The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen 1 Upon the disbelievers, 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, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience: 5 Surely they think it to be far off, 6 but We see it near. 7 The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). 8 And then the mountains shall become like unto wool dyed. 9 And no friend will ask concerning 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 his companion (wife), his brother, 12 And his nearest kindred who shelter him 13 and whosoever is in the earth, altogether, so that it might save him. 14 By no means! Verily, it will be the Fire of Hell! 15 snatching away the scalp, 16 It will claim all such as turn their backs [on what is right,] and turn away [from the truth,] 17 And collected [wealth] and hoarded. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 If evil befalls him he is perturbed; 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 Except those who establish prayer. 22 Those who are constant at their prayer 23 and in whose possessions there is a due share, acknowledged [by them,] 24 For him who begs and for him who is denied (good) 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 and are fearful of the punishment of their Lord; 27 Indeed the punishment of their Lord is not a thing to be unafraid of! 28 those who preserve their chastity 29 except from their wives and what their right hands own, for these they are not blameworthy. 30 But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits-- 31 And those who keep their pledges and their covenant, 32 who testify to what they have witnessed, 33 and who observe their prayers. 34 They will be honoured in the Gardens of Bliss. 35