The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience: 5 Indeed, they see it [as] distant, 6 But We see it [as] near. 7 On the day when the heavens become like molten metal. 8 and the mountains will be like tufts of wool, 9 And friend shall not ask of 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 His wife and his brother, 12 And his kindred who sheltered him, 13 and all persons of the earth, if only he could thus save himself. 14 By no means! Verily it is a Flame. 15 A fire that melts the hide. 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 amasses (wealth) then shuts it up. 18 ۞ Verily man is formed impatient. 19 When they are afflicted, they complain, 20 And when good toucheth him he is begrudging. 21 Except those devoted to Salat (prayers) 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged 24 for those that ask and those that are dispossessed, 25 who confirm the Day of Doom 26 And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,- 27 the punishment of their Lord is not something for them to feel secure of, 28 And those who protect their private organs (from adultery). 29 Except with their wives and the bondwomen in their possession, for there is no reproach on them. 30 whereas such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are truly transgressors; 31 and those who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges; 32 and perform their witnessings, 33 and who observe their prayers. 34 all these shall live honourably in the Gardens. 35