The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 Upon the disbelievers – the punishment that none can avert. 2 From God, the Lord of the steps (of progression), 3 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment). 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 And We see it nigh. 7 On that Day the heaven shall become like molten copper, 8 and the mountains shall be as plucked wool-tufts, 9 even intimate friends will not inquire about their friends, 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 kindred who sheltered him, 13 and whosoever is in the earth, altogether, so that it might save him. 14 Never! That is indeed a blazing fire. 15 A remover of exteriors. 16 Inviting (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from the Right). 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Indeed, man is born impatient: 19 when evil visits him, impatient, 20 And when good touches him, withholding [of it], 21 except those that pray, 22 Who persevere in devotion, 23 who, from their wealth is a known right 24 for the needy and the deprived, 25 And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment; 26 and go in fear of the punishment of their Lord, 27 the punishment of their Lord is not something for them to feel secure of, 28 who guard their privates 29 save from their wives and what their right hands own, then not being blameworthy 30 But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors - 31 (Those) who keep their trusts and their covenant, 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies. 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 Those shall be in gardens, honored. 35