The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Someone has (needlessly) demanded to experience the torment (of God), 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert, 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 So be patient with gracious patience. 5 Indeed, they see it [as] distant, 6 And We see it nigh. 7 [It will take place] on a Day when the sky will be like molten lead, 8 and the mountains will be like tufts of wool, 9 and no friend will ask about his friend, 10 (Though) they shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 and of his spouse, and of his brother, 12 his kinsmen who gave him refuge (from hardship) 13 and all persons of the earth, if only he could thus save himself. 14 But nay! for lo! it is the fire of hell 15 It snatches away by the scalps, 16 and drag into it anyone who has turned away (from obeying God), 17 and amassed wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he grows niggardly. 21 Except those who closely follow (the Book of God), 22 Who persevere in devotion, 23 those who give a due share of their wealth 24 For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking); 25 and those who believe in the Day of Judgement 26 who are afraid of the torment of their Lord, 27 For their Lord's displeasure is the opposite of Peace and Tranquillity;- 28 And those who guard their sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 29 Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed - 30 but whoever goes beyond this is a transgressor; 31 And those who protect the property entrusted to them, and their agreements. 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35