The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall 1 to those who deny the truth. No power can hinder God 2 From Allah, the Lord of all pinnacles. 3 The angels and Jibreel, ascend towards Him – the punishment will befall on a day which spans fifty thousand years. 4 So persevere with becoming patience. 5 behold, they see it as if far off; 6 but We see it to be very near. 7 The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). 8 and the mountains shall be as plucked wool-tufts, 9 And friend shall not ask of 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 family who had stood by him, 13 And whoever is on earth entirely [so] then it could save him. 14 But never. It is pure white flame 15 tearing away his skin! 16 calling him who drew back and turned away, 17 and amassed wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ VERILY, man is born with a restless disposition. 19 Fretful when evil touches him; 20 If good comes to him he holds back his hand, 21 Except those who pray, 22 Those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers); 23 those in whose wealth is a right known 24 For the beggar and the destitute. 25 and who accept as true the [coming of the] Day of Judgment; 26 And those who are fearful of their Lord's doom - 27 for none may ever feel secure from the punishment of their Lord; 28 And those who guard their sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 29 Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed - 30 But whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers. 31 and who preserve their trusts and their covenant, 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 And those who protect their prayers. 34 Those are highly honored in the Gardens. 35