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Chapter 70·Meccan·44 verses

المَعَارِجِ

Surah Al-Ma'aarij

The Ascending Stairways

The ascending stairways and the qualities of the saved.

About Surah Al-Ma'aarij

Al-Ma‘arij, “The Ascending Stairways,” depicts the Day of Judgement and lists the qualities — constancy in prayer, charity and chastity — of those who are saved.

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۞

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

  1. 1 Al-Ma'aarij 70:1

    بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ سَأَلَ سَآئِلٌۢ بِعَذَابٍۢ وَاقِعٍۢ

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

    A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen

  2. 2 Al-Ma'aarij 70:2

    لِّلْكَٰفِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ دَافِعٌۭ

    Lilkaafireen laisa lahoo daafi'

    To the disbelievers; of it there is no preventer.

  3. 3 Al-Ma'aarij 70:3

    مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِى ٱلْمَعَارِجِ

    Minal laahi zil ma'aarij

    [It is] from Allah, owner of the ways of ascent.

  4. 4 Al-Ma'aarij 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

    The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years.

  5. 5 Al-Ma'aarij 70:5

    فَٱصْبِرْ صَبْرًۭا جَمِيلًا

    Fasbir ssabran jameelaa

    So be patient with gracious patience.

  6. 6 Al-Ma'aarij 70:6

    إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُۥ بَعِيدًۭا

    Inaahum yarawnahoo ba'eedaa

    Indeed, they see it [as] distant,

  7. 7 Al-Ma'aarij 70:7

    وَنَرَىٰهُ قَرِيبًۭا

    Wa naraahu qareebaa

    But We see it [as] near.

  8. 8 Al-Ma'aarij 70:8

    يَوْمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلْمُهْلِ

    Yawma takoonus samaaa'u kalmuhl

    On the Day the sky will be like murky oil,

  9. 9 Al-Ma'aarij 70:9

    وَتَكُونُ ٱلْجِبَالُ كَٱلْعِهْنِ

    Wa takoonul jibaalu kal'ihn

    And the mountains will be like wool,

  10. 10 Al-Ma'aarij 70:10

    وَلَا يَسْـَٔلُ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيمًۭا

    Wa laa yas'alu hameemun hameemaa

    And no friend will ask [anything of] a friend,

  11. 11 Al-Ma'aarij 70:11

    يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ ۚ يَوَدُّ ٱلْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِى مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍۭ بِبَنِيهِ

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

    They will be shown each other. The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children

  12. 12 Al-Ma'aarij 70:12

    وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَأَخِيهِ

    Wa saahibatihee wa akheeh

    And his wife and his brother

  13. 13 Al-Ma'aarij 70:13

    وَفَصِيلَتِهِ ٱلَّتِى تُـْٔوِيهِ

    Wa faseelathil latee tu'weeh

    And his nearest kindred who shelter him

  14. 14 Al-Ma'aarij 70:14

    وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًۭا ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ

    Wa man fil ardi jamee'an summa yunjeeh

    And whoever is on earth entirely [so] then it could save him.

  15. 15 Al-Ma'aarij 70:15

    كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ

    Kallaa innahaa lazaa

    No! Indeed, it is the Flame [of Hell],

  16. 16 Al-Ma'aarij 70:16

    نَزَّاعَةًۭ لِّلشَّوَىٰ

    Nazzaa'atal lishshawaa

    A remover of exteriors.

  17. 17 Al-Ma'aarij 70:17

    تَدْعُوا۟ مَنْ أَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ

    Tad'oo man adbara wa tawallaa

    It invites he who turned his back [on truth] and went away [from obedience]

  18. 18 Al-Ma'aarij 70:18

    وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعَىٰٓ

    W jama'a fa aw'aa

    And collected [wealth] and hoarded.

  19. 19 Al-Ma'aarij 70:19

    ۞ إِنَّ ٱلْإِنسَٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا

    Innal insaana khuliqa haloo'aa

    Indeed, mankind was created anxious:

  20. 20 Al-Ma'aarij 70:20

    إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعًۭا

    Izaa massahush sharru jazoo'aa

    When evil touches him, impatient,

  21. 21 Al-Ma'aarij 70:21

    وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلْخَيْرُ مَنُوعًا

    Wa izaa massahul khairu manoo'aa

    And when good touches him, withholding [of it],

  22. 22 Al-Ma'aarij 70:22

    إِلَّا ٱلْمُصَلِّينَ

    Illal musalleen

    Except the observers of prayer -

  23. 23 Al-Ma'aarij 70:23

    ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ دَآئِمُونَ

    Allazeena hum 'alaa Salaatihim daaa'imoon

    Those who are constant in their prayer

  24. 24 Al-Ma'aarij 70:24

    وَٱلَّذِينَ فِىٓ أَمْوَٰلِهِمْ حَقٌّۭ مَّعْلُومٌۭ

    Wallazeena feee amwaalihim haqqum ma'loom

    And those within whose wealth is a known right

  25. 25 Al-Ma'aarij 70:25

    لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلْمَحْرُومِ

    Lissaaa 'ili walmahroom

    For the petitioner and the deprived -

  26. 26 Al-Ma'aarij 70:26

    وَٱلَّذِينَ يُصَدِّقُونَ بِيَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ

