`Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas, "Lord of the ways of ascent means loftiness and abundance.'' Mujahid said, "Lord of the ways of ascent means the ways of ascension into the heavens.'' Concerning Allah's statement,

[تَعْرُجُ الْمَلَـئِكَةُ وَالرُّوحُ إِلَيْهِ]

(The angels and the Ruh Ta`ruju to Him) `Abdur-Razzaq reported from Ma`mar from Qatadah that Ta`ruju means to ascend. In reference to the Ruh, Abu Salih said, "They are creatures from the creation of Allah that resemble humans but they are not humans.'' It could be that here it means Jibril, and this is a way of connecting the specific to the general (other angels). It could also be referring to the name of the souls (Arwah) of the Children of Adam (humans). For verily, when they (the human souls) are taken at death, they are lifted up to the heavens just as the Hadith of Al-Bara' proves.