The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
A caller supplicated about a punishment to fall on 1 to those who deny the truth. No power can hinder God 2 (A punishment) from Allah, the Owner of the Elevated Passages. 3 The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believers] behave with seemly patience. 5 behold, they see it as if far off; 6 but We see it is nigh. 7 On the Day the sky will be like murky oil, 8 The mountains like the tufts of (carded) wool, 9 And friend shall not ask of friend 10 though they shall be within sight of each other. The guilty one will gladly ransom himself from the torment of that Day by sacrificing his own children, 11 his companion (wife), his brother, 12 and his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 And all those who are on the earth, to save himself. 14 But never. It is pure white flame 15 that will strip off 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 collected [wealth] and hoarded. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 When evil toucheth him, he is bewailing. 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 Except those who closely follow (the Book of God), 22 Who are at their prayer constant. 23 those in whose wealth is a right known 24 for those that ask and those that are dispossessed, 25 And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment; 26 and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement 27 for, behold, of their Sustainer's chastisement none may ever feel [wholly] secure; 28 And those who of their private parts are guards. 29 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy; 30 But whosoever seeks beyond that, they are the transgressors. 31 And those who of their trusts and their covenant are keepers. 32 and who stand firm whenever they bear witness; 33 and who guard their prayers [from all worldly intent]. 34 They will live in gardens with honour. 35