The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 No one can defend him against God, the Lord of the exalted positions. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 So, (O Prophet), persevere with gracious perseverance. 5 They think that it (the Day of Judgment) is far away. 6 Whereas We see it impending. 7 On that Day the heavens shall become like molten brass, 8 and the mountains will be like tufts of wool, 9 And friend shall not ask of 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 wife and his brother 12 his kin who sheltered him, 13 And all those that are in the earth, (wishing) then (that) this might deliver him. 14 By no means! It will be the fierce flame 15 Plucking out (his being) right to the skull!- 16 It shall claim 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 bewailing when evil befalls him, 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 except those that pray, 22 Those who remain steadfast to their prayer; 23 and in whose possessions there is a due share, acknowledged [by them,] 24 For the needy and those dispossessed, 25 And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment; 26 and are fearful of the punishment 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 in regard to their spouses and those whom their right hands possess, for in regard to them they are not reproachable, 30 But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits-- 31 And those who protect the property entrusted to them, and their agreements. 32 Who uphold their testimonies, 33 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: 34 such people will receive due honor in Paradise. 35