The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 a chastisement from Allah, the Lord of the ascending steps, 3 The angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years, 4 Therefore endure with a goodly patience. 5 Lo! they behold it afar off 6 But We see it (quite) near. 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 will be like wool, 9 and no bosom friend will enquire about any of his bosom friends 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 kinsmen who gave him refuge (from hardship) 13 and of whoever [else] lives on earth, all of them - so that he could but save himself. 14 By no means! for it would be the Fire of Hell!- 15 that will strip off the scalp. 16 and it will claim all those who turned their backs [on the true faith] and turned away [from the truth], 17 And hoarded (wealth) and withheld it. 18 ۞ Verily man is impatient by nature: 19 Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 Not so, however, those who consciously turn towards God in prayer. 22 and are constant in their Prayer; 23 And those within whose wealth is a known right 24 for the needy and the deprived, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgement, 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord. 27 Indeed the punishment of their Lord is not a thing to be unafraid of! 28 And those who guard their private parts 29 Except with their wives and the bondwomen in their possession, for there is no reproach on them. 30 But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits-- 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 And those who are in their testimonies upright 33 and who are constant in their prayers. 34 Those shall be in gardens, honored. 35