The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 (a chastisement meant) for the unbelievers, one which none can avert; 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience: 5 they see it as being far off; 6 But We see it (quite) near. 7 The Day that the sky will be like molten brass, 8 The mountains like the tufts of (carded) wool, 9 And friend shall not ask of friend 10 Though they will be put in sight of each other,- the sinner's desire will be: Would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 his wife, his brother, 12 his kin who sheltered him, 13 And all those who are on the earth, to save himself. 14 No! Indeed, it is the Flame [of Hell], 15 stripping away his 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 Who amasses and then hoards. 18 ۞ Indeed, mankind was created anxious: 19 When evil touches him, impatient, 20 but when they are fortunate, they become niggardly 21 except those that pray 22 Who are constant at their worship 23 who, from their wealth is a known right 24 For him who begs and for him who is denied (good) 25 And those who testify to the Day of Requital. 26 And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,- 27 Surely the chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure of-- 28 those who preserve their chastity 29 except from their spouses and those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock], for which they incur no blame -- 30 But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors - 31 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant 32 and who stand firm whenever they bear witness; 33 And those who guard (the sacredness) of their worship;- 34 Those are highly honored in the Gardens. 35