Al-Ma’arij is one of those short Makkan chapters that quietly changes how you look at your own impatience. Many Muslims read surah al ma arij during Ramadan or in daily recitation, yet few stop to ask what it is actually teaching them about human nature, prayer, and the Day of Judgment. This guide walks through it in plain, everyday language.
(For readers who want a physical companion while studying this chapter, The Study Quran offers detailed commentary alongside the Arabic text.)
About Surah Al-Ma’arij
Surah Al-Ma’arij is the 70th chapter of the Quran, revealed in Makkah, with 44 verses spread across two sections. Its name comes from the phrase “Dhil Ma’arij,” meaning the Lord of Ascending Ways or Stairways, describing how angels and prayers rise toward Allah. It sits in Juz 29, alongside other short, powerful Makkan chapters about the Hereafter.
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Surah Al-Ma’arij (70) — Arabic & Transliteration
| Arabic | Transliteration |
|---|---|
| سَأَلَ سَآئِلُۢ بِعَذَابٖ وَاقِعٖ (1) | Saala sailun biAAathabin waqiAAin |
| لِّلۡكَٰفِرِينَ لَيۡسَ لَهُۥ دَافِعٞ (2) | Lilkafireena laysa lahu dafiAAun |
| مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِي ٱلۡمَعَارِجِ (3) | Mina Allahi thee almaAAariji |
| تَعۡرُجُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيۡهِ فِي يَوۡمٖ كَانَ مِقۡدَارُهُۥ خَمۡسِينَ أَلۡفَ سَنَةٖ (4) | TaAAruju almalaikatu waalrroohu ilayhi fee yawmin kana miqdaruhu khamseena alfa sanatin |
| فَٱصۡبِرۡ صَبۡرٗا جَمِيلًا (5) | Faisbir sabran jameelan |
| إِنَّهُمۡ يَرَوۡنَهُۥ بَعِيدٗا (6) | Innahum yarawnahu baAAeedan |
| وَنَرَىٰهُ قَرِيبٗا (7) | Wanarahu qareeban |
| يَوۡمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلۡمُهۡلِ (8) | Yawma takoonu alssamao kaalmuhli |
| وَتَكُونُ ٱلۡجِبَالُ كَٱلۡعِهۡنِ (9) | Watakoonu aljibalu kaalAAihni |
| وَلَا يَسۡـَٔلُ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيمٗا (10) | Wala yasalu hameemun hameeman |
| يُبَصَّرُونَهُمۡۚ يَوَدُّ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمُ لَوۡ يَفۡتَدِي مِنۡ عَذَابِ يَوۡمِئِذِۭ بِبَنِيهِ (11) | Yubassaroonahum yawaddu almujrimu law yaftadee min AAathabi yawmiithin bibaneehi |
| وَصَٰحِبَتِهِۦ وَأَخِيهِ (12) | Wasahibatihi waakheehi |
| وَفَصِيلَتِهِ ٱلَّتِي تُـٔۡوِيهِ (13) | Wafaseelatihi allatee tuweehi |
| وَمَن فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ جَمِيعٗا ثُمَّ يُنجِيهِ (14) | Waman fee alardi jameeAAan thumma yunjeehi |
| كَلَّآۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ (15) | Kalla innaha latha |
| نَزَّاعَةٗ لِّلشَّوَىٰ (16) | NazzaAAatan lilshshawa |
| تَدۡعُواْ مَنۡ أَدۡبَرَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ (17) | TadAAoo man adbara watawalla |
| وَجَمَعَ فَأَوۡعَىٰٓ (18) | WajamaAAa faawAAa |
| ۞إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا (19) | Inna alinsana khuliqa halooAAan |
| إِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ جَزُوعٗا (20) | Itha massahu alshsharru jazooAAan |
| وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلۡخَيۡرُ مَنُوعًا (21) | Waitha massahu alkhayru manooAAan |
| إِلَّا ٱلۡمُصَلِّينَ (22) | Illa almusalleena |
| ٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمۡ دَآئِمُونَ (23) | Allatheena hum AAala salatihim daimoona |
| وَٱلَّذِينَ فِيٓ أَمۡوَٰلِهِمۡ حَقّٞ مَّعۡلُومٞ (24) | Waallatheena fee amwalihim haqqun maAAloomun |
