How should we understand verse 4 of Surat al-Ma'arij where it says that the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose span is fifty thousand years? | Ask A Question | Al-Islam.org

Meaning Qur'anic Verse

How should we understand verse 4 of Surat al-Ma'arij where it says that the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose span is fifty thousand years?

"The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose span is fifty thousand years." Quran 70:4

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Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answered 1 anno fa

According to narrations from the Sh'i Imams, the "day" referred to in this ayah is the Day of Judgment.

In the Shi'i view, the "spirit" is a separate spiritual being created by Allah (not the angel Jibra'il, who would be included under the category of "angels" anyway).

The verse refers to the angels and Spirit returning towards the spiritual realm (nearer to Allah) after the destruction of the physical universe before the day of judgment. That is, currently some angels have jobs in the physical universe, but they will leave the physical universe at that time.

Hope that helps!