The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 From God, the Lord of the steps (of progression), 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore patiently endure, in the best manner (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him). 5 They see it [the Day of Judgement] to be far off, 6 But We see it (quite) near. 7 On the Day the sky will be like murky oil, 8 and the mountains will become like tufts of wool, 9 And no friend will ask [anything of] a friend, 10 Though they will be put in sight of each other,- the sinner's desire will be: Would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 his companion (wife), his brother, 12 And his nearest kindred who shelter him 13 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. 14 By no means! for it would be the Fire of Hell!- 15 snatching away the scalp, 16 It calleth him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 when evil visits him, impatient, 20 but when they are fortunate, they become niggardly 21 Not so those devoted to Prayer;- 22 and continue at their prayers, 23 And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion. 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment; 26 and are fearful of the punishment of their Lord; 27 Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure - 28 And those who guard their private parts, 29 except from their spouses and those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock], for which they incur no blame -- 30 But whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers. 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies. 33 And those who of their prayer are observant. 34 such people will receive due honor in Paradise. 35