Surah 70: Al-Ma'arij (The Ascending Stairways)

Lore & Background

The surah begins with a supplicant asking for a punishment that is inevitable for the disbelievers, coming from Allah, the owner of the ways of ascent (Surah 70:1, Surah 70:2, Surah 70:3). It describes a Day when angels and the Spirit ascend to Him over a span of fifty thousand years (Surah 70:4). The disbelievers see this Day as distant, but Allah sees it as near (Surah 70:6, Surah 70:7). The surah then portrays the Day's terrifying signs: the sky becomes like murky oil, mountains like wool, and no friend will ask about a friend (Surah 70:8, Surah 70:9, Surah 70:10). The guilty will wish to ransom themselves with their children, spouse, brother, kin, and all on earth (Surah 70:11, Surah 70:12, Surah 70:13, Surah 70:14). This is rejected, and Hellfire is described as a flame that removes exteriors and invites those who turned away and hoarded wealth (Surah 70:15, Surah 70:16, Surah 70:17, Surah 70:18).

Reader's Guide

The passages portray a stark contrast between human frailty and divine judgment. Humans are described as created anxious, impatient in hardship, and withholding in prosperity (Surah 70:19, Surah 70:20, Surah 70:21). The exception are those who are constant in prayer, who give a known right from their wealth to the petitioner and deprived, who believe in the Day of Recompense, and who fear their Lord's punishment (Surah 70:22, Surah 70:23, Surah 70:24, Surah 70:25, Surah 70:26, Surah 70:27, Surah 70:28). The surah emphasizes that the punishment is certain and not escapable (Surah 70:1, Surah 70:2, Surah 70:28). The cosmic imagery of the sky and mountains (Surah 70:8, Surah 70:9) and the desperate offers of ransom (Surah 70:11, Surah 70:12, Surah 70:13, Surah 70:14) underscore the severity of that Day. The surah calls for patience (Surah 70:5) and warns against hoarding wealth (Surah 70:18). The title 'The Ascending Stairways' likely refers to the ascent of angels and the Spirit (Surah 70:4), though the text does not elaborate on the stairways themselves.

Did You Know?

• The surah opens with a supplicant asking for a punishment that is already bound to happen (Surah 70:1).
• A Day is described as lasting fifty thousand years, during which angels and the Spirit ascend (Surah 70:4).
• The guilty will wish to ransom themselves with their children, spouse, brother, and all on earth (Surah 70:11, Surah 70:12, Surah 70:13, Surah 70:14).
• Hellfire is said to 'remove exteriors' and invite those who turned away and hoarded wealth (Surah 70:16, Surah 70:17, Surah 70:18).