70. Ma'Arij (The Ways Of Ascent)

Mecca Period

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

مِّنَ اللَّهِ ذِي الْمَعَارِجِ ﴿٣﴾

70: 3.    (A Penalty) from Allah, Lord of the Ways of Ascent.

C5676. Maarij. stair-ways, ways of ascent.

In 43:33, the word is used in its literal sense: "silver stair-ways on which to go up".

Here there is a profound spiritual meaning. Can we reach up to Allah Most High? In His infinite grace He gives that privilege to angels. But the way is not easy, nor can it be travelled in a day.

See the next two notes.

تَعْرُجُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ ...

70: 4.    The angels and the Spirit ...

C5677. Ruh: "The Spirit".

Cf. 78:38, "the Spirit and the angels"; and 97:4, "the angels and the Spirit".

In 16:2, we have translated Ruh by "inspiration". Some Commentators understand the angel Gabriel by "the Spirit". But I think a more general meaning is possible, and fits the context better. (R).

... إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ ...

... ascend unto Him in a Day ...

C5678. Cf. 32:4-5, and notes 3632 and 3634.

... كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ ﴿٤﴾

... the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years:

Asad’s Version:

(70:3) [since it will come] from God, unto whom there are many ways of ascent: 3

(70:4) all the angels and all the inspiration [ever granted to man] ascend unto Him 4 [daily,] in a day the length whereof is [like] fifty thousand years. 5

[[Asad’s notes –

3 Lit., "He of the [many] ascents": a metonymical phrase implying that there are many ways by which man can "ascend" to a comprehension of God's existence, and thus to spiritual "nearness" to Him - and that, therefore, it is up to each human being to avail himself of any of the ways leading towards Him (cf 76:3).

4 For my rendering of ruh as "inspiration", see surah 16, note 2. The "ascent" of the angels and of all inspiration may be understood in the same sense as the frequently-occurring phrase "all things go back to God [as their source]" (Razi).

5 The very concept of "time" is meaningless in relation to God, who is timeless and infinite: cf. note 63 on the last sentence of 22:47 - "in thy Sustainer's sight a day is like a thousand years of your reckoning" : in other words, a day, or an aeon, or a thousand years, or fifty thousand years are alike to Him, having an apparent reality only within the created world and none with the Creator. And since in the hereafter time will cease to have a meaning for man as well, it is irrelevant to ask as to "when" the evildoers will be chastised and the righteous given their due. ]]