The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A questioner questioned concerning the doom about to fall 1 for the unbelievers, which none may avert, 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of Ascent. 3 The angels and Jibreel, ascend towards Him – the punishment will befall on a day which spans fifty thousand years. 4 But be patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see. 5 Verily they think that the chastisement is far off, 6 But We see it very near. 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 mountains will be like wool, 9 no loyal friend shall question loyal 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 and his spouse and his brother, 12 And his kindred who sheltered him, 13 And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him. 14 By no means! It will be the fierce flame 15 will strip-off the flesh 16 calling him who drew back and turned away, 17 and amassed wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Verily man is formed impatient. 19 When evil comes upon him he is impatient; 20 when good visits him, grudging, 21 Except those who pray, 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 And those in whose wealth there is a known 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 Recompense, 26 and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement 27 surely the chastisement of their Lord is a thing none can feel secure from – 28 and who are mindful of their chastity, 29 except from their wives and slave girls, in which case they are not to be blamed, 30 but those who go beyond that limit are transgressors; 31 (Those) who keep their trusts and their covenant, 32 and perform their witnessings, 33 And those who are mindful of their moral obligations. 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35