The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful
A questioner questioned concerning the doom about to fall 1 the unbelievers which none can prevent. 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 by which the angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him in one Day which will last for fifty thousand years. 4 So be patient with gracious patience. 5 Verily they behold it afar off. 6 But We see it 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 hills will be light as wool. 9 And friend shall not ask of 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 his wife, his brother, 12 And his nearest kindred who shelter him 13 and of whoever [else] lives on earth, all of them - so that he could but save himself. 14 By no means! Verily it is a Flame. 15 snatching away the scalp, 16 It will claim all such as turn their backs [on what is right,] and turn away [from the truth,] 17 and amassed (riches) and hoarded. 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 Fretful when evil befalleth him 20 And refraining, when good reaches him. 21 Except the observers of prayer - 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 and in whose possessions there is a due share, acknowledged [by them,] 24 For the petitioner and the deprived - 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense 26 And those who are fearful of their Lord's doom - 27 Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure - 28 And those who guard their private parts, 29 Are free of blame, 30 But those who trespass beyond this are transgressors;- 31 and who preserve their trusts and their covenant, 32 and perform their witnessings, 33 And those who of their prayer are observant. 34 Those are highly honored in the Gardens. 35