The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A caller supplicated about a punishment to fall on 1 those who deny the truth. [Know, then, that] nothing can ward it off, 2 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways 3 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. 4 So, (O Prophet), persevere with gracious perseverance. 5 Verily! They see it (the torment) afar off, 6 And We see it nigh. 7 Upon the day when heaven shall be as molten copper 8 and the mountains become like wool, 9 And no friend will ask after a 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 wife and his brother 12 And his kin that harboured him 13 and all persons of the earth, if only he could thus save himself. 14 By no means! It will be the fierce flame 15 Flaying off the scalp-skin. 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 collect (wealth) and hide it (from spending it in the Cause of Allah). 18 ۞ Truly man was created very impatient;- 19 when misfortune touches him he starts lamenting, 20 And when good toucheth him he is begrudging. 21 Except those devoted to Salat (prayers) 22 Those who remain steadfast to their prayer; 23 those in whose wealth is a right known 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who believe the Day of Judgement to be true. 26 And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord-- 27 Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure - 28 and who are mindful of their chastity, 29 except from their wives and what their right hands own, for these they are not blameworthy. 30 but those who go beyond that limit are transgressors; 31 And those who of their trusts and their covenant are keepers. 32 and perform their witnessings, 33 And those who are mindful of their moral obligations. 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35