79th: Sura 70

AL-MAARIJ (THE ASCENDING STAIRWAYS)    

Total Verses: 44                                        Ibn Kathir on Sura 70    
Given in Mecca                                     Robert Spencer on Sura 70

070.001
YUSUFALI: A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall-
PICKTHAL: A questioner questioned concerning the doom about to fall
SHAKIR: One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall

070.002
YUSUFALI: The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,-
PICKTHAL: Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel,
SHAKIR: The unbelievers-- there is none to avert it--

070.003
YUSUFALI: (A Penalty) from Allah, Lord of the Ways of Ascent.
PICKTHAL: From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways
SHAKIR: From Allah, the Lord of the ways of Ascent.

070.004
YUSUFALI: The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years:
PICKTHAL: (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years.
SHAKIR: To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years.

070.005
YUSUFALI: Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment).
PICKTHAL: But be patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see.
SHAKIR: Therefore endure with a goodly patience.

070.006
YUSUFALI: They see the (Day) indeed as a far-off (event):
PICKTHAL: Lo! they behold it afar off
SHAKIR: Surely they think it to be far off,

070.007
YUSUFALI: But We see it (quite) near.
PICKTHAL: While we behold it nigh:
SHAKIR: And We see it nigh.

070.008
YUSUFALI: The Day that the sky will be like molten brass,
PICKTHAL: The day when the sky will become as molten copper,
SHAKIR: On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper

070.009
YUSUFALI: And the mountains will be like wool,
PICKTHAL: And the hills become as flakes of wool,
SHAKIR: And the mountains shall be as tufts of wool

070.010
YUSUFALI: And no friend will ask after a friend,
PICKTHAL: And no familiar friend will ask a question of his friend
SHAKIR: And friend shall not ask of friend

070.011
YUSUFALI: Though they will be put in sight of each other,- the sinner's desire will be: Would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children,
PICKTHAL: Though they will be given sight of them. The guilty man will long to be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children
SHAKIR: (Though) they shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children,

070.012
YUSUFALI: His wife and his brother,
PICKTHAL: And his spouse and his brother
SHAKIR: And his wife and his brother

070.013
YUSUFALI: His kindred who sheltered him,
PICKTHAL: And his kin that harboured him
SHAKIR: And the nearest of his kinsfolk who gave him shelter,

070.014
YUSUFALI: And all, all that is on earth,- so it could deliver him:
PICKTHAL: And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him.
SHAKIR: And all those that are in the earth, (wishing) then (that) this might deliver him.

070.015
YUSUFALI: By no means! for it would be the Fire of Hell!-
PICKTHAL: But nay! for lo! it is the fire of hell
SHAKIR: By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire

070.016
YUSUFALI: Plucking out (his being) right to the skull!-
PICKTHAL: Eager to roast;
SHAKIR: Dragging by the head,

070.017
YUSUFALI: Inviting (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from the Right).
PICKTHAL: It calleth him who turned and fled (from truth),
SHAKIR: It shall claim him who turned and fled (from truth),

070.018
YUSUFALI: And collect (wealth) and hide it (from use)!
PICKTHAL: And hoarded (wealth) and withheld it.
SHAKIR: And amasses (wealth) then shuts it up.

070.019
YUSUFALI: Truly man was created very impatient;-
PICKTHAL: Lo! man was created anxious,
SHAKIR: Surely man is created of a hasty temperament

070.020
YUSUFALI: Fretful when evil touches him;
PICKTHAL: Fretful when evil befalleth him
SHAKIR: Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him

070.021
YUSUFALI: And niggardly when good reaches him;-
PICKTHAL: And, when good befalleth him, grudging;
SHAKIR: And niggardly when good befalls him

070.022
YUSUFALI: Not so those devoted to Prayer;-
PICKTHAL: Save worshippers.
SHAKIR: Except those who pray,

070.023
YUSUFALI: Those who remain steadfast to their prayer;
PICKTHAL: Who are constant at their worship
SHAKIR: Those who are constant at their prayer

070.024
YUSUFALI: And those in whose wealth is a recognised right.
PICKTHAL: And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged
SHAKIR: And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion.

