The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
A questioner asked about a Penalty to befall- 1 Upon the infidels -- which none would be able to repel -- 2 From God, the Lord of the steps (of progression), 3 Whereby the angels ascend unto Him and also the spirit, On a Day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore be patient, with a beautiful patience; 5 behold, they see it as if far off; 6 but, We see it as near! 7 The day when the sky will be like molten silver. 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 And no friend inquires after friend 10 though they are in sight of each other. To ransom himself from the punishment of that Day, the sinner will wish that he might even ransom himself by his sons, 11 And his wife and his brother 12 And his kin that harboured him 13 and all persons of the earth, if only he could thus save himself. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 stripping away his skin, 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 Who amasses and then hoards. 18 ۞ Verily man is impatient by nature: 19 when misfortune touches him he starts lamenting, 20 And when good touches him, withholding [of it], 21 save those that pray 22 Those who are constant in their prayer 23 those in whose wealth is a right known 24 for such as ask [for help] and such as are deprived [of what is good in life]; 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense 26 And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord-- 27 for none is secure from the punishment of their Lord, 28 and who are mindful of their chastity, 29 Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed, 30 But whosoever seeks beyond that, they are the 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 guard (the sacredness) of their worship;- 34 Those are highly honored in the Gardens. 35