    Wallazeena yusaddiqoona bi yawmid Deen

    And those who believe in the Day of Recompense

  27. 27 Al-Ma'aarij 70:27

    وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّهِم مُّشْفِقُونَ

    Wallazeena hum min 'azaabi Rabbihim mushfiqoon

    And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord -

  28. 28 Al-Ma'aarij 70:28

    إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَأْمُونٍۢ

    Inna 'azaaba Rabbihim ghairu maamoon

    Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe -

  29. 29 Al-Ma'aarij 70:29

    وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَٰفِظُونَ

    Wallazeena hum lifuroo jihim haafizoon

    And those who guard their private parts

  30. 30 Al-Ma'aarij 70:30

    إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزْوَٰجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَٰنُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ

    Illaa 'alaaa azwaajihim aw maa malakat aymaanuhum fainnahum ghairu maloomeen

    Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed -

  31. 31 Al-Ma'aarij 70:31

    فَمَنِ ٱبْتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْعَادُونَ

    Famanib taghaa waraaa'a zaalika fa ulaaa'ika humul 'aadoon

    But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors -

  32. 32 Al-Ma'aarij 70:32

    وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَٰنَٰتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَٰعُونَ

    Wallazeena hum li amaa naatihim wa 'ahdihim raa'oon

    And those who are to their trusts and promises attentive

  33. 33 Al-Ma'aarij 70:33

    وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِشَهَٰدَٰتِهِمْ قَآئِمُونَ

    Wallazeena hum bishahaadaatihim qaaa'imoon

    And those who are in their testimonies upright

  34. 34 Al-Ma'aarij 70:34

    وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ

    Wallazeena hum 'alaa salaatihim yuhaafizoon

    And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer:

  35. 35 Al-Ma'aarij 70:35

    أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍۢ مُّكْرَمُونَ

    Ulaaa'ika fee jannaatim mukramoon

    They will be in gardens, honored.

  36. 36 Al-Ma'aarij 70:36

    فَمَالِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ قِبَلَكَ مُهْطِعِينَ

    Famaa lil lazeena kafaroo qibalaka muhti'een

    So what is [the matter] with those who disbelieve, hastening [from] before you, [O Muhammad],

  37. 37 Al-Ma'aarij 70:37

    عَنِ ٱلْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ عِزِينَ

    'Anil yameeni wa 'anish shimaali 'izeen

    [To sit] on [your] right and [your] left in separate groups?

  38. 38 Al-Ma'aarij 70:38

    أَيَطْمَعُ كُلُّ ٱمْرِئٍۢ مِّنْهُمْ أَن يُدْخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٍۢ

    Ayatma'u kullum ri'im minhum anyyudkhala jannata Na'eem

    Does every person among them aspire to enter a garden of pleasure?

  39. 39 Al-Ma'aarij 70:39

    كَلَّآ ۖ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَٰهُم مِّمَّا يَعْلَمُونَ

    Kallaaa innaa khalaq nahum mimmaa ya'lamoon

    No! Indeed, We have created them from that which they know.

  40. 40 Al-Ma'aarij 70:40

    فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْمَشَٰرِقِ وَٱلْمَغَٰرِبِ إِنَّا لَقَٰدِرُونَ

    Falaaa uqsimu bi Rabbil mashaariqi wal maghaaribi innaa laqaadiroon

    So I swear by the Lord of [all] risings and settings that indeed We are able

  41. 41 Al-Ma'aarij 70:41

    عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ خَيْرًۭا مِّنْهُمْ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ

    'Alaaa an nubaddila khairam minhum wa maa Nahnu bimasbooqeen

    To replace them with better than them; and We are not to be outdone.

  42. 42 Al-Ma'aarij 70:42

    فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا۟ وَيَلْعَبُوا۟ حَتَّىٰ يُلَٰقُوا۟ يَوْمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِى يُوعَدُونَ

    Fazarhum yakhoodoo wa yal'aboo hattaa yulaaqoo yaw mahumul lazee yoo'adoon

    So leave them to converse vainly and amuse themselves until they meet their Day which they are promised -

  43. 43 Al-Ma'aarij 70:43

    يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعًۭا كَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ نُصُبٍۢ يُوفِضُونَ

    Yawma yakhrujoona minal ajdaasi siraa'an ka anna hum ilaa nusubiny yoofidoon

    The Day they will emerge from the graves rapidly as if they were, toward an erected idol, hastening.

  44. 44 Al-Ma'aarij 70:44

    خَٰشِعَةً أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌۭ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلْيَوْمُ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يُوعَدُونَ

    Khaashi'atan absaaruhum tarhaquhum zillah; zaalikal yawmul lazee kaanoo yoo'adoon

    Their eyes humbled, humiliation will cover them. That is the Day which they had been promised.

Surah Al-Ma'aarij — frequently asked questions

What does Surah Al-Ma'aarij mean?

“Al-Ma'aarij” translates to “The Ascending Stairways.” It is the 70th surah (chapter) of the Holy Quran.

How many verses are in Surah Al-Ma'aarij?

Surah Al-Ma'aarij has 44 verses (ayahs).

Is Surah Al-Ma'aarij Meccan or Medinan?

It is a Makkah (Meccan) surah — revealed before the Prophet’s ﷺ migration (Hijrah) to Madinah.

Can I read Surah Al-Ma'aarij in English online?

Yes. You can read Surah Al-Ma'aarij free on this page in Arabic with a clear English translation and transliteration, so you can both understand the meaning and learn to recite it.

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