مِعْرَاجٌ

(S, A, O, K) and ↓ مِعْرَجٌ and ↓ مَعْرَجٌ, (S, O, K,) the second and third allowable according to Akh, like مِرْقَاةٌ and مَرْقَاةٌ, (S, O,) A ladder, or series of steps or stairs: (S, A, O, K:) or, with the article ال, [but most commonly the first of these with ال,] a thing resembling a دَرَجَة [i. e. ladder, or series of steps or stairs], upon which the souls ascend when they are taken [from their bodies]: it is said that there is nothing more beautiful than it; so that when the soul sees it, it cannot refrain from making its exit [from the body]: (TA:) hence لَيْلَةُ المِعْرَاجِ [the Night of the Ladder; in which Mohammad is related to have ascended from Jerusalem to Heaven, after having been conveyed to the former from Mekkeh upon the beast named البُرَاق]: plural مَعَارِيجُ and مَعَارِجُ, like مَفَاتِيحُ and مَفَاتِحُ. (S, O.) Also, (K,) or [properly the last only, i. e.] ↓ مَعْرَجٌ, (L, Msb, TA,) A place of ascent: (L, Msb, K, TA:) and the way whereby the angels ascend: (TA:) plural مَعَارِجُ, (Msb, TA,) [in both senses, i. e.] this signifies places of ascent: (S, A, O:) and in the Qur'an, 70:3, the places of ascent of the angels: or it there means benefits, or favours: (O:) and مِعْرَاجٌ is [said to be] like مَعْرَجٌ [in meaning, though this is a loose explanation]. (Msb.)