The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 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 be patient, with a beautiful patience; 5 Lo! they behold it afar off 6 And We see it nigh. 7 Upon the day when heaven shall be as molten copper 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 no loyal friend shall question loyal 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 spouse and his brother. 12 And his kin that sheltered him. 13 and all persons of the earth, if only he could thus save himself. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 That would skin the scalp. 16 It will summon whoever turns his back and flees, 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Truly man was created very impatient;- 19 bewailing when evil befalls him, 20 And niggardly when good reaches him;- 21 Except the observers of prayer - 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 those who give a due share of their wealth 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment; 26 And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord - 27 for none is secure from the punishment of their Lord, 28 and those who guard their private parts, 29 Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed, 30 But those who seek more than this will be transgressors; 31 and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 And those who are upright in their testimonies, 33 and are steadfast in their prayers. 34 It is these who will be honoured in Gardens. 35