The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 (A punishment) from Allah, the Owner of the Elevated Passages. 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believers] behave with seemly patience. 5 Indeed, they see it [as] distant, 6 But We see it (quite) near. 7 The day when the sky will be like molten silver. 8 And the hills will be light as wool. 9 and no bosom friend will enquire about any of his bosom friends 10 Though they shall be made to see one another [(i.e. on the Day of Resurrection), there will be none but see his father, children and relatives, but he will neither speak to them nor will ask them for any help)], - the Mujrim, (criminal, sinner, disbeliever, etc.) would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children. 11 His wife and his brother, 12 And the family in which he was. 13 And all who are on the earth; so that this might deliver him. 14 No, in truth, it is a Furnace! 15 will strip-off the flesh 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 accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man is created of a hasty temperament 19 When they are afflicted, they complain, 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he selfishly withholds it [from others]. 21 But not so the worshippers 22 and continue at their prayers, 23 In whose wealth a due share is included 24 For the beggar and the destitute. 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgment, 26 and go in fear of the punishment of their Lord, 27 Surely the chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure of-- 28 And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts). 29 Are free of blame, 30 whereas such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are truly transgressors; 31 And those who keep their pledges and their covenant, 32 and who stand firm whenever they bear witness; 33 and who guard their prayers [from all worldly intent]. 34 They will be honoured in the Gardens of Bliss. 35