The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 Upon the infidels -- which none would be able to repel -- 2 [since it will come] from God, unto whom there are many ways of ascent: 3 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. 4 (Muhammad), exercise patience with no complaints. 5 Verily they behold it afar off. 6 while We think that it is near at hand. 7 The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). 8 And the hills become as flakes of wool, 9 And no friend will ask [anything of] a friend, 10 as they are given sight of them. The sinner will wish that he might ransom himself from the chastisement of that day even by his sons, 11 And his wife and his brother 12 And his kindred who sheltered him, 13 And whoever is on earth entirely [so] then it could save him. 14 By no means! for it would be the Fire of Hell!- 15 Plucking out (his being) right to the skull!- 16 It shall insistently summon him who turned his back and retreated, 17 And masseth and then hoardeth. 18 ۞ Indeed, man is born impatient: 19 Fretful when evil touches him; 20 If good comes to him he holds back his hand, 21 except those that pray 22 Who are at their prayer constant. 23 They are those who assign a certain share of their property 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 those who firmly believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 and go in fear of the punishment of their Lord, 27 Surely no one can be secure from the punishment of his 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 whoso seeks after more than that, they are the transgressors), 31 And those who are to their trusts and promises attentive 32 And those who stand by their testimony 33 and who take due care of their Prayer: 34 It is these who will be honoured in Gardens. 35