Surah No. 70

Introduction
Merits of the Surah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ (1)

(70:1) An inquirer inquires concerning the chastisement bound to befall.1

1. It was Nadr b. al-Harith who had said,
“O Allah, if this is the Truth from You, then rain down upon us stones from the heaven or bring us a painful chastisement” (Kashshaf, Razi). The report is in Nasa’i (Ibn Kathir). The report is also in Al-Faryabi, `Abd b. Humayd and Hakim who declared it trustworthy (Shawkani).
Some others have also been named. However, it was Nadr b. al-Harith and `Uqbah b. abi Mu`ayt, (and none others named) who were killed after having been taken prisoners at Badr (Qurtubi).

لِلْكَافِرِينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ دَافِعٌ (2)

(70:2) For the unbelievers of which there is no averter.

مِنَ اللَّهِ ذِي الْمَعَارِجِ (3)

(70:3) From Allah, the Lord of the Stairways.2

2. While Ibn `Abbas and Qatadah explained the textual “ma`arij” as possessor of Exaltedness and Excellences, Mujahid explained it as Stairway. “Ranks” is another interpretation. It comes from Ibn `Abbas (Ibn Jarir, Ibn Kathir).
It is called “ma`arij (singular “mi`raj), meaning “stairways” because angels use them to climb up (Razi from Ibn `Abbas, Qurtubi). There have been other explanations (Qurtubi).

تَعْرُجُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِينَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ (4)

(70:4) Angels and the Ruh3 ascend up to Him in a day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years.4

3. Some scholars have thought that the allusion is to Jibril, but spirits of the humankind could also have been meant (Ibn Kathir).

4. There are two interpretations. Mujahid said that the allusion is to the travel distance between the lowest earth and the highest heaven which happens to be fifty thousand years; while Ibn `Abbas, `Ikrimah, Mujahid, Dahhak and others said that the allusion is to the length of the Day of Reckoning which will be fifty thousand years (Ibn Jarir, Ibn Kathir).
Some ahadith also refer to the length of the Judgment Day as fifty thousand years (Ibn Kathir).
Shawkani adds: This does not contradict with another verse which says,
“And surely, a day with your Lord is like a thousand years by your count.” That is, by using the term “by your count” this ayah is speaking of this world’s day, of which thousand years are no more than a day for the Lord. However, Ibn Jarir and Razi add: for the believers the length of that Day will be quite short. The Prophet said,
On the authority of Abu Sa`id al-Khudri, the terribly long length of the Judgment-day was mentioned before the Prophet, he remarked, “By Him in whose hands is my life, it will be quite short for a believer to the extent that it will be shorter than an obligatory Prayer he used to offer in the world.”
The above hadith is also in Ahmed but which Haythami declared weak. However, Ibn Hibban placed it in his Sahih collection (Au.).

فَاصْبِرْ صَبْرًا جَمِيلًا (5)

(70:5) So, be patient with a graceful patience.

إِنَّهُمْ يَرَوْنَهُ بَعِيدًا (6)

(70:6) They do see it as far off.

وَنَرَاهُ قَرِيبًا (7)

(70:7) But We see it quite close.

يَوْمَ تَكُونُ السَّمَاءُ كَالْمُهْلِ (8)

(70:8) The day the heaven will be like murky oil.

وَتَكُونُ الْجِبَالُ كَالْعِهْنِ (9)

(70:9) And the mountains will be like (colored) flakes of wool.5

5. The mountains will undergo several color-changes during the Final Hour, which explains their various descriptions at various places in the Qur’an (Au.).

وَلَا يَسْأَلُ حَمِيمٌ حَمِيمًا (10)

(70:10) No loyal friend will inquire after a loyal friend.

يُبَصَّرُونَهُمْ ۚ يَوَدُّ الْمُجْرِمُ لَوْ يَفْتَدِي مِنْ عَذَابِ يَوْمِئِذٍ بِبَنِيهِ (11)

(70:11) (Although) they are shown them.6 The criminal will wish, if only he could redeem himself from the chastisement of the day by ransoming his children.

6. Although they will be shown one another, they would like to flee from each other, rather than help out each other (Ibn Jarir).

وَصَاحِبَتِهِ وَأَخِيهِ (12)

(70:12) And his wife, and his brother.

