The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall- 1 the unbelievers which none can prevent. 2 (A Penalty) from Allah, 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 endure with a goodly patience. 5 Lo! they behold it afar off 6 while We think that it is near at hand. 7 [It will take place] on a Day when the sky will be like molten lead, 8 and the mountains shall be as plucked wool-tufts, 9 even intimate friends will not inquire about their friends, 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 kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 and all persons of the earth, if only he could thus save himself. 14 But no! There is a raging blaze 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 amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Verily man is formed impatient. 19 Fretful when evil befalleth him 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 Not so, however, those who consciously turn towards God in prayer. 22 and are constant in their Prayer; 23 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged 24 For the beggar and the destitute. 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement 27 surely the chastisement of their Lord is a thing none can feel secure from – 28 who guard their privates 29 [not giving way to their desires] with any but their spouses - that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock]: for then, behold, they are free of all blame, 30 So those who desire more than this – it is they who are the transgressors. 31 who honor their trust and promises, 32 And those who stand by their testimony 33 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: 34 such people will receive due honor in Paradise. 35