The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the 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 Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent. 3 The angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years, 4 Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment). 5 They think that it (the Day of Judgment) is far away. 6 While we behold it nigh: 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 tufts of wool, 9 and no bosom friend will enquire about any of his bosom friends 10 as they are given sight of them. The sinner will wish that he might ransom himself from the chastisement of that day even by his sons, 11 And his wife and his brother 12 And the family in which he was. 13 And all those who are in the earth – then only if the redemption saves him! 14 No, in truth, it is a Furnace! 15 stripping away his skin, 16 and it will claim all those who turned their backs [on the true faith] and turned away [from the truth], 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 When evil touches him, impatient, 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 Except those devoted to Salat (prayers) 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 And those within whose wealth is a known right 24 For the petitioner and the deprived - 25 And those who testify to the Day of Requital. 26 And those who fear the torment of their Lord, 27 Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure, 28 And those who preserve their chastity 29 Except with their wives and the bondwomen in their possession, for there is no reproach on them. 30 (but whoso seeks after more than that, they are the transgressors), 31 and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 And those who are in their testimonies upright 33 and who observe their prayers. 34 These will dwell in Gardens, honoured. 35