The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 Upon the disbelievers – the punishment that none can avert. 2 a chastisement from Allah, the Lord of the ascending steps, 3 The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years. 4 So persevere with becoming patience. 5 They see the (Day) indeed as a far-off (event): 6 But We see it very near. 7 On that Day the heavens shall become like molten brass, 8 and the mountains shall be like puffs of wool. 9 and [when] no friend will ask about his friend, 10 though they shall be within sight of each other. The guilty one will gladly ransom himself from the torment of that Day by sacrificing his own children, 11 And his wife and his brother. 12 And his kindred who sheltered him, 13 And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him. 14 No, in truth, it is a Furnace! 15 Flaying off the scalp-skin. 16 It shall insistently summon him who turned his back and retreated, 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 Fretful when evil befalleth him 20 And niggardly when good touches him; 21 Except those who pray, 22 Those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers); 23 They are those who assign a certain share of their property 24 For the needy and those dispossessed, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense 26 and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement 27 the punishment of their Lord is not something for them to feel secure of, 28 And those who guard their chastity, 29 save from their wives and what their right hands own, then not being blameworthy 30 But whosoever seeks beyond that, they are the transgressors. 31 And those who protect the property entrusted to them, and their agreements. 32 And those who are firm upon their testimonies. 33 and who take due care of their Prayer: 34 Those shall be in Gardens, high-honoured. 35