مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ ذِى ٱلْمَعَارِجِ 3
Translations
[It is] from Allāh, owner of the ways of ascent.
Transliteration
Min-Allahi dhi al-ma'arij
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah as the possessor of the ascending stairways (ma'arij), emphasizing His supreme authority and the hierarchical structure of creation through which angels ascend and descend with divine commands. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a reference to Allah's complete dominion over the heavens and the celestial realms, highlighting His majesty and the orderly nature of His creation. The mention of ma'arij (stairways/degrees) also suggests the ranks and stations of creation, from the lowest to the highest.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ma'arij is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of prophethood, addressing the disbelievers of Mecca who mocked the concept of the Day of Judgment and resurrection. This ayah establishes Allah's absolute authority as the foundation for understanding the inevitability of the Day of Judgment and the divine punishment that awaits those who reject faith.
Related Hadiths
Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The distance between the heavens and earth is a journey of five hundred years, and between each heaven is a journey of five hundred years' (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3314), relating to the concept of heavenly hierarchies. Additionally, the Prophet described the ascension (isra' and mi'raj) where he witnessed the heavens and their degrees.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that Allah's authority extends over all levels of creation and that there is a divine order to existence—encouraging humility before God's greatness and trust in His perfect governance of both the visible and invisible realms.