The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
ONE who is minded to ask might ask about the suffering which [in the hereafter] is bound to befall 1 to those who deny the truth. No power can hinder God 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believers] behave with seemly patience. 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 But We see it (quite) near. 7 On that Day the heaven shall become like molten copper, 8 and the mountains will become like dyed tufts of wool, 9 And no friend will ask of a friend, 10 Though they will be put in sight of each other,- the sinner's desire will be: Would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 And his spouse and his brother 12 his kin who sheltered him, 13 and of whoever [else] lives on earth, all of them - so that he could but save himself. 14 By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire 15 That would skin the scalp. 16 It calls out to him who reverted and turned away. 17 And collected [wealth] and hoarded. 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 Fretful when evil befalleth him 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he grows niggardly. 21 Not so those devoted to Prayer;- 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 In whose wealth a due share is included 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who believe the Day of Judgement to be true. 26 and go in fear of the chastisement of their Lord 27 Surely the chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure of-- 28 And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts). 29 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy; 30 but those who go beyond that limit are transgressors; 31 and those who fulfil their trusts and their covenants, 32 and those who stand by their testimony 33 And those who are mindful of their moral obligations. 34 all these shall live honourably in the Gardens. 35