The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 for the unbelievers, which none may avert, 2 (A punishment) from Allah, the Owner of the Elevated Passages. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 Verily! They see it (the torment) afar off, 6 but, We see it as near! 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the heaven shall become like unto dregs of oil. 8 And the hills will be light as wool. 9 and [when] no friend will ask about his friend, 10 Though they will be given sight of them. The guilty man will long to be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children 11 His wife and his brother, 12 And his kindred who sheltered him, 13 and all those on earth. 14 But never. It is pure white flame 15 that will strip off the scalp. 16 It shall claim him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 And masseth and then hoardeth. 18 ۞ VERILY, man is born with a restless disposition. 19 Fretful when evil befalleth him 20 but when good comes upon him, he is grudging 21 Except those who closely follow (the Book of God), 22 [and] who incessantly persevere in their prayer 23 And those in whose wealth there is a known right, 24 For the petitioner and the deprived - 25 those who firmly believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 and go in fear of the punishment of their Lord, 27 Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure, 28 who guard their privates 29 Except with their wives and the (captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (then) they are not to be blamed, 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 And those who keep their pledges and their covenant, 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