Al-Ma'arij

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

1. A caller from the idolaters called for the punishment upon himself and his people if this punishment was to actually come. It was a mockery on his part, but it will happen on the Day of Judgement.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

erciful: [70:1] A petitioner petitioned, a supplicator supplicated [for], an impending chastisement [70:2] — which in the case of the disbelievers none can avert: this was al-Nadr b. al-Harith who said, ‘O God, if this be indeed the truth from You ... [then rain down upon us Slones from the heaven [Q. 8:32], [70:3] from God (mina’Llahi is semantically connected to waqiin, ‘impending’), Lord of the Ascensions, the ascension routes of the angels, which are the heavens.

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

2. It will fall upon the disbelievers in Allah. There will be no one to avert this punishment.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

3. From Allah the possessor of highness, ranks, virtues and favours.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

4. The angels and Gabriel will ascend in them ranks on the Day of Judgement: it is a day of which the duration is fifty thousand years.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

n, ‘impending’), Lord of the Ascensions, the ascension routes of the angels, which are the heavens. [70:4] To Him, to the place in the heaven to which His command descends, ascend (read [feminine person] ta’ruju or [masculine person] yaruju ) the angels and the Spirit, Gabriel, in a day (fi yaw min is semantically connected to an omitted clause, that is to say, ‘[in a day] in which the chastisement befalls them’, on the Day of Resurrection) whose Span is fifty thousand years, from the perspective of the disbe¬ liever, on account of the calamities he will encounter in it — but as for the b…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

5. O Messenger! So be patient; a patience free of worry and complaint.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

ll be easier for him than an obligatory prayer which he performs in this world, as Stated in hadith. [70:5] So be patient — this was [revealed] before he [the Prophet] was commanded to fight — with a graceful patience, that is, one in which there is no anguish. [70:6] Lo! they see it, that is, the chastisement, as [being] far off, as never taking place; [70:7] while We see it [to be] near, taking place without a doubt. [70:8] 77 ie day when the heaven will be (yawma takunu’l-samau is semantically connected to an omitted clause, implicitly taken to b eyaqa’u, ‘it will take place’) as molte…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

6. Indeed, they think of this punishment to be farfetched and impossible.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

7. But I see it as being near and inevitably occurring.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

8. On the day when the sky will be like molten copper, gold and other metals.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

9. And the mountains will be light, like cotton.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

10. No relative will ask another regarding his state, because each person will be preoccupied with his own self.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

ns will be as flakes of wool, in terms of [their] lightness and [their] floating about in the wind. [70:10] And no friend will inquire about his friend, [no] relative [will inquire] about his relative, each being preoccupied with his own predicament. [70:11] They will [however] be made to see them, that is, friends will catch sight of one another, recog¬ nising one another but refraining from Speaking [to one another] (the sentence [yubassarunahum] is a new [independent] one).…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

11. Each human will see their relatives clearly, yet despite that no one will ask another due to the horror of the scenario. The one deserving of the hellfire will wish to present his children to the punishment instead of himself.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

12. Or give his wife and brother in ransom.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

’dhin or [min ‘adhabin ] yawma’idhin ) at the [70:12] and his companion, his wife, and his brother, [70:13] and his kin, his clan ([expressed as fasila] because he is a [detached] part [fasl ] of it) that had sheltered him, embraced him, [70:14] and all who are on earth, if it, that ransom, might then deliver him (thumma yunjihi is a supple¬ ment to yaftadi, ‘to ransom himself’). [70:15] Nay! — a refutation of his wish. Lo! [for him] it, namely, the Fire, will be the Churning Fire (lazd ) — a name for Hell, 1 [so called] because it churns its flames [tatalazzd] againSt the disbelievers,

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

13. Or his closest relatives who would stand with him in the face of difficulties.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

14. And he will wish to give every human and Jinn on earth in ransom, wishing that it would save him from the punishment of the hellfire.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

15. It will not be as this criminal will wish for. Indeed, it is the fire of the afterlife which blazes and flares up.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

