The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Someone has (needlessly) demanded to experience the torment (of God), 1 (a chastisement meant) for the unbelievers, one which none can avert; 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believers] behave with seemly patience. 5 Surely they think it to be far off, 6 but We see it is nigh. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the sky will become like molten brass, 8 And the hills become as flakes of wool, 9 even intimate friends will not inquire about their friends, 10 although they shall be within sight of one another. The guilty one would fain ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his children, 11 his companion (wife), his brother, 12 and his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 And whoever is on earth entirely [so] then it could save him. 14 By no means! for it would be the Fire of Hell!- 15 A remover of exteriors. 16 and drag into it anyone who has turned away (from obeying God), 17 And collected [wealth] and hoarded. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 Fretful when evil touches him; 20 And when good touches him, withholding [of it], 21 Save worshippers. 22 and are constant in their Prayer; 23 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right. 24 For the petitioner and the deprived - 25 who confirm the Day of Doom 26 And those who fear the torment of their Lord, 27 the punishment of their Lord is not something for them to feel secure of, 28 And those who guard their sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 29 except from their wives and slave girls, in which case they are not to be blamed, 30 But those who trespass beyond this are transgressors;- 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 and who observe their prayers. 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35