(1–7) “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. * A questioner asked for a punishment bound to fall * upon the disbelievers; none can avert it. * It is from Allah, Lord of the ways of ascent. * The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him on a Day whose measure is fifty thousand years. * So be patient with gracious patience. * They see it as far off, * but We see it as near.”
The Most High says, explaining the ignorance of the obstinate and how they mockingly sought to hasten Allah’s punishment, out of obstinacy and defiance:
“A questioner asked”—that is, a supplicant invoked it and one seeking judgment demanded—“a punishment bound to fall upon the disbelievers,” for they deserve it because of their disbelief and obstinacy. “None can avert it from Allah.” That is, no one can prevent this punishment—which some of the rebellious polytheists sought to hasten—before it descends, or remove it after it has descended. This occurred when al-Nadr ibn al-Hārith al-Qurashī, or some other polytheist (1), prayed: “O Allah, if this is indeed the truth from You, then rain down stones upon us from the sky or bring us a painful punishment,” to the end of the verses.
The punishment must therefore come upon them from Allah: either it will be hastened for them in this world or deferred until the Hereafter (2). Had they known Allah Most High, His greatness, the vastness of His dominion, and the perfection of His names and attributes, they would not have sought to hasten it. Rather, they would have submitted and conducted themselves with proper reverence. Allah therefore disclosed something of His greatness that refutes their vile statements, saying: “Lord of the ways of ascent. The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him.” That is, He possesses highness, majesty, and greatness, and governs all creation. The angels ascend to Him bearing the tasks He has assigned them (3) in the execution of His governance, and the spirit ascends to Him. Here, “spirit” is a generic noun encompassing every spirit, righteous or wicked. This occurs at death.
The souls of the righteous ascend to Allah and are given permission to pass from one heaven ⦗886⦘ to the next, until they reach the heaven in which Allah is—glorious and exalted is He. They greet their Lord and salute Him, enjoy nearness to Him, rejoice in drawing close to Him, and receive His praise, honor, kindness, and exalted regard.
The souls of the wicked also ascend, but when they reach heaven and seek permission to enter, permission is denied them and they are returned to the earth.
Allah then mentioned the distance across which the angels and spirits ascend to Him (4). They traverse it in one day because of the means He has made available to them and the subtlety, lightness, and speed with which He has aided them. Yet at an ordinary pace, that distance would take fifty thousand years—from the beginning of their ascent until they reach the limit appointed for them and the highest assembly where their ascent ends.
This vast dominion and immense universe, both its upper and lower realms, has been entirely created and governed by the Most High, the Supreme. He knows their outward and inward conditions and their permanent and temporary abodes. He has bestowed upon them such mercy, kindness, and provision (5) as encompasses them all, and He executes over them His decree governing destiny, His religious law, and His decree of recompense.
Woe, then, to people who are ignorant of His greatness and fail to esteem Him as He deserves, and who seek to hasten the punishment as a challenge and a test! Glory be to the Forbearing, who granted them respite without neglecting them. They affronted Him, yet He bore patiently with them, granted them well-being, and provided for them.
This is one possible interpretation of this [noble] verse. Accordingly, this ascent and rising take place in this world, for the opening context indicates this.
It is also possible that this occurs on the Day of Resurrection, when Allah—glorious and exalted is He—will display before His servants such greatness, majesty, and grandeur as provides the clearest evidence through which He may be known. They will witness the angels and spirits ascending and descending in fulfillment of the divine governance and the affairs of creation (6).
That will be the Day whose measure is fifty thousand years because of its length and severity, although Allah Most High will make it easy for the believer.
His words, “So be patient with gracious patience,” mean: patiently persevere in calling your people, without vexation or weariness. Continue to obey Allah’s command and invite His servants to worship Him alone. Do not let what you see of their unwillingness to submit and their lack of interest turn you away from them, for patiently enduring this holds immense good.
“They see it as far off, but We see it as near.” The pronoun refers to the resurrection, during which the punishment requested by those demanding it will occur. Their condition is that of someone who denies it, or of one so overwhelmed by wretchedness and stupor that everything before him concerning resurrection and rising from the dead seems remote. Allah sees it as near, for He is Gentle and Forbearing and does not hasten. He knows that it must inevitably occur, and everything that is coming is near.
He then mentioned the terrors of that Day and what will take place therein, saying: