The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience: 5 Lo! they behold it afar off 6 but We see it near at hand. 7 On that Day the heaven shall become like molten copper, 8 The mountains like the tufts of (carded) wool, 9 and no friend will ask about his friend, 10 (Though) they shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 And his wife and his brother 12 And his family who had stood by him, 13 And whoever is on earth entirely [so] then it could save him. 14 By no means! It will be the fierce flame 15 tearing away his skin! 16 It invites he who turned his back [on truth] and went away [from obedience] 17 who amassed and hoarded. 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 [As a rule,] whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity; 20 when good visits him, grudging, 21 Except those who pray, 22 [and] who incessantly persevere in their prayer 23 And those in whose riches is a known right. 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 who are afraid of the torment of their Lord, 27 for none may ever feel secure from the punishment of their Lord; 28 and those who guard their private parts, 29 except from their wives and what their right hands own, for these they are not blameworthy. 30 whereas such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are truly transgressors; 31 And those who keep their pledges and their covenant, 32 And those who are firm upon their testimonies. 33 and are steadfast in their prayers. 34 all these shall live honourably in the Gardens. 35