The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
ONE who is minded to ask might ask about the suffering which [in the hereafter] is bound to befall 1 The infidels, of which there is no averter. 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit mount up, in a day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 So be patient with gracious patience. 5 they see it as being far off; 6 But We see it very near. 7 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper 8 and the mountains will become like dyed tufts of wool, 9 And no friend will ask after a friend, 10 Though they shall be made to see one another. Fain would the guilty ransom himself from the torment of that Day by his children. 11 his companion (wife), his brother, 12 And his nearest kindred who shelter him 13 and all those on earth. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 Flaying off the scalp-skin. 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 collect (wealth) and hide it (from use)! 18 ۞ Truly man was created very impatient;- 19 Fretful when evil befalleth him 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 Except those devoted to Salat (prayers) 22 Those who are constant in their prayer 23 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord-- 27 Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure - 28 and guard their private parts 29 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy; 30 But whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers. 31 and those who fulfil their trusts and their covenants, 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 And those who guard their Salat (prayers) well. 34 It is these who will be honoured in Gardens. 35