| لِّلسَّآئِلِ وَٱلۡمَحۡرُومِ (25) | Lilssaili waalmahroomi |
| وَٱلَّذِينَ يُصَدِّقُونَ بِيَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ (26) | Waallatheena yusaddiqoona biyawmi alddeeni |
| وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم مِّنۡ عَذَابِ رَبِّهِم مُّشۡفِقُونَ (27) | Waallatheena hum min AAathabi rabbihim mushfiqoona |
| إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمۡ غَيۡرُ مَأۡمُونٖ (28) | Inna AAathaba rabbihim ghayru mamoonin |
| وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِفُرُوجِهِمۡ حَٰفِظُونَ (29) | Waallatheena hum lifuroojihim hafithoona |
| إِلَّا عَلَىٰٓ أَزۡوَٰجِهِمۡ أَوۡ مَا مَلَكَتۡ أَيۡمَٰنُهُمۡ فَإِنَّهُمۡ غَيۡرُ مَلُومِينَ (30) | Illa AAala azwajihim aw ma malakat aymanuhum fainnahum ghayru maloomeena |
| فَمَنِ ٱبۡتَغَىٰ وَرَآءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلۡعَادُونَ (31) | Famani ibtagha waraa thalika faolaika humu alAAadoona |
| وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ لِأَمَٰنَٰتِهِمۡ وَعَهۡدِهِمۡ رَٰعُونَ (32) | Waallatheena hum liamanatihim waAAahdihim raAAoona |
| وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِشَهَٰدَٰتِهِمۡ قَآئِمُونَ (33) | Waallatheena hum bishahadatihim qaimoona |
| وَٱلَّذِينَ هُمۡ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمۡ يُحَافِظُونَ (34) | Waallatheena hum AAala salatihim yuhafithoona |
| أُوْلَـٰٓئِكَ فِي جَنَّـٰتٖ مُّكۡرَمُونَ (35) | Olaika fee jannatin mukramoona |
| فَمَالِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ قِبَلَكَ مُهۡطِعِينَ (36) | Famali allatheena kafaroo qibalaka muhtiAAeena |
| عَنِ ٱلۡيَمِينِ وَعَنِ ٱلشِّمَالِ عِزِينَ (37) | AAani alyameeni waAAani alshshimali AAizeena |
| أَيَطۡمَعُ كُلُّ ٱمۡرِيٕٖ مِّنۡهُمۡ أَن يُدۡخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٖ (38) | AyatmaAAu kullu imriin minhum an yudkhala jannata naAAeemin |
| كَلَّآۖ إِنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰهُم مِّمَّا يَعۡلَمُونَ (39) | Kalla inna khalaqnahum mimma yaAAlamoona |
| فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِرَبِّ ٱلۡمَشَٰرِقِ وَٱلۡمَغَٰرِبِ إِنَّا لَقَٰدِرُونَ (40) | Fala oqsimu birabbi almashariqi waalmagharibi inna laqadiroona |
| عَلَىٰٓ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ خَيۡرٗا مِّنۡهُمۡ وَمَا نَحۡنُ بِمَسۡبُوقِينَ (41) | AAala an nubaddila khayran minhum wama nahnu bimasbooqeena |
| فَذَرۡهُمۡ يَخُوضُواْ وَيَلۡعَبُواْ حَتَّىٰ يُلَٰقُواْ يَوۡمَهُمُ ٱلَّذِي يُوعَدُونَ (42) | Fatharhum yakhoodoo wayalAAaboo hatta yulaqoo yawmahumu allathee yooAAadoona |
| يَوۡمَ يَخۡرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَجۡدَاثِ سِرَاعٗا كَأَنَّهُمۡ إِلَىٰ نُصُبٖ يُوفِضُونَ (43) | Yawma yakhrujoona mina alajdathi siraAAan kaannahum ila nusubin yoofidoona |
| خَٰشِعَةً أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ تَرۡهَقُهُمۡ ذِلَّةٞۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلۡيَوۡمُ ٱلَّذِي كَانُواْ يُوعَدُونَ (44) | KhashiAAatan absaruhum tarhaquhum thillatun thalika alyawmu allathee kanoo yooAAadoona |
Categories: PRAYER ,ALMS , SAWN HAJJ & DUA , Hadith and Tafseer, The Holy Quran, Quran Jaz 1- 114
For readers exploring surah al ma arij benefits, this shift from problem to solution is exactly why scholars treat the chapter as a character-building surah, not just a warning about the afterlife.
