The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall- 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of Ascent. 3 all the angels and all the inspiration [ever granted to man] ascend unto Him [daily,] in a day the length whereof is [like] fifty thousand years… 4 Therefore patiently endure, in the best manner (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him). 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 While we behold it nigh: 7 The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). 8 and the mountains shall be like puffs of wool. 9 And no friend will ask after a friend, 10 (Though) they shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 his companion wife, his brother, 12 And his kindred who sheltered him, 13 And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him. 14 By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire 15 Eager to roast; 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 collect (wealth) and hide it (from spending it in the Cause of Allah). 18 ۞ Indeed, mankind was created anxious: 19 Fretful when evil touches him; 20 And, when good befalleth him, grudging; 21 Not so those devoted to Prayer;- 22 Those who are constant at their prayer 23 those who give a due share of their wealth 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who testify to the Day of Requital. 26 And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord - 27 for, behold, of their Sustainer's chastisement none may ever feel [wholly] secure; 28 And those who guard their private parts, 29 Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed, 30 but those who go beyond that limit are transgressors; 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 Who uphold their testimonies, 33 And those who of their prayer are observant. 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35