The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen 1 those who deny the truth. [Know, then, that] nothing can ward it off, 2 a chastisement from Allah, the Lord of the ascending steps, 3 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience: 5 They see it [the Day of Judgement] to be far off, 6 But We see it very near. 7 Upon the day when heaven shall be as molten copper 8 And the mountains will be like flakes of wool, 9 And friend shall not ask of friend 10 Though within sight of one another. The sinner would like to ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his sons, 11 And his spouse and his brother. 12 and his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 And all those who are on the earth, to save himself. 14 By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire 15 tearing away his skin! 16 It shall claim him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 And collected [wealth] and hoarded. 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 If evil befalls him he is perturbed; 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he grows niggardly. 21 except those who are steadfast 22 and are constant in their Prayer; 23 those in whose wealth is a right known 24 For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking); 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense 26 And those who fear 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 chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts). 29 Except with their wives and the bondwomen in their possession, for there is no reproach on them. 30 So those who desire more than this – it is they who are the transgressors. 31 (Those) who keep their trusts and their covenant, 32 and perform their witnessings, 33 and who are constant in their prayers. 34 These will dwell in Gardens, honoured. 35