The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 (a chastisement meant) for the unbelievers, one which none can avert; 2 (A punishment) from Allah, the Owner of the Elevated Passages. 3 The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years: 4 Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment). 5 They see the (Day) indeed as a far-off (event): 6 but We see it near at hand. 7 The day when the sky will become as molten copper, 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 and [when] no friend will ask about his friend, 10 Though within sight of one another. The sinner would like to ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his sons, 11 His wife and his brother, 12 and his kinsfolk who had stood by him, 13 And all, all that is on earth,- so it could deliver him: 14 By no means! Verily, it will be the Fire of Hell! 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 Who amasses and then hoards. 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 when misfortune touches him he starts lamenting, 20 And, when good befalleth him, grudging; 21 But not so the worshippers 22 Those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers); 23 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged 24 for those that ask and those that are dispossessed, 25 And those who testify to the Day of Requital. 26 And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord-- 27 Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure, 28 who guard their carnal desires 29 [not giving way to their desires] with any but their spouses - that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock]: for then, behold, they are free of all blame, 30 And whosoever seeketh beyond that, then it is those who are the trespassers 31 And those who keep their pledges and their covenant, 32 and those who stand by their testimony 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