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 (a chastisement meant) for the unbelievers, one which none can avert; 2 a chastisement from Allah, the Lord of the ascending steps, 3 The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years. 4 So be patient with gracious patience. 5 they see it as being far off; 6 And We see it nigh. 7 The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). 8 And the hills become as flakes of wool, 9 And no friend will ask concerning his friend. 10 Though they will be put in sight of each other,- the sinner's desire will be: Would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 And his wife and his brother 12 And the family in which he was. 13 And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him. 14 No, in truth, it is a Furnace! 15 It snatches away by the scalps, 16 It shall insistently summon him who turned his back and retreated, 17 And hoarded (wealth) and withheld it. 18 ۞ Indeed man is created very impatient, greedy. 19 When evil toucheth him, he is bewailing. 20 And when good toucheth him he is begrudging. 21 Except those who pray, 22 Those who remain steadfast to their prayer; 23 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgement, 26 who are afraid of the torment of their Lord, 27 Indeed the punishment of their Lord is not a thing to be unafraid of! 28 And those who guard their private parts, 29 Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed, 30 but whoever goes beyond this is a transgressor; 31 And those who keep their trusts and covenants; 32 And those who are upright in their testimonies, 33 And those who are mindful of their moral obligations. 34 These it is who in the gardens [of paradise] shall be honoured! 35