The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
There hath asked an asker for the torment about to befall. 1 to those who deny the truth. No power can hinder God 2 a chastisement from Allah, the Lord of the ascending steps, 3 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. 4 So persevere with becoming patience. 5 They deem it to be remote. 6 While we behold it nigh: 7 On that Day the heavens shall become like molten brass, 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 And not a friend shall ask a friend, 10 (Though) they shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 And his wife and his brother, 12 and his kinsfolk who had stood by him, 13 And all who are on the earth; so that this might deliver him. 14 But no! There is a raging blaze 15 Eager to roast; 16 It shall claim him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 Fretful when evil befalleth him 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he grows niggardly. 21 But not so the worshippers 22 and constant in their prayers. 23 And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion. 24 For the beggar and the destitute; 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgement, 26 who are afraid of the torment of their Lord, 27 for none is secure from the punishment of their Lord, 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 whereas such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are truly transgressors; 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 And those who are upright in their testimonies, 33 and (finally) those who do not miss their ritual - prayers at the prescribed times; 34 These it is who in the gardens [of paradise] shall be honoured! 35