Al-Ma'arij

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (A questioner questioned): '(A questioner questioned) a caller, i.e. al-Nadr Ibn al-Harith, called (concerning the doom about to fall

Upon the disbelievers) while he is himself a disbeliever, (which none can repel) and so he was killed in captivity on the Day of Badr,

(From Allah) this punishment of the disbelievers comes from Allah, (Lord of the Ascending Stairways) the Creator of the heavens

((Whereby) the angels and the Spirit) i.e. Gabriel (ascend unto Him) unto Allah (in a Day whereof the span) the span of ascending it for other than the angels (is fifty thousand years) it is also said that this means: it is from Allah that the punishment of the disbelievers comes in a day whose span is 50,000 years; and it is also said that this means: if anyone, other than Allah, were given the reckoning of people, such reckoning would not finish in 50,000 years.

(But be patient) O Muhammad, in the face of their harm (with a patience fair to see) i.e. without anguish or display of indecency; and it is also said this means: stay away from them and show no anguish or indecency. Later, he was commanded to fight them.

(Lo! They) i.e. the disbelievers of Mecca (behold it) i.e. the doom on the Day of Judgement (afar off) it will not happen

(While We behold it nigh) it will happen, for whatever will happen in the future is near:

Allah then explained when they will be chastised, saying: (The day when the sky will become as molten copper) and it is said: like the sediments of olive oil,

(And the hills become as flakes of wool,

And no familiar friend will ask a question of his friend) no relative will ask about his relative

(Though they will be given sight of them) but will not recognise them as a result of their preoccupation with their own selves. (The guilty man) the idolater, i.e. Abu Jahl and his host; and it is said: al-Nadr Ibn al-Harith and his host (will long be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day) the Day of Judgement (at the price of his children

And his spouse and his brother) his full brother

(And his kin) and his clan and relatives (that harboured him) to whom he belongs

(And all that are in the earth) and at the price of all that which is in the earth, (if then it might deliver him) if Allah might deliver him from the punishment.

(But nay!) truly this will not deliver him from the punishment-this is an answer to him-(for lo! it is the fire of hell

Eager to roast) the entire body; it is also said that this means: it will pluck out the hands and feet as well as all the other members of the body;

(It calleth) to itself: �come to me, O disbeliever!�, �come to me, O hypocrite� (him who turned) from Allah's divine Oneness (and fled) from faith and did not repent of disbelief,

(And hoarded (wealth)) in the life of the world (and withheld it) he put it in a container and refused to give the right of Allah which is due from it.

(Lo! Man) i.e. the disbelieving person (was created anxious) miserly, too attached and tight-fisted,

(Fretful) he is not patient (when evil befalleth him) when poverty and hardship befall him

(And, when good) wealth and abundance (befalleth him, grudging) he does not give thanks and withholds the right of Allah which is due from it;

(Save worshippers) those who pray the five daily prayers for they are not like this.

Allah then explained the traits of the latter, saying: (Who are constant at their worship) they constantly perform their prescribed daily prayers, whether it is at night or in the day, and they never fail to perform them.

(And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged) they acknowledge that there is in their wealth a right other than the prescribed poor-due,

(For the beggar) who ask you to give him from your wealth (and the destitute) who is denied his wage or booty; it is also said that this refers to the artisan whose skill does not earn him enough for him to subsist; it is also said that this refers to the poor who does not beg from others and as a result no one gives or knows about him;

(And those who believe in the Day of Judgement) and those who believe in the Day of Reckoning and all that which is in it,

(And those who are fearful of their Lord's doom

Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure) no guarantee of security has come to them from their Lord.

(And those who preserve their chastity) they are chaste as far as what is unlawful is concerned

(Save with their) four (wives and those whom their right hands possess) of slaves without limitation, (for thus they are not blameworthy) nor sinful; they are not reproached for indulging in that which is lawful;

(But whoso seeketh more than that) whoever seeks more than what I have mentioned of wives and slaves, (those are they who are transgressors) from that which is lawful to that which is unlawful;

(And those who keep) and those who honour, and keep to the time agreed upon regarding (their pledges) that with which they have been entrusted whether it relates to religion or other things (and their covenant) with their Lord or with other people; and it is also said this means: and their oaths.

(And those who stand by their testimony) before the judges when they are called to give witness, and do not refuse to testify,

(And those who are attentive at their worship) they observe the prescribed times of their five daily prayers,

(These) those who have such traits (will dwell in Gardens, honoured) with reward, presents and gifts.

(What aileth those who disbelieve) the disbelievers of Mecca who mock the believers as well as the other disbelievers, (that they keep staring towards thee (O Muhammad)) around you, (open eyed) looking at you without coming close to you,

Dispersed (On the right and on the left, in groups?

Doth every man among them hope to enter the Garden of Delight?) This is an answer from Allah to the disbelievers that He will not let them enter the Garden.

(Nay, verily. Lo! We created them) i.e. the disbelievers of Mecca (from what they know) i.e. a sperm drop.

(But nay! I swear by the Lord of the rising places) the rising places of winter and summer (and the setting places of the planets) the setting places of winter and summer. There are two rising places and two setting places. The rising place of winter and summer has 177 phases and so do the setting places of winter and summer. The sun rises, in a year, two days in the same phase, and it also sets, in a year, two days in the same phase (that We are Able) this is the reason of the above oath

(To replace them by (others) better than them) He says: We are Able to destroy them and replace them with others who are better and more obedient than them. (And We are not to be outrun) We are unable to replace them with others who are better than them.

(So let them) O Muhammad, i.e. let those who mock you and the other disbelievers (chat) about falsehood (and play) and mock you while continuing to be disbelievers (until they meet) until they behold (their Day which they are promised) in which they are promised chastisement,

Allah then explained when this chastisement will take place, saying: (The day when they come forth from the graves in haste) in response to the sound (as racing to a goal) or a banner,

(With eyes) that see no goodness (aghast) humiliated, (abasement stupefying them) grief and darkness appear on their faces: (Such is the Day which they are promised) such is the Day in which they were promised chastisement; and this day is the Day of Judgement. And this promise is like the promise and warning of Noah'.