The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 Upon the infidels -- which none would be able to repel -- 2 (A Penalty) from Allah, Lord of the Ways of Ascent. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit mount up, in a day whereof the measure 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 And We see it nigh. 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 mountains shall be as plucked wool-tufts, 9 And no familiar friend will ask a question of 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 wife and his brother 12 and his kinsfolk who had stood by him, 13 and of whoever [else] lives on earth, all of them - so that he could but save himself. 14 But no! There is a raging blaze 15 That would skin the scalp. 16 It shall call him who turneth back and backslideth. 17 Who amasses and then hoards. 18 ۞ Lo! man was created anxious, 19 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him 20 when good visits him, grudging, 21 except those that pray, 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion. 24 for such as ask [for help] and such as are deprived [of what is good in life]; 25 And those who believe the Day of Judgement to be true. 26 And those who are fearful of their Lord's torment 27 surely the chastisement of their Lord is a thing none can feel secure from – 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 those who go beyond that limit are transgressors; 31 and those who fulfil their trusts and their covenants, 32 And those who are in their testimonies upright 33 and who observe their prayers. 34 Those shall be in Gardens, high-honoured. 35