Surah Al-Ma'arij, Ayah 21-40 — Word by Word
المعارج
The Ascending Stairways
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
wa-idhā massahu l-khayru manūʿan
And when good touches him, withholding [of it],
illā l-muṣalīna
Except the observers of prayer -
alladhīna hum ʿalā ṣalātihim dāimūna
Those who are constant in their prayer
wa-alladhīna fī amwālihim ḥaqqun maʿlūmun
And those within whose wealth is a known right
lilssāili wal-maḥrūmi
For the petitioner and the deprived -
wa-alladhīna yuṣaddiqūna biyawmi l-dīni
And those who believe in the Day of Recompense
wa-alladhīna hum min ʿadhābi rabbihim mush'fiqūna
And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord -
inna ʿadhāba rabbihim ghayru mamūnin
Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe -
wa-alladhīna hum lifurūjihim ḥāfiẓūna
And those who guard their private parts
illā ʿalā azwājihim aw mā malakat aymānuhum fa-innahum ghayru malūmīna
Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed -
famani ib'taghā warāa dhālika fa-ulāika humu l-ʿādūna
But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors -
wa-alladhīna hum li-amānātihim waʿahdihim rāʿūna
And those who are to their trusts and promises attentive.
wa-alladhīna hum bishahādātihim qāimūna
And those who are in their testimonies upright
wa-alladhīna hum ʿalā ṣalātihim yuḥāfiẓūna
And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer:
ulāika fī jannātin muk'ramūna
They will be in gardens, honored.
famāli alladhīna kafarū qibalaka muh'ṭiʿīna
So what is [the matter] with those who disbelieve, hastening [from] before you, [O Muḥammad],
ʿani l-yamīni waʿani l-shimāli ʿizīna
[To sit] on [your] right and [your] left in separate groups?
ayaṭmaʿu kullu im'ri-in min'hum an yud'khala jannata naʿīmin
Does every person among them aspire to enter a garden of pleasure?
kallā innā khalaqnāhum mimmā yaʿlamūna
No! Indeed, We have created them from that which they know.
falā uq'simu birabbi l-mashāriqi wal-maghāribi innā laqādirūna
So I swear by the Lord of [all] risings and settings that indeed We are able