The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall- 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert, 2 From Allah, Owner of the ascending steps. 3 To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 Verily they think that the chastisement is far off, 6 but, We see it as near! 7 On the day when the heavens become like molten metal. 8 and the mountains will become like dyed tufts of 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 And his spouse and his brother. 12 and his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 and whosoever is in the earth, altogether, so that it might save him. 14 Nay, verily it is a furnace 15 stripping away his skin, 16 Calling: "[O Kafir (O disbeliever in Allah, His angels, His Book, His Messengers, Day of Resurrection and in Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments), O Mushrik (O polytheist, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allah)] (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from Faith) [picking and swallowing them up from that great gathering of mankind (on the Day of Resurrection) just as a bird picks up a food-grain from the earth with its beak and swallows it up] [Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 18, Page 289] 17 And masseth and then hoardeth. 18 ۞ Indeed man is created very impatient, greedy. 19 [As a rule,] whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity; 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 except those who are steadfast 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 and those in whose wealth there is a known right 24 For the petitioner and the deprived - 25 and those who believe in the Day of Judgement 26 And those who are fearful of their Lord's doom - 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 regard to their spouses and those whom their right hands possess, for in regard to them they are not reproachable, 30 But whosoever seeks beyond that, they are the transgressors. 31 and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 and those who are upright in their testimonies; 33 and who guard their prayers [from all worldly intent]. 34 such people will receive due honor in Paradise. 35