The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
A caller supplicated about a punishment to fall on 1 which will inevitably seize the disbelievers. 2 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways 3 Whereby the angels ascend unto Him and also the spirit, On a Day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 (Muhammad), exercise patience with no complaints. 5 Verily they think that the chastisement is far off, 6 Whereas We see it impending. 7 Upon the day when heaven shall be as molten copper 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 And no friend inquires after friend 10 though they shall be within sight of each other. The guilty one will gladly ransom himself from the torment of that Day by sacrificing his own children, 11 and of his spouse, and of his brother, 12 And his family who had stood by him, 13 And all, all that is on earth,- so it could deliver him: 14 But no! There is a raging blaze 15 tearing away his skin! 16 It calleth him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Surely man is created of a hasty temperament 19 Fretful when evil touches him; 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 Except those who closely follow (the Book of God), 22 Those who are constant at their prayer 23 And those in whose riches is a known right. 24 For the beggar and the destitute; 25 And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment; 26 And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord-- 27 (from their Lord's chastisement none feels secure) 28 And those who of their private parts are guards. 29 except from their spouses and those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock], for which they incur no blame -- 30 But those who trespass beyond this are transgressors;- 31 And those who keep their pledges and their covenant, 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 and (finally) those who do not miss their ritual - prayers at the prescribed times; 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35