Benefits of Reading Surah Al-Ma’arij
- Builds patience. The surah names impatience as a default human trait, then shows how prayer corrects it.
- Strengthens honesty in worship. It links sincere prayer with guarding trusts and speaking truthfully.
- Reframes trials. Reading it regularly reminds believers that hardship and ease are both tests, not verdicts.
- Encourages consistency. The phrase “constant in their prayer” is repeated for emphasis, not decoration.
- Prepares the heart for accountability. Its vivid Day of Judgment imagery keeps daily choices in perspective.
Also Read: Read Quran Online For Free: Access Sacred Text
Qur’an References
1. Surah Al-Ma’arij, Ayah 19–21 Transliteration: Inna al-insana khuliqa halu’a, idha massahu ash-sharru jazu’a, wa idha massahu al-khayru manu’a Meaning: Man was created restless — anxious when trouble touches him, withholding when good comes to him. Read it here: Quran.com – Al-Ma’arij 70:19-21
2. Surah Al-Ma’arij, Ayah 22–23 Transliteration: Illal-musallin, alladhina hum ‘ala salatihim da’imun Meaning: Except those who pray — those who remain constant in their prayer, without fail. Read it here: Quran.com – Al-Ma’arij 70:22-23
Hadith References
1. Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 2516 Ibn Abbas narrated that the Prophet ﷺ advised him to stay mindful of Allah so Allah would protect him, and to turn only to Allah when asking or seeking help. Read the full narration: Sunnah.com – Guarding Allah’s Commands
2. Sunan Ibn Majah 4162 The Prophet ﷺ compared true reliance on Allah to birds that leave their nests hungry each morning and return full each evening, describing how trust in Allah brings provision. Read the full narration: Sunnah.com – Trust in Allah
Also Read: Islamic Studies Books Grades 1-12 PDF Download
Surah Al-Ma’arij at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Chapter Number | 70 |
| Arabic Name | المعارج |
| Meaning | The Ascending Stairways |
| Revelation Place | Makkah |
| Total Verses | 44 |
| Juz | 29 |
| Main Theme | Human impatience, Day of Judgment, sincere prayer |
A Note on Fiqh and Deeper Study
Readers who want to connect this surah’s emphasis on trustworthiness and honest dealings with classical Hanafi jurisprudence can look into Al-Hidayah by Imam Al-Marghinani or Radd al-Muhtar ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar by Ibn Abidin, both widely available in Islamic libraries and archives.
For discussion and community input, the IslamicTeachings.org forum is a useful place to ask questions, while IslamQA offers scholarly answers on prayer, patience, and related fiqh topics. Historical background on the chapter’s compilation is also available on Wikipedia and through Britannica’s overview of the Quran. Community-run sites such as IslamicCity and WhyIslam also cover related themes of patience and trust in Allah.
Many students following our surah-by-surah series on Quranmualim.com move from Al-Ma’arij straight into the shorter chapters that follow it in Juz 29, since the themes of patience and accountability repeat throughout that section of the Quran.
FAQs About Surah Al-Ma’arij
What does Al-Ma’arij mean?
Al-Ma’arij means “The Ascending Stairways,” referring to the paths angels and righteous deeds travel toward Allah, mentioned in the surah’s third verse.
How many verses are in Surah Al-Ma’arij?
Surah Al-Ma’arij has 44 verses and belongs to Juz 29, the same section that contains several other short Makkan chapters.
What is the main lesson of Surah Al-Ma’arij?
It teaches that humans are naturally impatient and self-focused, but consistent, sincere prayer corrects that tendency and builds lasting character.
Is Surah Al-Ma’arij Makkan or Madani?
It is a Makkan surah, revealed before the migration to Madinah, and shares themes common to other early revelations about the Hereafter.
Why is prayer emphasized so strongly in this surah?
The surah singles out those who pray constantly as the exception to human restlessness, showing prayer as the practical fix for anxiety and pride.
Final Thoughts
Surah Al-Ma’arij holds up a mirror to ordinary human weakness, then hands the reader a clear way out through steady, sincere prayer. Returning to this chapter regularly is a simple, lasting habit that reshapes patience, honesty, and trust in Allah — one recitation at a time.
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