The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
A caller supplicated about a punishment to fall on 1 To the disbelievers; of it there is no preventer. 2 From God, the Lord of the steps (of progression), 3 all the angels and all the inspiration [ever granted to man] ascend unto Him [daily,] in a day the length whereof is [like] fifty thousand years… 4 So, (O Prophet), persevere with gracious perseverance. 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 but, We see it as near! 7 The day the sky becomes like molten brass, 8 and the mountains become like wool, 9 And not a friend shall ask a 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 spouse and his brother 12 And his kindred who sheltered him, 13 And all who are on the earth; so that this might deliver him. 14 But never. It is pure white flame 15 It snatches away by the scalps, 16 It will claim all such as turn their backs [on what is right,] and turn away [from the truth,] 17 and amassed wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ VERILY, man is born with a restless disposition. 19 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him 20 but when they are fortunate, they become niggardly 21 Not so those devoted to Prayer;- 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right. 24 For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened); 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 And those who are fearful of their Lord's doom - 27 Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure - 28 those who preserve their chastity 29 Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed, 30 But those who seek more than this will be transgressors; 31 And those who of their trusts and their covenant are keepers. 32 and those who stand by their testimony 33 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: 34 all these shall live honourably in the Gardens. 35