Surah Al-Ma`ārij (The Ascending Stairways) in English

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1. سأل سائل بعذاب واقع

   1

   An asker asked for a punishment sure to befall

   saʾala sāʾilun bi-ʿadhābin wāqiʿin

2. للكافرين ليس له دافع

   2

   —which none can avert from the faithless —

   li-l-kāfirīna laysa lahū dāfiʿun

3. من الله ذي المعارج

   3

   from Allah, Lord of the lofty stations.

   mina llāhi dhī l-maʿāriji

4. تعرج الملائكة والروح إليه في يوم كان مقداره خمسين ألف سنة

   4

   The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose span is fifty thousand years.

   taʿruju l-malāʾikatu wa-r-rūḥu ʾilayhi fī yawmin kāna miqdāruhū khamsīna ʾalfa sanatin

5. فاصبر صبرا جميلا

   5

   So be patient, with a patience that is graceful.

   fa-ṣbir ṣabran jamīlan

6. إنهم يرونه بعيدا

   6

   Indeed they see it to be far off,

   ʾinnahum yarawnahū baʿīdan

7. ونراه قريبا

   7

   and We see it to be near.

   wa-narāhu qarīban

8. يوم تكون السماء كالمهل

   8

   The day when the sky will be like molten copper,

   yawma takūnu s-samāʾu ka-l-muhli

9. وتكون الجبال كالعهن

   9

   and the mountains like [tufts of] dyed wool,

   wa-takūnu l-jibālu ka-l-ʿihni

10. ولا يسأل حميم حميما

    10

    and no friend will inquire about [the welfare of his] friend,

    wa-lā yasʾalu ḥamīmun ḥamīman