The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall- 1 (a chastisement meant) for the unbelievers, one which none can avert; 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment). 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 But We see it (quite) near. 7 The day when the sky will become as molten copper, 8 and the mountains will be like tufts of wool, 9 And not a friend shall ask a friend, 10 though they may see each other. A sinner will wish that he could save himself from the torment of that day by sacrificing his children, 11 his wife, his brother, 12 and his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 And all those that are in the earth, (wishing) then (that) this might deliver him. 14 By no means! For the raging flames of the 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 who accumulated wealth without spending it for a good purpose. 18 ۞ Indeed, man is born impatient: 19 when misfortune touches him he starts lamenting, 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he selfishly withholds it [from others]. 21 Except those who pray, 22 Who persevere in devotion, 23 And those in whose wealth there is a known right, 24 For him who begs and for him who is denied (good) 25 and who accept as true the [coming of the] Day of Judgment; 26 And those who are fearful of their Lord's doom - 27 for none is secure from the punishment of their Lord, 28 And those who guard their chastity, 29 Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed - 30 But those who trespass beyond this are transgressors;- 31 and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 and those who stand by their testimony 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 They will live in gardens with honour. 35