The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 for the unbelievers, which none may avert, 2 [since it will come] from God, unto whom there are many ways of ascent: 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 But be patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see. 5 they see it as being far off; 6 And We see it nigh. 7 Upon the day when heaven shall be as molten copper 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 And his wife and his brother, 12 his kin who sheltered him, 13 And all who are on the earth; so that this might deliver him. 14 By no means! for it would be the Fire of Hell!- 15 Dragging by the head, 16 It invites he who turned his back [on truth] and went away [from obedience] 17 And collect (wealth) and hide it (from spending it in the Cause of Allah). 18 ۞ Lo! man was created anxious, 19 When evil toucheth him, he is bewailing. 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 save those that pray 22 Who persevere in devotion, 23 They are those who assign a certain share of their property 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 chastisement of their Lord-- 27 (from their Lord's chastisement none feels secure) 28 And those who protect their private organs (from adultery). 29 except from their spouses and those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock], for which they incur no blame -- 30 whereas such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are truly transgressors; 31 and those who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges; 32 And those who are upright in their testimonies, 33 and who guard their prayers [from all worldly intent]. 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35