Al-Ma'arij Verse 1

A challenger[[ According to {8:32}, An-Naḍr ibn Al-Ḥârith challenged Allah, saying, “If this is indeed the truth from You, then rain down stones upon us from the sky or overcome us with a painful punishment.”]] has demanded a punishment bound to come

A challenger asked for a punishment bound to come

A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall

A man [mockingly] demanded the punishment.

There hath asked an asker for the torment about to befall.

A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall-

A beseecher besought the visitation of chastisement,

AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come

A requester seeks the punishment that will take place –

An asker asked for a punishment sure to befall

A questioner (in mocking denial of the Day of Resurrection) has asked about the punishment certain to befall,

A solicitor solicited the punishment which is bound to befall.

(An) asker/questioner asked/questioned with (about) a falling/landing torture

A requester seeks the punishment that will take place -

A questioner asked about the chastisement which must befall

A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall

From Allah, Lord of the ways of Ascent.

One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall

A questioner questioned concerning the doom about to fall

Someone has (needlessly) demanded to experience the torment (of God),

A caller supplicated about a punishment to fall on

A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall

A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out,

A questioner questioned the imminent torment.

A petitioner petitioned, a supplicator supplicated [for], an impending chastisement

A Request to hasten the Day of Judgement

Allah says that,

سَأَلَ سَايِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ




A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall,

This Ayah contains an assumed meaning that is alluded to by the letter "Ba". It is as though it is saying, a questioner requested to hasten on the torment that is about to fall.

It is similar to Allah's statement,

وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِالْعَذَابِ وَلَن يُخْلِفَ اللَّهُ وَعْدَهُ

And they ask you to hasten on the torment! And Allah fails not His promise. (22;47)

meaning, that its torment will occur and there is no avoiding it.

Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas concerning the Ayah,
سَأَلَ سَايِلٌ بِعَذَابٍ وَاقِعٍ
(A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall),

"That is the questioning of the disbelievers about the torment of Allah and it will occur to them."

Ibn Abi Najih reported from Mujahid that he said concerning Allah's statement
سَأَلَ سَايِلٌ
(A questioner asked),

"A person called out (requesting) for the torment that will occur in the Hereafter to happen."

Then he said, "This is their saying,

اللَّهُمَّ إِن كَانَ هَـذَا هُوَ الْحَقَّ مِنْ عِندِكَ فَأَمْطِرْ عَلَيْنَا حِجَارَةً مِّنَ السَّمَأءِ أَوِ ايْتِنَا بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ

O Allah! If this is indeed the truth from you, then rain down stones on us from the sky or bring on us a painful torment." (8;32)

Allah's statement,

وَاقِعٍ

Some Pagan once asked: "When do we expect our turn to suffer that punitive punishment and the encounter with the promised Day of Judgement