The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall- 1 The infidels, of which there is no averter. 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. 4 (Muhammad), exercise patience with no complaints. 5 They see it [the Day of Judgement] to be far off, 6 but, We see it as near! 7 On the day when the heavens become like molten metal. 8 The mountains like the tufts of (carded) wool, 9 and [when] no friend will ask about his friend, 10 though they shall be within sight of each other. The guilty one will gladly ransom himself from the torment of that Day by sacrificing his own children, 11 and of his spouse, and of his brother, 12 and of all the kinsfolk who ever sheltered him, 13 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. 14 Never! That is indeed a blazing fire. 15 A remover of exteriors. 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 spending it in the Cause of Allah). 18 ۞ Surely man was created fretful, 19 Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; 20 If good comes to him he holds back his hand, 21 Except those who pray, 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right. 24 For those who beg, and for the needy who cannot even ask. 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement 27 Surely the chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure of-- 28 And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts). 29 Are free of blame, 30 (but whoso seeks after more than that, they are the transgressors), 31 And those who protect the property entrusted to them, and their agreements. 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 and (finally) those who do not miss their ritual - prayers at the prescribed times; 34 such people will receive due honor in Paradise. 35