The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
ONE who is minded to ask might ask about the suffering which [in the hereafter] is bound to befall 1 The unbelievers-- there is none to avert it-- 2 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways 3 On that Day (of Judgment), long as fifty thousand years, the angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him. 4 So, (O Prophet), persevere with gracious perseverance. 5 They see it [the Day of Judgement] to be far off, 6 while We think that it is near at hand. 7 On that Day the heavens shall become like molten brass, 8 And the mountains will be like flakes of wool, 9 And no familiar friend will ask a question of his friend 10 although they shall be within sight of one another. The guilty one would fain ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his children, 11 And his wife and his brother 12 and his kinsfolk who had stood by him, 13 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. 14 But nay! for lo! it is the fire of hell 15 stripping away his skin, 16 and it will claim all those who turned their backs [on the true faith] and turned away [from the truth], 17 and amassed wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Verily man is impatient by nature: 19 Fretful when evil touches him; 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he grows niggardly. 21 Except those who establish prayer. 22 Who are at their prayer constant. 23 And those within whose wealth is a known right 24 For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking); 25 who acknowledge the Day of Judgment, 26 And those who are fearful of the chastisement 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 Save in regard to their spouses or those whom their right hands own; so verily they are not blameworthy 30 But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors - 31 and those who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges; 32 And those who are firm upon their testimonies. 33 And those who are mindful of their moral obligations. 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35