The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 The infidels, of which there is no averter. 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believers] behave with seemly patience. 5 Surely they think it to be far off, 6 but We see it near at hand. 7 The day the sky becomes like molten brass, 8 And then the mountains shall become like unto wool dyed. 9 And no friend will ask [anything of] a friend, 10 though they may see each other. A sinner will wish that he could save himself from the torment of that day by sacrificing his children, 11 And his wife and his brother, 12 And his nearest kindred who shelter him 13 And all, all that is on earth,- so it could deliver him: 14 But never. It is pure white flame 15 Eager to roast; 16 It shall call him who turneth back and backslideth. 17 And masseth and then hoardeth. 18 ۞ Verily man is impatient by nature: 19 Fretful when evil touches him; 20 And niggardly when good touches him; 21 But not so the worshippers 22 Those who are constant at their prayer 23 They are those who assign a certain share of their property 24 For those who beg, and for the needy who cannot even ask. 25 And those who believe the Day of Judgement to be true. 26 and are fearful of the punishment of their Lord; 27 Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe - 28 And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts). 29 Except with their wives and the bondwomen in their possession, for there is no reproach on them. 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 And those who are to their trusts and promises attentive 32 and perform their witnessings, 33 And those who protect their prayers. 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35