The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 (a chastisement meant) for the unbelievers, one which none can avert; 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore endure with a goodly patience. 5 behold, they see it as if far off; 6 But We see it [as] near. 7 On the Day the sky will be like murky oil, 8 and the mountains will become like dyed tufts of wool, 9 No loyal friend will ask another loyal 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 His wife and his brother, 12 His kindred who sheltered him, 13 and whosoever is in the earth, all together, so that then it might deliver him. 14 But no! There is a raging blaze 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 amasses (wealth) then shuts it up. 18 ۞ VERILY, man is born with a restless disposition. 19 [As a rule,] whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity; 20 but when they are fortunate, they become niggardly 21 Not so are the prayerful. 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 and in whose possessions there is a due share, acknowledged [by them,] 24 For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking); 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgment, 26 And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord-- 27 for none is secure from the punishment of their Lord, 28 And those who preserve their chastity 29 except in regard to their spouses and those whom their right hands possess, for in regard to them they are not reproachable, 30 whereas such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are truly transgressors; 31 And those who are to their trusts and promises attentive 32 And those who are upright in their testimonies, 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 They will live in gardens with honour. 35