The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall 1 The unbelievers-- there is none to avert it-- 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore be patient, with a beautiful patience; 5 Surely they think it to be far off, 6 But We see it (quite) near. 7 On that Day the heavens shall become like molten brass, 8 And the hills will be light as wool. 9 And friend shall not ask of friend 10 Though they will be given sight of them. The guilty man will long to be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children 11 his companion (wife), his brother, 12 And his family who had stood by him, 13 And all those that are in the earth, (wishing) then (that) this might deliver him. 14 Never! That is indeed a blazing fire. 15 will strip-off the flesh 16 It invites he who turned his back [on truth] and went away [from obedience] 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Indeed, man is born impatient: 19 [As a rule,] whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity; 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he grows niggardly. 21 Not so are the prayerful. 22 Those who are regular in their prayers. 23 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right. 24 For him who begs and for him who is denied (good) 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgment, 26 and are fearful of the punishment of their Lord; 27 Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe - 28 And those who guard their chastity, 29 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy; 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 who honor their trust and promises, 32 who testify to what they have witnessed, 33 and who observe their prayers. 34 They will be in gardens, honored. 35