The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years: 4 Therefore, [O believers] behave with seemly patience. 5 They think that it (the Day of Judgment) is far away. 6 but We see it is nigh. 7 Upon the day when heaven shall be as molten copper 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 and [when] no friend will ask about his 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 companion wife, his brother, 12 and his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 and whosoever is in the earth, all together, so that then it might deliver him. 14 No, in truth, it is a Furnace! 15 Flaying off the scalp-skin. 16 It shall call him who turneth back and backslideth. 17 And collect (wealth) and hide it (from use)! 18 ۞ Indeed man is created very impatient, greedy. 19 Very nervous when touched by misfortune. 20 And refraining, when good reaches him. 21 But not so the worshippers 22 Who persevere in devotion, 23 In whose wealth a due share is included 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgement, 26 And those who are fearful of their Lord's torment 27 Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe - 28 And those who protect their private organs (from adultery). 29 Save in regard to their spouses or those whom their right hands own; so verily they are not blameworthy 30 But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors - 31 and those who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges; 32 who testify to what they have witnessed, 33 and who take due care of their Prayer: 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35