The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall- 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 do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment). 5 They think that it (the Day of Judgment) is far away. 6 but We see it near. 7 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 and [when] no friend will ask about his 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 And his wife and his brother, 12 And the nearest of his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. 14 Nay, verily it is a furnace 15 stripping away his skin, 16 and it shall call him who withdrew and turned his back 17 And amasses (wealth) then shuts it up. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 Fretful when evil touches him; 20 but when they are fortunate, they become niggardly 21 But not so the worshippers 22 Those who are constant at their prayer 23 those who give a due share of their wealth 24 for the needy and the deprived, 25 who confirm the Day of Reckoning 26 and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement 27 (from their Lord's chastisement none feels secure) 28 who guard their carnal desires 29 Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (then) they are not to be blamed, 30 And whosoever seeketh beyond that, then it is those who are the trespassers 31 And those who keep their trusts and covenants; 32 Who uphold their testimonies, 33 And those who guard (the sacredness) of their worship;- 34 They will live in gardens with honour. 35