Al-Ma'aarij (The Ascending Stairways)

42. Therefore, leave them to plunge in vain talk and play about, until they meet their Promised Day.

43. The Day when they shall come out of the graves instantly as racing toward their idols,

44. With their eyes lowered in fear, enwrapped by humility and ignominy. [It shall be said unto them:] That is the Day which was promised unto you.

These closing Verses of the blessed Chapter warn the obdurate disbelievers mocking Resurrection and belief in the Islamic faith, saying:

“Therefore, leave them to plunge in vain talk and play about, until they meet their Promised Day. The Day when they shall come out of the graves instantly as racing toward their idols, with their eyes lowered in fear, enwrapped by humility and ignominy. [It shall be said unto them:] That is the Day which was promised unto you.”

Such decisive arguments are sufficient, since they are neither sensible nor prepared to wake up. They are abandoned to plunged into their false beliefs and engage themselves in child play until the Promised Day, namely the Day of Resurrection happens.

The blessed Verse 43 depicts that Day and its awe inspiring tokens, saying that they shall leave their graves instantly on that Day as if they hasten toward their idols in celebrations or mourning. Such dramatic juxtaposition aims at deriding their false beliefs in this world.

The Arabic word ajdath is the plural form of jadath. Sira‘an is an adverb of manner used in the sense of “instantly.”

The Arabic nominal form nusub is the plural form of nasb denoting something installed somewhere, though it herein connotes the stone idols installed at certain places to be worshipped by idolaters by shedding the blood of sacrificial animals on them. The difference between nasb and sanam is that the latter had a particular form, but the former was a formless rock worshipped by idolaters.

The Arabic verbal form

yufidhun (“race, hasten”),

cognate with ifadha, implies rapid movement like that of water running from its fountainhead. Some Qur’an exegetes maintain that nusub implies the banners installed amongst armies or caravans at certain places toward which everybody hastens.

The blessed Verse 44 further treats of other tokens, saying that on that Day, their eyes shall be lowered owing to the intensity of horror looking at their surroundings with humility while they shall be enwrapped by ignominy and humility.

The blessed Verse closes by saying that that is the Day promised to them, though they used to deride it, saying that granted that such Day exists, they shall be far better in terms of convenience and comfort compared with the believers. Nonetheless, they dare not raise their heads owing to horror and disgrace. They shall be covered with the dust of humility. They shall plunge into sorrows, but their regrets shall be of no avail.

O Lord! Protect us by Your Compassion on that awe inspiring Day.

O Lord! Rank us amongst the believers who have kept their promise to You and have obeyed Your Commands.