The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 (a chastisement meant) for the unbelievers, one which none can avert; 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent. 3 On that Day (of Judgment), long as fifty thousand years, the angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him. 4 (Muhammad), exercise patience with no complaints. 5 They see it [the Day of Judgement] to be far off, 6 And We see it nigh. 7 The day when the sky will become as molten copper, 8 And the mountains will be like flakes of wool, 9 And no friend will ask after a 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 And his wife and his brother. 12 and of all the kinsfolk who ever sheltered him, 13 And all those that are in the earth, (wishing) then (that) this might deliver him. 14 By no means! Verily, it will be the Fire of Hell! 15 It snatches away by the scalps, 16 and drag into it anyone who has turned away (from obeying God), 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Verily man is impatient by nature: 19 [As a rule,] whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity; 20 And when good touches him, withholding [of it], 21 Except those devoted to Salat (prayers) 22 and are constant in their Prayer; 23 who, from their wealth is a known right 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 and those who believe in the Day of Judgement 26 and go in fear of the chastisement of their Lord 27 Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure - 28 And those who guard their sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 29 Except with their wives and the bondwomen in their possession, for there is no reproach on them. 30 But whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers. 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 and those who are upright in their testimonies; 33 And those who guard their Salat (prayers) well. 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35