تَبَارَكَ الَّذِيَُْ ْ 1424 اَلْمَعَارِج
سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ ﴿۱﴾ لِلْكَافِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ دَافِعٌ ﴿۲﴾ مِنَ اللَّهِ ذِي الْمَعَارِجِ ﴿۳﴾ تَعْرُجُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ ﴿۴﴾ فَاصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيلًا ﴿۵﴾
﴾1﴿ Sa'ala saaa'ilun bi 'azaabinw waaqi'
﴾2﴿ Lil kaafireena laisa lahoo daafi'
﴾3﴿ Minal laahi zil ma'aarij
﴾4﴿ Ta'rujul malaaa'ikatu war Roohu ilaihi fee yawmin kaana miqdaaruhoo khamseena alfa sanah
﴾5﴿ Fasbir sabran jameelaa
﴾1﴿ A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen
﴾2﴿ For the disbelievers, there is no one to avert it
﴾3﴿ From Allah, the Exalted, Owner of the heavens
﴾4﴿ The angels and the Spirit ascend toward Him on a Day whose length is fifty thousand years
﴾5﴿ So be patient with a beautiful patience
Relevancy:
This Surah is connected to the preceding Surah in several ways. The first aspect is that, in the previous Surah, the greatness and severity of the punishment on the Day of Judgment were mentioned, whereas in this Surah, there is a rebuke directed at the person who questions or mocks this very punishment. The second aspect is that, in the previous Surah, the characteristics of the disbelievers were described, while this Surah highlights the qualities of the believers.
Claim of this surah:
It contains a rebuke directed towards the disbelievers, a warning regarding the Hereafter by describing the conditions of the Day of Judgment, and glad tidings of salvation through mentioning the characteristics of the believers.
Summary of the surah:
First, there is a rebuke directed at those who mock the punishment, accompanied by mentioning the greatness of the punishment in five ways, along with consolation, up to verse (5). Then, the conditions of the Day of Judgment are described until verse (11). After that, five things are mentioned as futile attempts for ransom, up to verse (14). Then, the terrifying nature of Hellfire and the characteristics of its inhabitants are described, totaling ten attributes, up to verse (21). Next, ten qualities of the monotheistic believers are mentioned, along with glad tidings, up to verse (35). Again, rebuke returns with five states of the disbelievers up to verse (42), and finally, the Surah concludes with a warning regarding the Hereafter, presented through five scenarios.
[1,2] This rebuke is directed towards those who hasten or impatiently demand the punishment. The indefinite form of the word "سَائِلٌ" (a questioner) indicates generality—anyone who poses such a question deserves rebuke. Five conditions or characteristics of the punishment have been mentioned here:
1. A punishment (عذابٌ) – emphasizing severity.
2. Bound to occur (واقع) – highlighting certainty.
3. Specifically for the disbelievers (لِلْكَافِرِينَ) – clarifying its recipients.
4. No one can avert it (لَيْسَ لَهُ دَافِعٌ) – stressing inevitability.
5. From Allah (مِنَ اللَّهِ) – affirming the divine origin and authority of this punishment.
[3] Regarding the term "الْمَعَارِجِ" (the ascending ways), the commentators have mentioned several interpretations:
1. The heavens
2. Ranks or stations of the angels
3. Great levels or degrees (of honor and closeness)
4. Great blessings and favors of Allah the Exalted
5. Greatness and exaltedness (of Allah’s status)
[4] Regarding the interpretation of "وَالرُّوحُ" (and the Spirit):
The well-known opinion is that it refers to Gabriel (peace be upon him).
Another view is that it refers to the souls of the righteous deceased, ascending to the seventh heaven.
Concerning "خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ" (fifty thousand years), two interpretations are presented:
First interpretation:
This duration represents the time it takes for angels to ascend from the lowest point to the Great Throne (Arsh). Ibn Kathir reported this interpretation from Ibn Abi Shaybah. This interpretation aligns with verse 5 of Surah al-Sajdah, where the ascent mentioned there refers specifically to the distance from Earth to the first heaven.
Second interpretation:
It refers to the length of the Day of Judgment itself, as narrated from Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him). This interpretation is supported by an authentic hadith recorded by Imam Muslim, Abu Dawud, and Al-Nasa’i in Kitab al-Zakah.
In aligning this interpretation with Surah al-Sajdah (verse 5), it is said the Day of Judgment comprises fifty stages, each lasting a thousand years, as reported by Khatib al-Shirbini in Siraj al-Munir from al-Yaman.
[5] This is a form of consolation connected to the word "سَائِل" (the questioner), meaning their questioning about the punishment was done mockingly. In response to this mockery, patience (صَبْرًا جَمِيلًا, a beautiful patience) is commanded.
A beautiful patience is defined as a patience in which there is no complaint or grievance expressed to any creature. Thus, it remains hidden from others that the one enduring hardship is indeed suffering.