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 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent. 3 Whereby the angels ascend unto Him and also the spirit, On a Day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 They see it [the Day of Judgement] to be far off, 6 but We see it to be very near. 7 The day when the sky will be like molten silver. 8 and the mountains will become like dyed tufts of wool, 9 And no familiar friend will ask a question of 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 companion wife, his brother, 12 And his kin that harboured him 13 And all who are on the earth; so that this might deliver him. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 Taking away (burning completely) the head skin! 16 calling him who drew back and turned away, 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Lo! man was created anxious, 19 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him 20 If good comes to him he holds back his hand, 21 except those that pray 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right. 24 For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking); 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgment, 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord, -- 27 for, behold, of their Sustainer's chastisement none may ever feel [wholly] 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 whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers. 31 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant 32 who testify to what they have witnessed, 33 and who are constant in their prayers. 34 Those shall be in gardens, honored. 35