وَفَصِيلَتِهِ الَّتِي تُؤْوِيهِ (13)

(70:13) And the kin who shelter him (now).

وَمَنْ فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ يُنْجِيهِ (14)

(70:14) And whosoever is on the earth, all together, so that it could deliver him.

كَلَّا ۖ إِنَّهَا لَظَىٰ (15)

(70:15) By no means! It is indeed a blazing fire.7

7. Some scholars have said that “Laza” is one of the names of Hell (Ibn Jarir).

نَزَّاعَةً لِلشَّوَىٰ (16)

(70:16) Snatching away the limbs.8

8. “Shawa” is for hands, legs, head and skin. But quite a few have thought that the allusion is to the fire eating off the skins of the face, head and limbs (Ibn Jarir, Shawkani from the language experts and others).

تَدْعُو مَنْ أَدْبَرَ وَتَوَلَّىٰ (17)

(70:17) Inviting him who turned back and retreated.9

9. Yusuf Ali comments: “The analysis of sin is given in four master-strokes, of which the first two refer to the will or psychology of the sinner, and the last two to the use he makes of the good things of this life. (1) Sin begins with turning your back to the Right, refusing to face it squarely, running away from it whether from cowardice or indifference. (2) But Conscience and the sense of Right will try to prevent the flight; the Grace of Allah will meet the sinner at all corners and try to reclaim him; the hardened sinner will deliberately turn away his face from it, insult it, and reject it. (3) The result of this psychology will be that he will abandon himself to greed, to the collection of riches, and the acquisition of material advantages to which he is not entitled; this may involve hypocrisy, fraud, and crime. (4) Having acquired the material advantages, the next step will be to keep others out of them, to prevent hoarded wealth from fructifying by circulation, to conceal it from envy or spite. This is the spiritual Rake’s Progress.”

وَجَمَعَ فَأَوْعَىٰ (18)

(70:18) Who amassed and hoarded.10

10. It is reported that in view of this verse, `Abdullah b. `Ukaym would not tie the string around his cash pouch (Ibn Jarir).

إِنَّ الْإِنْسَانَ خُلِقَ هَلُوعًا (19)

(70:19) Surely, man has been created fretful.11

11. “Halu`” is a fretful, greedy person (Ibn Jarir from the Salaf).

إِذَا مَسَّهُ الشَّرُّ جَزُوعًا (20)

(70:20) When evil touches him, (he is) lamenting.

وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ الْخَيْرُ مَنُوعًا (21)

(70:21) And when good touches him, (he is) niggardly.

إِلَّا الْمُصَلِّينَ (22)

(70:22) Save those who Pray.12

12. This is one of the strongest of evidences that good deeds enjoy profound influence on a man’s moral and spiritual condition. They help a man bear what others cannot, as we can see examples all around us (Thanwi).

الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ دَائِمُونَ (23)

(70:23) Those who are consistent in their Prayers.13

13. Allah approves of those, who even if they pray little, are consistent and steadfast. The Prophet said in a report of Bukhari and others,
On `A’isha’s authority, the Prophet said, “Be moderate and get as close as possible (to the ideal) and know that none of you will enter Paradise on the strength of his deeds; and that the most approved of the deeds in Allah’s sight are those performed consistently, even if little.”

وَالَّذِينَ فِي أَمْوَالِهِمْ حَقٌّ مَعْلُومٌ (24)

(70:24) And those in whose wealth is a well-known right (for others) .14

14. That is, zakah. However, many of the Salaf have said that,
i.e., there are rights in the wealth apart from the zakah (Ibn Jarir).

لِلسَّائِلِ وَالْمَحْرُومِ (25)

(70:25) For the beggars and the deprived.15

15. The Salaf have explained that “al-mahrum” is someone who fails in his every venture, to sit back defeated and distressed (Ibn Jarir).

وَالَّذِينَ يُصَدِّقُونَ بِيَوْمِ الدِّينِ (26)

(70:26) And those who testify to the Day of Reckoning.

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ مِنْ عَذَابِ رَبِّهِمْ مُشْفِقُونَ (27)

(70:27) And those who are fearful of their Lord’s punishment.

إِنَّ عَذَابَ رَبِّهِمْ غَيْرُ مَأْمُونٍ (28)

(70:28) Surely, the punishment of their Lord is not a thing to feel secure from.