16. Due to its extreme heat and flares, the skin of the head will come clean apart.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

in the Qur’an”, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies XXIV (1961), 444-69. [70:16] ripping out the scalp (shawa is the plural of shawdt, the skin of the head); [70:17] it will call him who turned his back and ignored, faith, saying [to him]: ‘To me ! to me [come hither]!’, [70:18] and amassed, wealth, then hoarded, keeping it in containers and refraining from paying from it what is God’s due. [70:19] Indeed man was created restless: ( haluan is an implied circumstantial qualifier, the explanation of which [follows]): [70:20] when evil befalls him, [he is] anxious, at th…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

17. It will call out to whoever turned away from the truth, distanced himself from it, did not bring faith in it nor acted upon it.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

18. And whoever amassed wealth, withholding from spending it in the path of Allah.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

19. Indeed, man has been created extremely greedy.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

20. When a difficulty i.e. illness or poverty befalls him, he shows little patience.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

ted restless: ( haluan is an implied circumstantial qualifier, the explanation of which [follows]): [70:20] when evil befalls him, [he is] anxious, at the point of that evil befalling [him], [70:21] and when good befalls him, [he is] grudging, at the point of that good befalling [him], that is to say, [when] wealth [befalls him], [he is grudging to give] of it what is due to God; [70:22] except those who perform prayers, that is, the believers, [70:23] those who maintain, [those who] regularly observe, their prayers, [70:24] and in whose wealth there is an acknowledged due, namely, alms,…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

21. And when something that makes him happy comes to him, i.e. fertility and wealth, he is very resistant in spending it in the path of Allah.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

when evil befalls him, [he is] anxious, at the point of that evil befalling [him], [70:21] and when good befalls him, [he is] grudging, at the point of that good befalling [him], that is to say, [when] wealth [befalls him], [he is grudging to give] of it what is due to God; [70:22] except those who perform prayers, that is, the believers, [70:23] those who maintain, [those who] regularly observe, their prayers, [70:24] and in whose wealth there is an acknowledged due, namely, alms, [70:25] for the beggar and the deprived, the [latter being the] one who refrains from begging and thus beco…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

22. Except for those who perform prayer; they are safe from these blameworthy traits.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

23. Those who are punctual with their prayers; they are not distracted from them and they perform them at their fixed times.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

24. And those who have a set, determined amount of their wealth.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

25. Which they give to whoever asks them or doesn’t, but are deprived of sustenance for whatever reason.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

26. And those who believe in the Day of Judgement: the day Allah will requite everyone with whatever they deserve.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

nd thus becomes deprived, [70:26] and who affirm the truth of the Day of Judgement, [of] Requital, [70:27] and who are apprehensive of the chastisement of their Lord — [70:28] lo! there is no security from the chastisement of their Lord, [from] its being sent down — [70:29] and those who guard their private parts, [70:30] except from their wives and those whom their right hands own, in the way of slavegirls, for in that case they are not blameworthy; [70:31] but whoever seeks beyond that, those are the infringers, who transgress [the bounds of] what is lawful [Stepping] into what is un…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

27. And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord, despite having sent forth good deeds.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

Judgement, [of] Requital, [70:27] and who are apprehensive of the chastisement of their Lord — [70:28] lo! there is no security from the chastisement of their Lord, [from] its being sent down — [70:29] and those who guard their private parts, [70:30] except from their wives and those whom their right hands own, in the way of slavegirls, for in that case they are not blameworthy; [70:31] but whoever seeks beyond that, those are the infringers, who transgress [the bounds of] what is lawful [Stepping] into what is unlawful;

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

28. Indeed, no intelligent person feels safe from the punishment of his Lord.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

29. And those who safeguard their private parts by concealing them and keeping them away from shameful acts.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

30. Except from their wives or the servant girls they possess, because they are not blameworthy in enjoying them through sexual intercourse or anything less.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

31. Whoever seeks pleasure in other than whatever has been mentioned i.e. wives and servant girls, they are the ones who have transgressed the limits of Allah.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

