The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 The unbelievers-- there is none to avert it-- 2 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways 3 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. 4 So persevere with becoming patience. 5 Verily they behold it afar off. 6 but We see it to be very near. 7 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper 8 And then the mountains shall become like unto wool dyed. 9 And no friend will ask after a friend, 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 his kin that harboured him 13 And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him. 14 By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire 15 Dragging by the head, 16 calling him who drew back and turned away, 17 and who accumulated wealth without spending it for a good purpose. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 When evil touches him, impatient, 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he grows niggardly. 21 save those that pray 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 those in whose wealth is a right known 24 For him who begs and for him who is denied (good) 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord, -- 27 the punishment of their Lord is not something for them to feel secure of, 28 And those who preserve their chastity 29 Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed - 30 but those who go beyond that limit are transgressors; 31 And those who are to their trusts and promises attentive 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 And those who protect their prayers. 34 They will be honoured in the Gardens of Bliss. 35