The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert, 2 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways 3 The angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years, 4 Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment). 5 They deem it to be remote. 6 And We see it nigh. 7 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 And no friend inquires after friend 10 although they shall be within sight of one another. The guilty one would fain ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his children, 11 And his wife and his brother, 12 and his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 and all the people of the earth, if that could deliver him. 14 By no means! For the raging flames of the fire 15 tearing away his skin! 16 and drag into it anyone who has turned away (from obeying God), 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Indeed man is created very impatient, greedy. 19 Fretful when evil touches him; 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 except those who are steadfast 22 Who are at their prayer constant. 23 and those in whose wealth there is a known right 24 for those that ask and those that are dispossessed, 25 And those who testify to the Day of Requital. 26 and are fearful of the punishment of their Lord; 27 For their Lord's displeasure is the opposite of Peace and Tranquillity;- 28 who guard their carnal desires 29 except from their wives and what their right hands own, for these they are not blameworthy. 30 But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors - 31 and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 Who uphold their testimonies, 33 And those who protect their prayers. 34 Those shall be in Gardens, high-honoured. 35