The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall 1 Upon the disbelievers – the punishment that none can avert. 2 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways 3 The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years. 4 So persevere with becoming patience. 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 While we behold it nigh: 7 Upon the day when heaven shall be as molten copper 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 and no friend will ask about his friend, 10 Though within sight of one another. The sinner would like to ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his sons, 11 his wife, his brother, 12 the kinsmen who gave him shelter, 13 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. 14 By no means! For the raging flames of the fire 15 That would skin the scalp. 16 It invites he who turned his back [on truth] and went away [from obedience] 17 and amassed wealth and covetously hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man is created of a hasty temperament 19 Very nervous when touched by misfortune. 20 And niggardly when good reaches him;- 21 Except those who pray, 22 Those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers); 23 those who give a due share of their wealth 24 For the beggar and the destitute. 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgment, 26 and go in fear of the punishment of their Lord, 27 (from their Lord's chastisement none feels 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 stand by their testimony 33 And those who guard their Salat (prayers) well. 34 Those shall be in gardens, honored. 35