The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Someone has (needlessly) demanded to experience the torment (of God), 1 those who deny the truth. [Know, then, that] nothing can ward it off, 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 (Muhammad), exercise patience with no complaints. 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 But We see it (quite) 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 become like tufts of wool, 9 And friend shall not ask of 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 his wife and his brother, 12 His kindred who sheltered him, 13 and of whoever [else] lives on earth, all of them - so that he could but save himself. 14 But never. It is pure white flame 15 will strip-off the flesh 16 It will summon whoever turns his back and flees, 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ VERILY, man is born with a restless disposition. 19 [As a rule,] whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity; 20 but when they are fortunate, they become niggardly 21 Except those who closely follow (the Book of God), 22 Who are at their prayer constant. 23 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged 24 for those that ask and those that are dispossessed, 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,- 27 Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe - 28 And those who protect their private organs (from adultery). 29 Save in regard to their spouses or those whom their right hands own; so verily they are not blameworthy 30 but those who go beyond that limit are transgressors; 31 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant 32 And those who are in their testimonies upright 33 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: 34 It is these who will be honoured in Gardens. 35