The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of Ascent. 3 Whereby the angels ascend unto Him and also the spirit, On a Day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment). 5 Indeed, they see it [as] distant, 6 But We see it (quite) near. 7 Upon the day when heaven shall be as molten copper 8 and the mountains shall be like puffs of wool. 9 And no friend inquires after 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 wife and his brother, 12 And his kin that sheltered him. 13 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. 14 But never. It is pure white flame 15 A fire that melts the hide. 16 It shall insistently summon him who turned his back and retreated, 17 and amassed wealth and covetously hoarded it. 18 ۞ Verily man is impatient by nature: 19 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he selfishly withholds it [from others]. 21 Except those who establish prayer. 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 And those in whose wealth exists a recognised right, 24 for the needy and the deprived, 25 who acknowledge the Day of Judgment, 26 And those who fear 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 sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 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 go beyond that limit are transgressors; 31 who honor their trust and promises, 32 And those who are upright in their testimonies, 33 and who guard their prayers [from all worldly intent]. 34 They will live in gardens with honour. 35