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 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 From God, the Lord of the steps (of progression), 3 The angels and Jibreel, ascend towards Him – the punishment will befall on a day which spans fifty thousand years. 4 So be patient with gracious patience. 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 And We see it nigh. 7 On the Day the sky will be like murky oil, 8 and the mountains shall be like puffs of wool. 9 No loyal friend will ask another loyal 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 His wife and his brother, 12 And his kindred who sheltered him, 13 And whoever is on earth entirely [so] then it could save him. 14 By no means! Verily it is a Flame. 15 It snatches away by the scalps, 16 It shall call him who turneth back and backslideth. 17 And amasses (wealth) then shuts it up. 18 ۞ Verily man is formed impatient. 19 When evil touches him, impatient, 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 Save worshippers. 22 Who are constant at their worship 23 And those in whose wealth there is a known right, 24 For the needy and those dispossessed, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense 26 And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord - 27 the punishment of their Lord is not something for them to feel secure of, 28 And those who of their private parts are guards. 29 Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed - 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 who honor their trust and promises, 32 and those who stand by their testimony 33 and (finally) those who do not miss their ritual - prayers at the prescribed times; 34 all these shall live honourably in the Gardens. 35