The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 Upon the disbelievers – the punishment that none can avert. 2 From God, the Lord of the steps (of progression), 3 To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 So persevere with becoming patience. 5 they see it as being far off; 6 But We see it (quite) near. 7 On that Day the heavens shall become like molten brass, 8 and the mountains shall be like puffs of wool. 9 and [when] no friend will ask about his friend, 10 Though they will be given sight of them. The guilty man will long to be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children 11 And his spouse and his brother 12 And the family in which he was. 13 And all those who are in the earth – then only if the redemption saves him! 14 No! Indeed, it is the Flame [of Hell], 15 stripping 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 amasses (wealth) then shuts it up. 18 ۞ Indeed man is created very impatient, greedy. 19 when misfortune touches him he starts lamenting, 20 If good comes to him he holds back his hand, 21 except those who are steadfast 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 believe the Day of Judgement to be true. 26 and fear the chastisement of their Lord – 27 (from their Lord's chastisement none feels secure) 28 who guard their carnal desires 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 those who trespass beyond this are transgressors;- 31 And those who protect the property entrusted to them, and their agreements. 32 who testify to what they have witnessed, 33 And those who protect their prayers. 34 They will be in gardens, honored. 35