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِفُرُوجِهِمْ حَافِظُونَ (29)

(70:29) And those who guard their private parts.

إِلَّا عَلَىٰ أَزْوَاجِهِمْ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مَلُومِينَ (30)

(70:30) Save from their wives or what their right hands own, then they are un-blameworthy.

فَمَنِ ابْتَغَىٰ وَرَاءَ ذَٰلِكَ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْعَادُونَ (31)

(70:31) But whoever sought beyond that, they are the transgressors.

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ (32)

(70:32) And those who are mindful of their trusts16 and their covenant.

16. All that the Shari`ah has made obligatory, whether beliefs, words, states, deeds, people’s rights extending from wife, children, neighbors, the poor and the rest of mankind, are all trusts placed in the hands of a believer. They include by default what man possesses of Allah’s direct bestowals such as the body, health, etc. Whoever used them in places disallowed, did not honor the trust placed in him (Alusi).

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ بِشَهَادَاتِهِمْ قَائِمُونَ (33)

(70:33) And those who stand firm by their testimonies.17

17. Such as, their testimony of Allah’s oneness (Au.).

وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ عَلَىٰ صَلَاتِهِمْ يُحَافِظُونَ (34)

(70:34) And those who guard their Prayers.18

18. Doing the Prayers regularly and consistently is one thing, and to be doing it rightly is another. The allusion by guarding the Prayers is to do them on time, diligently and correctly with the heart and the soul in full attention (Au.).

أُولَٰئِكَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ مُكْرَمُونَ (35)

(70:35) They will be in gardens - honored.

فَمَالِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا قِبَلَكَ مُهْطِعِينَ (36)

(70:36) So, what is with the unbelievers fleeing away from you19 with outstretched necks?20

19. The Prophet has also used the textual word. Muslim reports that,
The Prophet came upon us and said, “What’s with me that I see you sitting in small groups?” (That is, get together) – Ibn Kathir and others.

20. Some scholars have thought that the complicated structure of this verse yields exactly a meaning opposite to the apparent, viz., what is wrong with these unbelievers that they come rushing to you in groups with outstretched necks (Au.).

عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ عِزِينَ (37)

(70:37) From the right and from the left, in groups?

أَيَطْمَعُ كُلُّ امْرِئٍ مِنْهُمْ أَنْ يُدْخَلَ جَنَّةَ نَعِيمٍ (38)

(70:38) Does every man of them longs that he be ushered into the Garden of bliss?

كَلَّا ۖ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُمْ مِمَّا يَعْلَمُونَ (39)

(70:39) By no means! We have indeed created them out of what they know.

فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِرَبِّ الْمَشَارِقِ وَالْمَغَارِبِ إِنَّا لَقَادِرُونَ (40)

(70:40) No! I swear by the Lord of the easts and the wests,21 surely, We are able..

21. Yusuf Ali comments: “Here the witness placed before us is His own power and glory manifested in the splendor of sunrise and sunset at different points through the solar year.”
The sun’s rise from different points every new day, and its setting (its easts and the wests), is because of the earth’s 23.50 tilt with reference to its plane of revolution around the Sun. This axial inclination creates the seasons and causes the earth to receive varying degrees of energy from the sun at various regions (Au.).

عَلَىٰ أَنْ نُبَدِّلَ خَيْرًا مِنْهُمْ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ (41)

(70:41) To substitute with better than them; and We shall not be outstripped.

فَذَرْهُمْ يَخُوضُوا وَيَلْعَبُوا حَتَّىٰ يُلَاقُوا يَوْمَهُمُ الَّذِي يُوعَدُونَ (42)

(70:42) So, leave them alone to indulge and play, until they encounter the day of theirs that they are promised.

يَوْمَ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ الْأَجْدَاثِ سِرَاعًا كَأَنَّهُمْ إِلَىٰ نُصُبٍ يُوفِضُونَ (43)

(70:43) The day they will emerge from their tombs hastily, as if they are racing to a waymark.22

22. “Waymark or landmark”: this is how the great majority have understood. However, “nusub” is also for the erected stone-idols (Ibn Jarir).

خَاشِعَةً أَبْصَارُهُمْ تَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْيَوْمُ الَّذِي كَانُوا يُوعَدُونَ (44)

(70:44) Their eyes humbled, ignominy covering them. That is the day that they were being promised.