The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Someone has (needlessly) demanded to experience the torment (of God), 1 To the disbelievers; of it there is no preventer. 2 No one can defend him against God, the Lord of the exalted positions. 3 Whereby the angels ascend unto Him and also the spirit, On a Day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience: 5 Verily they think that the chastisement is far off, 6 While we behold it nigh: 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 mountains shall be as tufts of wool 9 and no bosom friend will enquire about any of his bosom friends 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, his brother, 12 His kindred who sheltered him, 13 and whosoever is in the earth, altogether, so that it might save him. 14 No, in truth, it is a Furnace! 15 That would skin the scalp. 16 It will summon whoever turns his back and flees, 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient; 19 Very nervous when touched by misfortune. 20 And, when good befalleth him, grudging; 21 except those that pray, 22 [and] who incessantly persevere in their prayer 23 And those in whose wealth there is a known right, 24 For the beggar and the destitute; 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord, -- 27 Surely no one can be secure from the punishment of his Lord, -- 28 And those who guard their chastity, 29 Are free of blame, 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies. 33 and (finally) those who do not miss their ritual - prayers at the prescribed times; 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35