The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen 1 for the unbelievers, which none may avert, 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment). 5 Lo! they behold it afar off 6 but We see it near. 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 will be like wool, 9 And no friend inquires after friend 10 though they may be in one another's sight: [for,] everyone who was lost in sin will on that Day but desire to ransom himself from suffering at the price of his own children, 11 And his wife and his brother, 12 and his kinsfolk who had stood by him, 13 and whosoever is in the earth, altogether, so that it might save him. 14 But no! There is a raging blaze 15 Dragging by the head, 16 and drag into it anyone who has turned away (from obeying God), 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 [As a rule,] whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity; 20 And refraining, when good reaches him. 21 except those who are steadfast 22 and are constant in their Prayer; 23 In whose wealth a due share is included 24 For him who begs and for him who is denied (good) 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgment, 26 and go in fear of the punishment of their Lord, 27 for, behold, of their Sustainer's chastisement none may ever feel [wholly] secure; 28 those who preserve their chastity 29 Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (then) they are not to be blamed, 30 So those who desire more than this – it is they who are the transgressors. 31 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant 32 And those who are upright in their testimonies, 33 And those who protect their prayers. 34 They will be honoured in the Gardens of Bliss. 35