The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen 1 for the unbelievers, which none may avert, 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 Whereby the angels ascend unto Him and also the spirit, On a Day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 So, (O Prophet), persevere with gracious perseverance. 5 they see it as being far off; 6 while We think that it is near at hand. 7 On the day when the heavens become like molten metal. 8 And then the mountains shall become like unto wool dyed. 9 And no friend will ask [anything of] a friend, 10 Though they shall be made to see one another. Fain would the guilty ransom himself from the torment of that Day by his children. 11 And his spouse and his brother. 12 and his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 and all those on earth. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 That would skin the scalp. 16 It calleth him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 When evil comes upon him he is impatient; 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he grows niggardly. 21 Except those who establish prayer. 22 Those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers); 23 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right. 24 For the petitioner and the deprived - 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 and go in fear of the punishment of their Lord, 27 surely the chastisement of their Lord is a thing none can feel secure from – 28 And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts). 29 Are free of blame, 30 But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors - 31 and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 And those who are in their testimonies upright 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 These it is who in the gardens [of paradise] shall be honoured! 35