The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
A beseecher besought the visitation of chastisement, 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways 3 all the angels and all the inspiration [ever granted to man] ascend unto Him [daily,] in a day the length whereof is [like] fifty thousand years… 4 (Muhammad), exercise patience with no complaints. 5 They deem it to be remote. 6 But We see it very near. 7 The day the sky becomes like molten brass, 8 And the hills will be light as wool. 9 and no friend will ask about his 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 his companion wife, his brother, 12 his kin who sheltered him, 13 and of whoever [else] lives on earth, all of them - so that he could but save himself. 14 But nay! for lo! it is the fire of hell 15 that will strip off the scalp. 16 and it will claim all those who turned their backs [on the true faith] and turned away [from the truth], 17 And hoarded (wealth) and withheld it. 18 ۞ Surely man was created fretful, 19 bewailing when evil befalls him, 20 And niggardly when good reaches him;- 21 save those that pray 22 and constant in their prayers. 23 And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion. 24 to those who ask [for help] and to the destitute; 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgement, 26 and are fearful of the punishment of their Lord; 27 Indeed the punishment of their Lord is not a thing to be unafraid of! 28 And those who guard their chastity, 29 Are free of blame, 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: 34 Those shall be in Gardens, high-honoured. 35