The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall 1 To the disbelievers; of it there is no preventer. 2 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways 3 by which the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in one Day the duration of which is fifty thousand years. 4 So be thou patient with a sweet patience; 5 Indeed, they see it [as] distant, 6 But We see it [as] near. 7 Upon the day when heaven shall be as molten copper 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 And no friend will ask concerning his friend. 10 though they shall be within sight of each other. The guilty one will gladly ransom himself from the torment of that Day by sacrificing his own children, 11 his companion (wife), his brother, 12 And the nearest of his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him. 14 No, in truth, it is a Furnace! 15 Dragging by the head, 16 calling him who drew back and turned away, 17 And amasses (wealth) then shuts it up. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 When evil toucheth him, he is bewailing. 20 And when good touches him, withholding [of it], 21 Except the observers of prayer - 22 and constant in their prayers. 23 those in whose wealth is a right known 24 to those who ask [for help] and to the destitute; 25 and who accept as true the [coming of the] Day of Judgment; 26 And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord-- 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 [not giving way to their desires] with any but their spouses - that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock]: for then, behold, they are free of all blame, 30 but whoever goes beyond this is a transgressor; 31 and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies. 33 and who take due care of their Prayer: 34 such people will receive due honor in Paradise. 35