The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
ONE who is minded to ask might ask about the suffering which [in the hereafter] is bound to befall 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert, 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent. 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 They think that it (the Day of Judgment) is far away. 6 but We see it is nigh. 7 [It will take place] on a Day when the sky will be like molten lead, 8 The mountains like the tufts of (carded) wool, 9 And no friend will ask after 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 And his wife and his brother 12 and his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 That would skin 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 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 If evil befalls him he is perturbed; 20 And when good toucheth him he is begrudging. 21 Save worshippers. 22 Those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers); 23 And those in whose wealth exists a recognised right, 24 For the petitioner and the deprived - 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgement, 26 and are fearful of the punishment of their Lord; 27 for none may ever feel secure from the punishment of their Lord; 28 And those who guard their chastity, 29 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy; 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 And those who protect the property entrusted to them, and their agreements. 32 and who stand firm whenever they bear witness; 33 And those who guard (the sacredness) of their worship;- 34 all these shall live honourably in the Gardens. 35