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 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 So be thou patient with a sweet patience; 5 They think that it (the Day of Judgment) is far away. 6 But We see it (quite) near. 7 The day when the sky will be like molten silver. 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 And no familiar friend will ask a question of his friend 10 although they shall be within sight of one another. The guilty one would fain ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his 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 By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire 15 Plucking out (his being) right to the skull!- 16 It calls out to him who reverted and turned away. 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man is created of a hasty temperament 19 If evil befalls him he is perturbed; 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he selfishly withholds it [from others]. 21 except those who are steadfast 22 and are constant in their Prayer; 23 those in whose wealth is a right known 24 For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking); 25 those who firmly believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord, -- 27 (from their Lord's chastisement none feels secure) 28 And those who protect their private organs (from adultery). 29 except from their wives and what their right hands own, for these they are not blameworthy. 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 and who preserve their trusts and their covenant, 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 such people will receive due honor in Paradise. 35