The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 (a chastisement meant) for the unbelievers, one which none can avert; 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 So persevere with becoming patience. 5 Verily! They see it (the torment) afar off, 6 And We behold it nigh. 7 The Day that the sky will be like molten brass, 8 And the mountains will be like flakes of wool, 9 And friend shall not ask of friend 10 Though they will be given sight of them. The guilty man will long to be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children 11 His wife and his brother, 12 his kinsmen who gave him refuge (from hardship) 13 And all those who are on the earth, to save himself. 14 By no means! For the raging flames of the fire 15 will strip-off the flesh 16 It calleth him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 And collected [wealth] and hoarded. 18 ۞ Surely man is created of a hasty temperament 19 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him 20 And when good touches him, withholding [of it], 21 Except those who closely follow (the Book of God), 22 Who persevere in devotion, 23 And those in whose riches is a known right. 24 For the petitioner and the deprived - 25 those who firmly believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord. 27 (from their Lord's chastisement none feels secure) 28 And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts). 29 Save in regard to their spouses or those whom their right hands own; so verily they are not blameworthy 30 But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits-- 31 who honor their trust and promises, 32 and who stand firm whenever they bear witness; 33 and (finally) those who do not miss their ritual - prayers at the prescribed times; 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35