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 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 No one can defend him against God, the Lord of the exalted positions. 3 The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years: 4 Therefore endure with a goodly patience. 5 Verily they think that the chastisement is far off, 6 but We see it to be very near. 7 The day the sky becomes like molten brass, 8 And the mountains shall be as tufts of wool 9 And friend shall not ask of 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 of all the kinsfolk who ever sheltered him, 13 And whoever is on earth entirely [so] then it could save him. 14 By no means! It will be the fierce flame 15 It snatches away by the scalps, 16 and drag into it anyone who has turned away (from obeying God), 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Indeed, man is born impatient: 19 bewailing when evil befalls him, 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he grows niggardly. 21 Except those who pray, 22 Those who are constant at their prayer 23 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right. 24 For those who beg, and for the needy who cannot even ask. 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,- 27 surely the chastisement of their Lord is a thing none can feel secure from – 28 and 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 whosoever seeks beyond that, they are the transgressors. 31 And those who fulfil their trusts and covenants, 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies. 33 And those who are attentive at their worship. 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35