The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore patiently endure, in the best manner (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him). 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 but We see it near at hand. 7 The day when the sky will become as molten copper, 8 and the mountains will become like tufts of wool, 9 And friend shall not ask of 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 kindred who sheltered him, 13 And all those who are in the earth – then only if the redemption saves him! 14 By no means! for it would be the Fire of Hell!- 15 Eager to roast; 16 and it shall call him who withdrew and turned his back 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Verily man is formed impatient. 19 when misfortune touches him he starts lamenting, 20 but when they are fortunate, they become niggardly 21 Except the observers of prayer - 22 Who are constant at their worship 23 those who give a due share of their wealth 24 For the petitioner and the deprived - 25 and who accept as true the [coming of the] Day of Judgment; 26 and fear the chastisement of their Lord – 27 For their Lord's displeasure is the opposite of Peace and Tranquillity;- 28 And those who guard their sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 29 Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed - 30 But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors - 31 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: 34 Those shall be in gardens, honored. 35