The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 To the disbelievers; of it there is no preventer. 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of Ascent. 3 To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore endure with a goodly patience. 5 Verily they behold it afar off. 6 But We see it [as] near. 7 The Day that the sky will be like molten brass, 8 And then the mountains shall become like unto wool dyed. 9 And no friend will ask of a friend, 10 They will be seeing them; the guilty will wish if only he could redeem himself from the punishment of that day, by offering his sons. 11 And his spouse and his brother. 12 and of all the kinsfolk who ever sheltered him, 13 and whosoever is in the earth, all together, so that then it might deliver him. 14 By no means! Verily, it will be the Fire of Hell! 15 That would skin the scalp. 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 collect (wealth) and hide it (from use)! 18 ۞ Indeed, the human was created grudging and impatient. 19 when misfortune touches him he starts lamenting, 20 And niggardly when good touches him; 21 save those that pray 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 and those in whose wealth there is a known right 24 For the petitioner and the deprived - 25 And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment; 26 and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement 27 for, behold, of their Sustainer's chastisement none may ever feel [wholly] secure; 28 And those who of their private parts are guards. 29 Except with their wives and the bondwomen in their possession, for there is no reproach on them. 30 But whoso seeketh more than that, those are they who are transgressors; 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 And those who are upright in their testimonies, 33 And those who of their prayer are observant. 34 all these shall live honourably in the Gardens. 35