The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
A questioner questioned concerning the doom about to fall 1 Upon the disbelievers – the punishment that none can avert. 2 From Allah, Owner of the ascending steps. 3 by which the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in one Day the duration of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore be patient, with a beautiful patience; 5 Verily they behold it afar off. 6 while We think that it is near at hand. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the sky will become like molten brass, 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 and [when] no friend will ask about his friend, 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 And his wife and his brother. 12 And the family in which he was. 13 And all those that are in the earth, (wishing) then (that) this might deliver him. 14 But no! There is a raging blaze 15 A remover of exteriors. 16 It shall claim him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 and amassed wealth and covetously hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 when misfortune touches him he starts lamenting, 20 but when good comes upon him, he is grudging 21 Except those who closely follow (the Book of God), 22 and are constant in their Prayer; 23 and in whose possessions there is a due share, acknowledged [by them,] 24 For the needy and those dispossessed, 25 And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment; 26 who are afraid of the torment of their Lord, 27 for none may ever feel secure from the punishment of their Lord; 28 who guard their carnal desires 29 Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed - 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 and those who fulfil their trusts and their covenants, 32 And those who stand by their testimony 33 and (finally) those who do not miss their ritual - prayers at the prescribed times; 34 all these shall live honourably in the Gardens. 35