32. And those who, when entrusted with wealth, secrets etc., or with agreements they enter into, they uphold them: neither betraying their trusts nor breaking their agreements.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

are the infringers, who transgress [the bounds of] what is lawful [Stepping] into what is unlawful; [70:32] and those who are keepers, [faithful] guardians, of their trusts (amanatihim : a variant reading has the singular [amanatihim]), that to which they are entrusted of religion and the affairs of this world, and their covenant, the one taken from them regarding such things, [70:33] and who are forthwith with their testimony ( bi-shahadatihim: a variant reading has the plural [bi-shahadatihim, ‘their testimonies’]), [those who] offer them and do not withhold them, [70:34] and who prese…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

33. And those who give their testimonies in the manner sought from them, without being affected by relationships or enmity.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

34. And those who are punctual in their prayers by performing them at their appropriate times, with due purity and composure, whilst not being distracted from them by anything.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

35. Those possessing the aforementioned qualities will be honoured in gardens, attaining everlasting favours and being able to see the blessed Face of Allah.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

ir prayers, by observing them in their appointed times. [70:35] Those will be in Gardens, honoured. [70:36] So what is wrong with those who disbelieve that they keep Staring towards you (muhtiina is a circumstantial qualifier), [70:37] to the right and to the left, of you, in droves? (' izina is also a circumstantial qualifier), in other words, in groups Standing in circles, one next to the other, saying, in mockery of the believers, ‘Verily if [the likes of] these are to enter Paradise, we shall enter it before them’.…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

36. O Messenger! What is it that has led these idolaters around you to reject you so quickly?

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

37. Surrounding you from your right and left, in groups upon groups.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

38. Do each of them hope that Allah will enter them into the garden of favours, wherein they shall live in luxury among the everlasting bounties, while they remain on their disbelief?

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

God, exalted be He, says: [70:38] Does each one of them hope to be admitted into a Garden of Bliss? [70:39] Nay! — meant to thwart their hopes of [entering] Paradise. Indeed We created them, as others, from what they know, from drops of SJaerm, and so one cannot hope for Paradise [merely] on account of this: one hopes for it by being God-fearing. [70:40] For verily (fa-la: la is extra) I swear by the Lord of the rising-places and the setting-places, of the sun, the moon and all the Stars, that We are able [70:41] to replace [them], to bring in their place, with [others] better than them,…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

39. It is not as they imagine. Indeed, I created them from what they know: I created them from a contemptible fluid, and they are weak: they are incapable of bringing benefit or harm for themselves, so how could they be arrogant?

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

40. Allah takes an oath on the Lord of the rising places of the sun and the moon. Indeed, Allah is the Capable.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

41. He is capable of destroying them and replacing them with others who obey Him; He is not incapable of doing so. Nor can He be overpowered when He intends to destroy them and replace them.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

42. O Messenger! So leave them to dive into the falsehood and deviance they are already in, and to amuse themselves in their worldly lives, until they encounter the Day of Judgement that they have been promised in the Qur’ān.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

al-Maḥallī & al-Suyūṭī · 864–911 AH / 1459–1505 CE

[others] better than them, and We are not to be outmanoeuvred, [We will not be] frustrated in this. [70:42] So leave them to indulge, in their falsehoods, and to play, in this world of theirs, until they en¬ counter that day of theirs, in, which they are promised, chastisement; [70:43] the day when they will come forth from the graves hastening, to the site of the Gathering, as if racing to a [Standing] target (nasbin: a variant reading has nusubin, meaning something that has been eredted [mansub], such as a flag or a banner), [70:44] with their eyes humbled, abjecft, overcast by abaseme…

Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

43. On the day when they shall leave their graves in a hurry, as if they are racing towards a banner.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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Al-Mukhtasar

Tafsīr Center for Qur'anic Studies · Contemporary

44. Their eyes will be humiliated, and humiliation will envelop them. That is the day they were promised in the world, but they did not care about it.

Tafsir al-Jalalayn

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