The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall- 1 the unbelievers which none can prevent. 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 by which the angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him in one Day which will last for fifty thousand years. 4 So, (O Prophet), persevere with gracious perseverance. 5 They deem it to be remote. 6 but, We see it as near! 7 On that Day the heaven shall become like molten copper, 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 and no friend will ask about his friend, 10 They will be shown each other. The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children 11 His wife and his brother, 12 his kinsmen who gave him refuge (from hardship) 13 and all those on earth. 14 By no means! For the raging flames of the fire 15 tearing away his 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 amassed wealth and covetously hoarded it. 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 When evil toucheth him, he is bewailing. 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he grows niggardly. 21 Not so are the prayerful. 22 [and] who incessantly persevere in their prayer 23 They are those who assign a certain share of their property 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who testify to the Day of Requital. 26 who are afraid of the torment of their Lord, 27 Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure, 28 And those who preserve their chastity 29 except from their spouses and those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock], for which they incur no blame -- 30 But those who trespass beyond this are transgressors;- 31 And those who fulfil their trusts and covenants, 32 and those who stand by their testimony 33 and who are constant in their prayers. 34 They will be in gardens, honored. 35