The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 5) — Page 324
CH. 70 ركوعاتها ٢ V. سورة المَعارِج مَكَّيَّة 20 PT. 29 بسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ سال سابل بِعَذَابٍ واقع ن تِلْكَفِرِيْنَ لَيْسَ لَهُ دَافِعٌ 3 مِّنَ اللَّهِ ذِي الْمَعَارِجِ (AL-MA‘ĀRIJ) 1. "In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. 2. An inquirer inquires concerning the punishment about to befallb 4367 3. The disbelievers, which none can repel. c 4. It is from Allah, Lord of great ascents. 4368 تَعْرُجُ الْمَلَكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ The angels and the Spirit. 5 كَانَ مِقْدَارُهُ خَمْسِيْنَ أَلْفَ سَنَةٍ ascend to Him in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4369 "See 1:1. 52:8; 56:2. 52:9; 56:3. 4367. Commentary: "The inquirer" in the verse is taken by some commentators to refer to Naḍr bin Al-Harith, or Abū Jahl. But it need not refer to any particular person. The disbelievers had repeatedly challenged the Holy Prophet to bring down upon them the threatened punishment (10:49; 21:39; 27:72; 32:29; 34:30; 36:49; 67:26). The demand was made in doubt and mockery. They had gone so far as to challenge the Prophet with the words, "O Allah, if this be indeed the truth from Thee, then rain down upon us stones from heaven or bring down upon us a grievous punishment" (8:33). The word "inquirer" may refer to all such questioners. 4368. Commentary: disbelievers should have accepted the Message of Islam and thus should have won the pleasure of God. Or it may mean that while the punishment that will overtake disbelievers will be highly destructive, the ascent of the believers to heights of spiritual perfection will also be without end. Or the verse may signify that as the attributes of God are manifested in stages, the punishment of disbelievers will also come in stages. The verse may also signify that the day when disbelievers will receive the most humiliating punishment in the form of the Fall of Mecca will be the most auspicious day in the Holy Prophet's life-the day of his as (Ascension), when he will be at the height of his power. The verse may mean that instead of 4369. Important Words: demanding punishment the (Spirit) means, the human soul; 3220