The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
A beseecher besought the visitation of chastisement, 1 to those who deny the truth. No power can hinder God 2 From Allah, Owner of the ascending steps. 3 Whereby the angels ascend unto Him and also the spirit, On a Day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 So be patient with gracious patience. 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 Whereas We see it impending. 7 Upon the day when heaven shall be as molten copper 8 And the hills become as flakes of wool, 9 and no friend will ask about his friend, 10 Though within sight of one another. The sinner would like to ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his sons, 11 And his spouse and his brother 12 And the nearest of his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 and all persons of the earth, if only he could thus save himself. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 tearing away his skin! 16 and it will claim all those who turned their backs [on the true faith] and turned away [from the truth], 17 and amassed wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Truly man was created very impatient;- 19 If evil befalls him he is perturbed; 20 And niggardly when good touches him; 21 Except the observers of prayer - 22 Who are constant at their worship 23 those in whose wealth is a right known 24 for the needy and the deprived, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord, -- 27 Indeed the punishment of their Lord is not a thing to be unafraid of! 28 and who are mindful of their chastity, 29 [not giving way to their desires] with any but their spouses - that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock]: for then, behold, they are free of all blame, 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 And those who keep their pledges and their covenant, 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 And those who of their prayer are observant. 34 all these shall live honourably in the Gardens. 35