The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
A beseecher besought the visitation of chastisement, 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent. 3 by which the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in one Day the duration of which is fifty thousand years. 4 So be thou patient with a sweet patience; 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 but We see it is nigh. 7 Upon the day when heaven shall be as molten copper 8 And the mountains shall be as tufts of wool 9 and no bosom friend will enquire about any of his bosom friends 10 Though they shall be made to see one another. Fain would the guilty ransom himself from the torment of that Day by his children. 11 his wife, his brother, 12 And his kin that sheltered him. 13 and of whoever [else] lives on earth, all of them - so that he could but save himself. 14 By no means! For the raging flames of the fire 15 Flaying off the scalp-skin. 16 Inviting (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from the Right). 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 Not so, however, those who consciously turn towards God in prayer. 22 Those who remain steadfast to their prayer; 23 and in whose possessions there is a due share, acknowledged [by them,] 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 the punishment of their Lord - 27 Indeed the punishment of their Lord is not a thing to be unafraid of! 28 who guard their carnal desires 29 Except with their wives and the (women slaves and captives) whom their right hands possess, for (then) they are not to be blamed, 30 but those who go beyond that limit are transgressors; 31 And those who keep their trusts and covenants; 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 And those who are attentive at their worship. 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35