The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
A caller supplicated about a punishment to fall on 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 From Allah, the Lord of all pinnacles. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit mount up, in a day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 But be patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see. 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 Whereas We see it impending. 7 The day the sky becomes like molten brass, 8 And the hills become as flakes of wool, 9 And no friend inquires after friend 10 Though within sight of one another. The sinner would like to ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his sons, 11 And his wife and his brother, 12 And his kin that harboured him 13 And all, all that is on earth,- so it could deliver him: 14 No! Indeed, it is the Flame [of Hell], 15 snatching away the scalp, 16 It will claim all such as turn their backs [on what is right,] and turn away [from the truth,] 17 and who accumulated wealth without spending it for a good purpose. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he selfishly withholds it [from others]. 21 except those who are steadfast 22 Who are constant at their worship 23 And those in whose wealth exists a recognised right, 24 For the beggar and the destitute. 25 And those who testify to the Day of Requital. 26 and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement 27 Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe - 28 and who are mindful of their chastity, 29 Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed - 30 But whoso seeketh more than that, those are they who are transgressors; 31 and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 and who stand firm whenever they bear witness; 33 and are steadfast in their prayers. 34 It is these who will be honoured in Gardens. 35