The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
ONE who is minded to ask might ask about the suffering which [in the hereafter] is bound to befall 1 which will inevitably seize the disbelievers. 2 No one can defend him against God, the Lord of the exalted positions. 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment). 5 Lo! they behold it afar off 6 But We see it very near. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the sky will become like molten brass, 8 The mountains like the tufts of (carded) wool, 9 And no friend will ask concerning his friend. 10 (Though) they shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 And his wife and his brother. 12 his kin who sheltered him, 13 and all the people of the earth, if that could deliver him. 14 But nay! for lo! it is the fire of hell 15 Eager to roast; 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 ۞ Indeed man is created very impatient, greedy. 19 when misfortune touches him he starts lamenting, 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 except those who are steadfast 22 Who are at their prayer constant. 23 And those in whose wealth exists a recognised right, 24 for the beggar and the outcast, 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 and go in fear of the chastisement of their Lord 27 for none is secure from the punishment of their Lord, 28 and guard their private parts 29 Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed - 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 And those who protect the property entrusted to them, and their agreements. 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies. 33 and (finally) those who do not miss their ritual - prayers at the prescribed times; 34 Those shall be in gardens, honored. 35