The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
ONE who is minded to ask might ask about the suffering which [in the hereafter] is bound to befall 1 (a chastisement meant) for the unbelievers, one which none can avert; 2 [since it will come] from God, unto whom there are many 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 Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience: 5 Verily they think that the chastisement is far off, 6 But We see it (quite) near. 7 The day when the sky will be like molten silver. 8 and the mountains will become like dyed tufts of 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 wife, his brother, 12 And his kin that sheltered him. 13 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. 14 No! Indeed, it is the Flame [of Hell], 15 A fire that melts the hide. 16 calling him who drew back and turned away, 17 and amassed wealth and covetously hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 When they are afflicted, they complain, 20 but when they are fortunate, they become niggardly 21 Except those who pray, 22 and are constant in their Prayer; 23 In whose wealth a due share is included 24 for those that ask and those that are dispossessed, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement 27 Surely no one can be secure from the punishment of his Lord, -- 28 who guard their privates 29 except from their wives and slave girls, in which case they are not to be blamed, 30 (but whoso seeks after more than that, they are the transgressors), 31 And those who keep their pledges and their covenant, 32 And those who are in their testimonies upright 33 and who observe their prayers. 34 Those shall dwell in Gardens, honoured. 35