The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 which will inevitably seize the disbelievers. 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit mount up, in a day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 So, (O Prophet), persevere with gracious perseverance. 5 Indeed, they see it [as] distant, 6 but We see it near. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the sky will become like molten brass, 8 and the mountains shall be as plucked wool-tufts, 9 And not a friend shall ask a friend, 10 although they shall be within sight of one another. The guilty one would fain ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his children, 11 His wife and his brother, 12 And his family who had stood by him, 13 And whoever is on earth entirely [so] then it could save him. 14 Nay, verily it is a furnace 15 Plucking out (his being) right to the skull!- 16 It calleth him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 And collect (wealth) and hide it (from use)! 18 ۞ Verily man is formed impatient. 19 Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he grows niggardly. 21 Except those who establish prayer. 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 and those in whose wealth there is a known right 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgement, 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 And those who guard their private parts 29 except from their wives and what their right hands own, for these they are not blameworthy. 30 And whosoever seeketh beyond that, then it is those who are the trespassers 31 and those who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges; 32 And those who are firm upon their testimonies. 33 And those who are mindful of their moral obligations. 34 Those shall be in Gardens, high-honoured. 35