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 to those who deny the truth. No power can hinder God 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 by which the angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him in one Day which will last for fifty thousand years. 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 while We think that it is near at hand. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the heaven shall become like unto dregs of oil. 8 and the mountains shall be as plucked wool-tufts, 9 And no friend inquires after friend 10 They will be shown each other. The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children 11 And his spouse and his brother 12 And his kin that harboured him 13 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. 14 By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire 15 will strip-off the flesh 16 It will summon whoever turns his back and flees, 17 and amassed (riches) and hoarded. 18 ۞ Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient; 19 When they are afflicted, they complain, 20 but when good comes upon him, he is grudging 21 Except those who closely follow (the Book of God), 22 Who persevere in devotion, 23 who, from their wealth is a known right 24 For the needy and those dispossessed, 25 And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment; 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord. 27 Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe - 28 who guard their carnal desires 29 [not giving way to their desires] with any but their spouses - that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock]: for then, behold, they are free of all blame, 30 whereas such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are truly transgressors; 31 and those who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges; 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies. 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 Those shall be in gardens, honored. 35