The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall- 1 the unbelievers which none can prevent. 2 From Allah, Owner of the ascending steps. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore be patient, with a beautiful patience; 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 but, We see it as near! 7 The day the sky becomes like molten brass, 8 and the mountains will be like tufts of wool, 9 And no familiar friend will ask a question of his friend 10 Though they shall be made to see one another [(i.e. on the Day of Resurrection), there will be none but see his father, children and relatives, but he will neither speak to them nor will ask them for any help)], - the Mujrim, (criminal, sinner, disbeliever, etc.) would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children. 11 And his spouse 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 But nay! for lo! it is the fire of hell 15 will strip-off the flesh 16 and it shall call him who withdrew and turned his back 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 bewailing when evil befalls him, 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 Except the observers of prayer - 22 Who persevere in devotion, 23 And those in whose wealth exists a recognised right, 24 For the beggar and the destitute. 25 And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment; 26 And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord - 27 the punishment of their Lord is not something for them to feel secure of, 28 And those who guard their chastity, 29 except in regard to their spouses and those whom their right hands possess, for in regard to them they are not reproachable, 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 and those who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges; 32 who testify to what they have witnessed, 33 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: 34 all these shall live honourably in the Gardens. 35