Surah Ma’arij Verse 1-3

سَأَلَ سَائِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ لِّلْكَافِرينَ لَيْسَ لَهُ دَافِعٌ مِّنَ اللَّهِ ذِي الْمَعَارِجِ

“A demander demanded the chastisement that is to be fill the disbelievers -which none shall be able to repel – from Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent”

Imam Baqir (as) was asked about the above verse and he replied, An (army) of fire will rise from the west and a dominating power will be leading this army from behind. It will reach the house of Saad bin Homam by their mosque. This (army) of fire will not leave any house (belonging to the) Bani Umayyah without burning it and its inhabitants, nor will it leave any house which contains anyone who has (participated) in spilling the blood of the members of the family of the Prophet (as) without burning it. (The dominating power) refers to the Mahdi. (Tafseer Al Qummi volume 2 page 385)


When Imam Sadiq (as) was asked about above verse, he (as) replied, The Taweel (hidden interpretation) of this verse will apply when the chastisement will rise in Thawiyyah. (An area in Kufa. Janabe’ Kumayl Ibne Ziyad is buried there) This refers to a fire that will reach the church of the Bani Asad. It will pass by the tribe of Thaqeef, and it will not leave anyone who has (participated) in spilling the blood of the members of the family of the Prophet (as) without burning him. This will happen before the rising of the Qaem (as). (Al Ghaybah by Nomani page 272)


Jabir said, Imam Baqir (as) asked me, “How do the people read the Chapter (of Ma’arij)?”

I replied, “They read, “A demander demanded the chastisement that is to befall the disbelievers – which none shall be able to repel – from Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent”

Imam (as) said, It should not be read, “A demander demanded the chastisement that is to befall.” Rather, it should be read, “A flood will flow with a chastisement that is to befall.”

This refers to the fire that will begin in Thawiyyah and will reach the church of the Bani Asad. Then it will continue until it will reach the Bani Thaqeef; it will not leave anyone who has (participated) in spilling the blood of the members of the family of the Prophet (as) without burning him. (Al Ghaybah by Nomani page 272)