The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 (A punishment) from Allah, the Owner of the Elevated Passages. 3 To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment). 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 but We see it near at hand. 7 The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). 8 And the hills become as flakes of wool, 9 and [when] no friend will ask about his friend, 10 They will be seeing them; the guilty will wish if only he could redeem himself from the punishment of that day, by offering his sons. 11 his wife, his brother, 12 His kindred who sheltered him, 13 and all those on earth. 14 But never. It is pure white flame 15 snatching away the scalp, 16 calling him who drew back and turned away, 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 When they are afflicted, they complain, 20 And niggardly when good reaches him;- 21 except those that pray, 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 and in whose possessions there is a due share, acknowledged [by them,] 24 For the beggar and the destitute; 25 who confirm the Day of Doom 26 who are afraid of the torment of their Lord, 27 Surely no one can be secure from the punishment of his Lord, -- 28 And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts). 29 Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (then) they are not to be blamed, 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 And those who keep their trusts and covenants; 32 and those who are upright in their testimonies; 33 and who guard their prayers [from all worldly intent]. 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35