The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 Upon the disbelievers – the punishment that none can avert. 2 From Allah, the Lord of all pinnacles. 3 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. 4 So be patient (O Muhammad SAW), with a good patience. 5 Verily they think that the chastisement is far off, 6 But We see it very near. 7 The day when the sky will be like molten silver. 8 and the mountains will become like tufts of wool, 9 even intimate friends will not inquire about their friends, 10 Though they will be put in sight of each other,- the sinner's desire will be: Would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 his companion wife, his brother, 12 his kin who sheltered him, 13 And all who are on the earth; so that this might deliver him. 14 But no! There is a raging blaze 15 It snatches away by the scalps, 16 Calling: "[O Kafir (O disbeliever in Allah, His angels, His Book, His Messengers, Day of Resurrection and in Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments), O Mushrik (O polytheist, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allah)] (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from Faith) [picking and swallowing them up from that great gathering of mankind (on the Day of Resurrection) just as a bird picks up a food-grain from the earth with its beak and swallows it up] [Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 18, Page 289] 17 And collected [wealth] and hoarded. 18 ۞ VERILY, man is born with a restless disposition. 19 Very nervous when touched by misfortune. 20 If good comes to him he holds back his hand, 21 Except those who closely follow (the Book of God), 22 Who are at their prayer constant. 23 And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion. 24 For him who begs and for him who is denied (good) 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord, -- 27 Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure, 28 And those who guard their private parts, 29 Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (then) they are not to be blamed, 30 but those who go beyond that limit are transgressors; 31 and who preserve their trusts and their covenant, 32 Who uphold their testimonies, 33 And those who guard (the sacredness) of their worship;- 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35