070.025
YUSUFALI: For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking);
PICKTHAL: For the beggar and the destitute;
SHAKIR: For him who begs and for him who is denied (good)

070.026
YUSUFALI: And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment;
PICKTHAL: And those who believe in the Day of Judgment,
SHAKIR: And those who accept the truth of the judgment day

070.027
YUSUFALI: And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,-
PICKTHAL: And those who are fearful of their Lord's doom -
SHAKIR: And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord--

070.028
YUSUFALI: For their Lord's displeasure is the opposite of Peace and Tranquillity;-
PICKTHAL: Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure -
SHAKIR: Surely the chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure of--

070.029
YUSUFALI: And those who guard their chastity,
PICKTHAL: And those who preserve their chastity
SHAKIR: And those who guard their private parts,

070.030
YUSUFALI: Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (then) they are not to be blamed,
PICKTHAL: Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy;
SHAKIR: Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed,

070.031
YUSUFALI: But those who trespass beyond this are transgressors;-
PICKTHAL: But whoso seeketh more than that, those are they who are transgressors;
SHAKIR: But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits--

070.032
YUSUFALI: And those who respect their trusts and covenants;
PICKTHAL: And those who keep their pledges and their covenant,
SHAKIR: And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant

070.033
YUSUFALI: And those who stand firm in their testimonies;
PICKTHAL: And those who stand by their testimony
SHAKIR: And those who are upright in their testimonies,

070.034
YUSUFALI: And those who guard (the sacredness) of their worship;-
PICKTHAL: And those who are attentive at their worship.
SHAKIR: And those who keep a guard on their prayer,

070.035
YUSUFALI: Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss).
PICKTHAL: These will dwell in Gardens, honoured.
SHAKIR: Those shall be in gardens, honored.

070.036
YUSUFALI: Now what is the matter with the Unbelievers that they rush madly before thee-
PICKTHAL: What aileth those who disbelieve, that they keep staring toward thee (O Muhammad), open-eyed,
SHAKIR: But what is the matter with those who disbelieve that they hasten on around you,

070.037
YUSUFALI: From the right and from the left, in crowds?
PICKTHAL: On the right and on the left, in groups?
SHAKIR: On the right hand and on the left, in sundry parties?

070.038
YUSUFALI: Does every man of them long to enter the Garden of Bliss?
PICKTHAL: Doth every man among them hope to enter the Garden of Delight?
SHAKIR: Does every man of them desire that he should be made to enter the garden of bliss?

070.039
YUSUFALI: By no means! For We have created them out of the (base matter) they know!
PICKTHAL: Nay, verily. Lo! We created them from what they know.
SHAKIR: By no means! Surely We have created them of what they know.

070.040
YUSUFALI: Now I do call to witness the Lord of all points in the East and the West that We can certainly-
PICKTHAL: But nay! I swear by the Lord of the rising-places and the setting-places of the planets that We verily are Able
SHAKIR: But nay! I swear by the Lord of the Easts and the Wests that We are certainly able

070.041
YUSUFALI: Substitute for them better (men) than they; And We are not to be defeated (in Our Plan).
PICKTHAL: To replace them by (others) better than them. And we are not to be outrun.
SHAKIR: To bring instead (others) better than them, and We shall not be overcome.

070.042
YUSUFALI: So leave them to plunge in vain talk and play about, until they encounter that Day of theirs which they have been promised!-
PICKTHAL: So let them chat and play until they meet their Day which they are promised,
SHAKIR: Therefore leave them alone to go on with the false discourses and to sport until they come face to face with that day of theirs with which they are threatened;

070.043
YUSUFALI: The Day whereon they will issue from their sepulchres in sudden haste as if they were rushing to a goal-post (fixed for them),-
PICKTHAL: The day when they come forth from the graves in haste, as racing to a goal,
SHAKIR: The day on which they shall come forth from their graves in haste, as if they were hastening on to a goal,

070.044
YUSUFALI: Their eyes lowered in dejection,- ignominy covering them (all over)! such is the Day the which they are promised!
PICKTHAL: With eyes aghast, abasement stupefying them: Such is the Day which they are promised.
SHAKIR: Their eyes cast down; disgrace shall overtake them; that is the day which they were threatened with.