The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 Upon the infidels -- which none would be able to repel -- 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. 4 But be patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see. 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 While we behold it nigh: 7 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 And friend shall not ask of friend 10 although they shall be within sight of one another. The guilty one would fain ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his children, 11 His wife and his brother, 12 And his kin that sheltered him. 13 And whoever is on earth entirely [so] then it could save him. 14 By no means! For the raging flames of the fire 15 that will strip off the scalp. 16 It shall claim him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man is created of a hasty temperament 19 when evil visits him, impatient, 20 If good comes to him he holds back his hand, 21 Except the observers of prayer - 22 [and] who incessantly persevere in their prayer 23 who, from their wealth is a known right 24 For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking); 25 And those who believe the Day of Judgement to be true. 26 who are afraid of the torment of their Lord, 27 Surely the chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure of-- 28 And those who guard their private parts, 29 Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed - 30 But whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers. 31 and those who fulfil their trusts and their covenants, 32 and those who are upright in their testimonies; 33 and who observe their prayers. 34 They will be in gardens, honored. 35