The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 The infidels, of which there is no averter. 2 From Allah, Owner of the ascending steps. 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience: 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 And We behold it nigh. 7 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 And no friend inquires after 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 his wife, his brother, 12 His kindred who sheltered him, 13 and all persons of the earth, if only he could thus save himself. 14 By no means! for it would be the Fire of Hell!- 15 stripping away his skin, 16 It shall claim him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 and amassed wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Indeed, mankind was created anxious: 19 If evil befalls him he is perturbed; 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he selfishly withholds it [from others]. 21 Except those who establish prayer. 22 Who are constant at their worship 23 those in whose wealth is a right known 24 For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened); 25 who acknowledge the Day of Judgment, 26 And those who are fearful of their Lord's doom - 27 Surely no one can be secure from the punishment of his Lord, -- 28 And those who guard their sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 29 Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed, 30 And whosoever seeketh beyond that, then it is those who are the trespassers 31 (Those) who keep their trusts and their covenant, 32 and who stand firm whenever they bear witness; 33 and are steadfast in their prayers. 34 Those shall be in gardens, honored. 35