The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 The unbelievers-- there is none to avert it-- 2 From Allah, the Lord of all pinnacles. 3 Whereby the angels ascend unto Him and also the spirit, On a Day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 So be patient with gracious patience. 5 Verily they behold it afar off. 6 while We think that it is near at hand. 7 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper 8 and the mountains will be like tufts of wool, 9 And friend shall not ask of friend 10 They will be shown each other. The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children 11 And his wife and his brother. 12 And the family in which he was. 13 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. 14 Nay, verily it is a furnace 15 Taking away (burning completely) the head skin! 16 It will claim all such as turn their backs [on what is right,] and turn away [from the truth,] 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man is created of a hasty temperament 19 bewailing when evil befalls him, 20 when good visits him, grudging, 21 Except those who establish prayer. 22 [and] who incessantly persevere in their prayer 23 And those in whose wealth there is a known right, 24 for the needy and the deprived, 25 who confirm the Day of Reckoning 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord, -- 27 the punishment of their Lord is not something for them to feel secure of, 28 and who are mindful of their chastity, 29 Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed, 30 but whoever goes beyond this is a transgressor; 31 and who preserve their trusts and their covenant, 32 who testify to what they have witnessed, 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 They will live in gardens with honour. 35