The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent. 3 Whereby the angels ascend unto Him and also the spirit, On a Day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore endure with a goodly patience. 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 but We see it near at hand. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the heaven shall become like unto dregs of oil. 8 The mountains like the tufts of (carded) wool, 9 even intimate friends will not inquire about their friends, 10 Though they will be put in sight of each other,- the sinner's desire will be: Would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 And his spouse and his brother. 12 And his kin that harboured him 13 and all those on earth. 14 By no means! For the raging flames of the fire 15 A remover of exteriors. 16 and drag into it anyone who has turned away (from obeying God), 17 And collected [wealth] and hoarded. 18 ۞ VERILY, man is born with a restless disposition. 19 bewailing when evil befalls him, 20 If good comes to him he holds back his hand, 21 except those that pray, 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged 24 For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened); 25 those who firmly believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 and are fearful of the punishment of their Lord; 27 the punishment of their Lord is not something for them to feel secure of, 28 And those who preserve their chastity 29 Are free of blame, 30 But those who seek more than this will be transgressors; 31 And those who fulfil their trusts and covenants, 32 and perform their witnessings, 33 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: 34 It is these who will be honoured in Gardens. 35