The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
Someone has (needlessly) demanded to experience the torment (of God), 1 (a chastisement meant) for the unbelievers, one which none can avert; 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 by which the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in one Day the duration of which is fifty thousand years. 4 So be thou patient with a sweet patience; 5 Verily they think that the chastisement is far off, 6 And 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 become like wool, 9 And no friend will ask concerning his friend. 10 They will be shown each other. The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children 11 And his wife and his brother, 12 and of all the kinsfolk who ever sheltered him, 13 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. 14 No, in truth, it is a Furnace! 15 Taking away (burning completely) the head skin! 16 Inviting (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from the Right). 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 Very nervous when touched by misfortune. 20 If good comes to him he holds back his hand, 21 Not so those devoted to Prayer;- 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 They are those who assign a certain share of their property 24 For those who beg, and for the needy who cannot even ask. 25 and those who believe in the Day of Judgement 26 And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,- 27 (from their Lord's chastisement none feels secure) 28 And those who guard their sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 29 except from their wives and what their right hands own, for these they are not blameworthy. 30 But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits-- 31 (Those) who keep their trusts and their covenant, 32 And those who are firm upon their testimonies. 33 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: 34 Those are highly honored in the Gardens. 35