The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall 1 to those who deny the truth. No power can hinder God 2 a chastisement from Allah, the Lord of the ascending steps, 3 The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years: 4 So be thou patient with a sweet patience; 5 Indeed, they see it [as] distant, 6 While we behold it nigh: 7 The day the sky becomes like molten brass, 8 And the hills will be light as wool. 9 And no friend will ask after a friend, 10 They will be seeing them; the guilty will wish if only he could redeem himself from the punishment of that day, by offering his sons. 11 and his spouse and his brother, 12 And his family who had stood by him, 13 And all those who are in the earth – then only if the redemption saves him! 14 By no means! It will be the fierce flame 15 Dragging by the head, 16 It will summon whoever turns his back and flees, 17 And collect (wealth) and hide it (from use)! 18 ۞ Indeed, mankind was created anxious: 19 Fretful when evil befalleth him 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 Except those who pray, 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 And those in whose wealth exists a recognised right, 24 For those who beg, and for the needy who cannot even ask. 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgment, 26 who are afraid of the torment of their Lord, 27 for, behold, of their Sustainer's chastisement none may ever feel [wholly] secure; 28 who guard their carnal desires 29 save from their wives and what their right hands own, then not being blameworthy 30 but whoever goes beyond this is a transgressor; 31 and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 and who are constant in their prayers. 34 These will dwell in Gardens, honoured. 35