The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 Upon the infidels -- which none would be able to repel -- 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of Ascent. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 But be patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see. 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 but We see it near at hand. 7 [It will take place] on a Day when the sky will be like molten lead, 8 And the mountains will be like flakes of wool, 9 No loyal friend will ask another loyal friend 10 They will be shown each other. The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children 11 and of his spouse, and of his brother, 12 and of all the kinsfolk who ever sheltered him, 13 And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him. 14 Nay, verily it is a furnace 15 tearing away his skin! 16 and it shall call him who withdrew and turned his back 17 and amassed wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Verily man is formed impatient. 19 When evil touches him, impatient, 20 but when they are fortunate, they become niggardly 21 except those who are steadfast 22 Those who are constant in their prayer 23 And those in whose wealth there is a known right, 24 For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened); 25 And those who testify to the Day of Requital. 26 And those who fear the torment of their Lord, 27 (from their Lord's chastisement none feels secure) 28 And those who guard their private parts 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 But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits-- 31 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant 32 and who stand firm whenever they bear witness; 33 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35