Sūrat al-Ma’arij

Sūrah No. 70. Revealed in Makkah, 44 verses.

Merits of reciting the Sūrah

Whoever continuously recites Sūrat ‘Saala Saailun’ [al-Ma’arij] Allah will not ask him on the Day of Judgment about a sin he has committed and will make him live in Heaven with Muhammad a. Imam Muhammad al-Bāqir (a)

Note: Quranic Scholars say that the reward is connected to the contents of the Sūrah and requires that recitation be done with awareness, comprehension, reflection and having an intention of implementation.

General synopsis of contents

1) Signs of the Day of Judgment (vv. 4-18)

2) General qualities of human beings (vv. 19-21)

3) Qualities of the true believers (vv. 22-35)

4) Describing the Day of Judgment (vv. 43-44)

Selected Lessons

1) People on the Day of Judgment will be ready to ransom those close to them to escape the punishment.

2) Human beings are hasty and impatient (except those who work on themselves)

3) Those who pray and are conscientious about their prayer will also try to achieve other noble qualities.

4) Human beings distract themselves with trivial things in this world (see v. 42)

Suggested verses for reflection and memorization.

1) 70:5 – So be patient, with a patience that is graceful.

2) 70:19-21 – Surely man is created of a hasty temperament: anxious when an ill befalls him and grudging [charity] when good comes his way.

Activities for self-study

1) Study the passage on the qualities of true believers (vv. 22-35). List all the noble qualities mentioned in this passage. Which ones do you need to work on?

2) The last two verses talk about the people as they come out from their graves. Write down some adjectives that describe them.