The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 The infidels, of which there is no averter. 2 From Allah, the Lord of all pinnacles. 3 The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years: 4 Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment). 5 They see the (Day) indeed as a far-off (event): 6 And We behold it nigh. 7 The day the sky becomes like molten brass, 8 and the mountains will become like tufts of wool, 9 No loyal friend will ask another loyal friend 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 his companion wife, his brother, 12 his kinsmen who gave him refuge (from hardship) 13 And all those who are in the earth – then only if the redemption saves him! 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 snatching away the scalp, 16 It invites he who turned his back [on truth] and went away [from obedience] 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Indeed man is created very impatient, greedy. 19 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him 20 And niggardly when good reaches him;- 21 Except those devoted to Salat (prayers) 22 Those who remain steadfast to their prayer; 23 They are those who assign a certain share of their property 24 For him who begs and for him who is denied (good) 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgment, 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord, -- 27 Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure, 28 And those who guard their private parts, 29 except from their spouses and those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock], for which they incur no blame -- 30 But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits-- 31 and those who fulfil their trusts and their covenants, 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies. 33 and (finally) those who do not miss their ritual - prayers at the prescribed times; 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35