The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall 1 To the disbelievers; of it there is no preventer. 2 [since it will come] from God, unto whom there are many ways of ascent: 3 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 Lo! they behold it afar off 6 but We see it to be very near. 7 Upon the day when heaven shall be as molten copper 8 and the mountains will be like tufts of wool, 9 and [when] no friend will ask about his friend, 10 Though they will be given sight of them. The guilty man will long to be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children 11 His wife and his brother, 12 And his kin that harboured him 13 And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him. 14 But no! There is a raging blaze 15 That would skin the scalp. 16 It will claim all such as turn their backs [on what is right,] and turn away [from the truth,] 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Indeed, mankind was created anxious: 19 when evil visits him, impatient, 20 but when good comes upon him, he is grudging 21 Except those who closely follow (the Book of God), 22 Those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers); 23 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right. 24 For the beggar and the destitute; 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,- 27 for, behold, of their Sustainer's chastisement none may ever feel [wholly] secure; 28 And those who of their private parts are guards. 29 Are free of blame, 30 But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors - 31 And those who keep their trusts and covenants; 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 And those who are mindful of their moral obligations. 34 Those shall be in Gardens, high-honoured. 35