The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A beseecher besought the visitation of chastisement, 1 for the unbelievers, which none may avert, 2 [It is] from Allah, owner of the ways of ascent. 3 by which the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in one Day the duration of which is fifty thousand years. 4 But be patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see. 5 behold, they see it as if far off; 6 But We see it (quite) near. 7 The day when the sky will become as molten copper, 8 The mountains like the tufts of (carded) wool, 9 And not a friend shall ask a friend, 10 (Though) they shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 his companion (wife), his brother, 12 the kinsmen who gave him shelter, 13 and all the people of the earth, if that could deliver him. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 That would skin the scalp. 16 Calling: "[O Kafir (O disbeliever in Allah, His angels, His Book, His Messengers, Day of Resurrection and in Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments), O Mushrik (O polytheist, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allah)] (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from Faith) [picking and swallowing them up from that great gathering of mankind (on the Day of Resurrection) just as a bird picks up a food-grain from the earth with its beak and swallows it up] [Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 18, Page 289] 17 And collected [wealth] and hoarded. 18 ۞ Truly man was created very impatient;- 19 bewailing when evil befalls him, 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 Except the observers of prayer - 22 Those who are regular in their prayers. 23 And those in whose wealth exists a recognised right, 24 for those that ask and those that are dispossessed, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgement, 26 And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,- 27 for, behold, of their Sustainer's chastisement none may ever feel [wholly] secure; 28 and guard their private parts 29 Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (then) they are not to be blamed, 30 but whoever goes beyond this is a transgressor; 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 and perform their witnessings, 33 and are steadfast in their prayers. 34 These will dwell in Gardens, honoured. 35