(16) Dragging by the head,

تَدْعُوْا مَنْ اَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلّٰىۙ‏(17)

(17) It shall claim him who turned and fled (from truth),

وَجَمَعَ فَاَوْعٰى‏(18)

(18) And amasses (wealth) then shuts it up.

اِنَّ الْاِنْسَانَ خُلِقَ هَلُوْعًا ۙ‏(19)

(19) Surely man is created of a hasty temperament

اِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ جَزُوْعًا ۙ‏(20)

(20) Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him

وَاِذَا مَسَّهُ الْخَيْرُ مَنُوْعًا ۙ‏(21)

(21) And niggardly when good befalls him

اِلَّا الْمُصَلِّيْنَۙ‏(22)

(22) Except those who pray,

الَّذِيْنَ هُمْ عَلٰى صَلَاتِهِمْ دَآئِمُوْنَۙ‏(23)

(23) Those who are constant at their prayer

وَالَّذِيْنَ فِىْۤ اَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَّعْلُوْمٌۙ‏(24)

(24) And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion.

لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَالْمَحْرُوْمِۙ‏(25)

(25) For him who begs and for him who is denied (good)

وَالَّذِيْنَ يُصَدِّقُوْنَ بِيَوْمِ الدِّيْنِۙ‏(26)

(26) And those who accept the truth of the Judgement day

وَالَّذِيْنَ هُمْ مِّنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّهِمْ مُّشْفِقُوْنَ‌ۚ‏(27)

(27) And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord--

اِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَاْمُوْنٍ‏(28)

(28) Surely the chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure of--

وَالَّذِيْنَ هُمْ لِفُرُوْجِهِمْ حٰفِظُوْنَۙ‏(29)

(29) And those who guard their private parts,

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

(30) Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed,

فَمَنِ ابْتَغٰى وَرَآءَ ذٰلِكَ فَاُولٰٓئِكَ هُمُ الْعٰدُوْنَ‌ۚ‏(31)

(31) But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits--

وَالَّذِيْنَ هُمْ لِاَمٰنٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رٰعُوْنَ ۙ‏(32)

(32) And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant

وَالَّذِيْنَ هُمْ بِشَهٰدٰتِهِمْ قَآئِمُوْنَ ۙ‏(33)

(33) And those who are upright in their testimonies,

وَالَّذِيْنَ هُمْ عَلٰى صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُوْنَؕ‏(34)

(34) And those who keep a guard on their prayer,

اُولٰٓئِكَ فِىْ جَنّٰتٍ مُّكْرَمُوْنَؕ‏(35)

(35) Those shall be in gardens, honored.

فَمَالِ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا قِبَلَكَ مُهْطِعِيْنَۙ‏(36)

(36) But what is the matter with those who disbelieve that they hasten on around you,

عَنِ الْيَمِيْنِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ عِزِيْنَ‏(37)

(37) On the right hand and on the left, in sundry parties?

اَيَطْمَعُ كُلُّ امْرِىءٍ مِّنْهُمْ اَنْ يُّدْخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيْمٍۙ‏(38)

(38) Does every man of them desire that he should be made to enter the garden of bliss?

كَلَّا ؕ اِنَّا خَلَقْنٰهُمْ مِّمَّا يَعْلَمُوْنَ‏(39)

(39) By no means! Surely We have created them of what they know.

فَلَاۤ اُقْسِمُ بِرَبِّ الْمَشٰرِقِ وَالْمَغٰرِبِ اِنَّا لَقٰدِرُوْنَۙ‏(40)

(40) But nay! I swear by the Lord of the Easts and the Wests that We are certainly able

عَلٰٓى اَنْ نُّبَدِّلَ خَيْرًا مِّنْهُمْۙ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوْقِيْنَ‏(41)

(41) To bring instead (others) better than them, and We shall not be overcome.

فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوْضُوْا وَيَلْعَبُوْا حَتّٰى يُلٰقُوْا يَوْمَهُمُ الَّذِىْ يُوْعَدُوْنَۙ‏(42)

(42) Therefore leave them alone to go on with the false discourses and to sport until they come face to face with that day of theirs with which they are threatened;

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

(43) The day on which they shall come forth from their graves in haste, as if they were hastening on to a goal,

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

(44) Their eyes cast down; disgrace shall overtake them; that is the day which they were threatened with.