Surah Al-Ma'arij 70:4
سُورَةُ المَعَارِجِ · Meccan · Verse 4 of 44
تَعْرُجُ ٱلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِى يَوْمٍۢ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُۥ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍۢ
Translation
by which the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him, on a Day whose length is fifty thousand years.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse opens a window into the awe-inspiring reality of the Day of Judgment, using precise language to convey its grandeur and the hierarchy of creation. It follows a challenge by disbelievers concerning the coming punishment, asserting its undeniable certainty.
The Ascent of the Spirit and Angels
The verse describes "تعرج الملائكة والروح إليه" (the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him). The wording here is significant. When the Quran mentions "الروح" (the Spirit) separately from "الملائكة" (the angels), as noted by scholars like al-Razi and Ibn Ashur, it's a way to highlight the exceptional status and honor of Jibreel (Gabriel). Although Jibreel is an angel, his specific mention underscores his supreme rank and importance among the angelic host, particularly in conveying divine commands.
Furthermore, the phrase "إليه" (to Him) means the angels and Jibreel ascend towards Allah. This is not about Allah being in a specific physical direction or location, as Allah transcends such limitations. Rather, as scholars explain, it refers to the ultimate destination of all affairs and authority, signifying the ascent towards Allah's majestic presence, His command, and His glory. It denotes a return to the source of all power and will, not a physical journey to a place where Allah resides.
A Day of Immense Scale
The verse then describes this event as happening "في يوم كان مقداره خمسين ألف سنة" (on a Day whose measure is fifty thousand years). This particular phrasing of time is a powerful linguistic tool. Al-Razi, al-Zamakhshari, and Ibn Ashur discuss how this immense number, fifty thousand years, serves as a rhetorical device to emphasize the extraordinary length, severity, and immense challenges of the Day of Judgment, particularly for the disbelievers. It's a way of expressing the magnitude of the waiting, accountability, and the suffering that will be experienced.
This vast measure is contrasted with the experience of believers. The plain meaning clarifies that for a believer, this same day will feel as light and brief as the duration of a prescribed prayer, a point also supported by commentaries like al-Razi, al-Zamakhshari, and al-Jalalayn, who reference prophetic narrations. This dramatic difference in perceived time underscores Allah's justice and mercy, showing that the Day's harshness is determined by one's deeds and spiritual state. The specific numbering isn't necessarily a literal clock-time for all but a profound measure of its impact and significance.
The intricate wording of this verse invites us to ponder the immense power and wisdom of Allah, the elevated status of His chosen creation, and the profound justice and mercy embedded in His decree for the Day of Judgment.
Source: al-Razi, Ibn Ashur, al-Zamakhshari, al-Jalalayn, al-Muyassar
Sources: al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Ma'arij 70:4 is discussed in one study guide on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Ma'arij 70:4 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.