The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall 1 those who deny the truth. [Know, then, that] nothing can ward it off, 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 by which the angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him in one Day which will last for fifty thousand years. 4 So be thou patient with a sweet patience; 5 Indeed, they see it [as] distant, 6 And We behold it nigh. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the heaven shall become like unto dregs of oil. 8 and the mountains will be like tufts of wool, 9 and no friend will ask about his friend, 10 although they shall be within sight of one another. The guilty one would fain ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his children, 11 his wife, his brother, 12 his kinsmen who gave him refuge (from hardship) 13 And all those who are in the earth – then only if the redemption saves him! 14 By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire 15 that will strip off the scalp. 16 Calling: "[O Kafir (O disbeliever in Allah, His angels, His Book, His Messengers, Day of Resurrection and in Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments), O Mushrik (O polytheist, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allah)] (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from Faith) [picking and swallowing them up from that great gathering of mankind (on the Day of Resurrection) just as a bird picks up a food-grain from the earth with its beak and swallows it up] [Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 18, Page 289] 17 And collect (wealth) and hide it (from spending it in the Cause of Allah). 18 ۞ Verily man is formed impatient. 19 When evil touches him, impatient, 20 If good comes to him he holds back his hand, 21 Except those who establish prayer. 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 those who give a due share of their wealth 24 For those who beg, and for the needy who cannot even ask. 25 And those who believe the Day of Judgement to be true. 26 And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord - 27 Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure, 28 And those who guard their chastity, 29 Are free of blame, 30 But whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers. 31 and those who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges; 32 And those who are upright in their testimonies, 33 And those who are attentive at their worship. 34 such people will receive due honor in Paradise. 35