The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 those who deny the truth. [Know, then, that] nothing can ward it off, 2 From God, the Lord of the steps (of progression), 3 The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years: 4 (Muhammad), exercise patience with no complaints. 5 They think that it (the Day of Judgment) is far away. 6 But We see it [as] near. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the sky will become like molten brass, 8 And the mountains will be like flakes of wool, 9 And no familiar friend will ask a question of his friend 10 though they may be in one another's sight: [for,] everyone who was lost in sin will on that Day but desire to ransom himself from suffering at the price of his own children, 11 And his wife and his brother, 12 and his kinsfolk who had stood by him, 13 And whoever is on earth entirely [so] then it could save him. 14 By no means! For the raging flames of the fire 15 tearing away his skin! 16 Calling: "[O Kafir (O disbeliever in Allah, His angels, His Book, His Messengers, Day of Resurrection and in Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments), O Mushrik (O polytheist, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allah)] (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from Faith) [picking and swallowing them up from that great gathering of mankind (on the Day of Resurrection) just as a bird picks up a food-grain from the earth with its beak and swallows it up] [Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 18, Page 289] 17 And amasses (wealth) then shuts it up. 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 Very nervous when touched by misfortune. 20 when good visits him, grudging, 21 Except those who establish prayer. 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 They are those who assign a certain share of their property 24 For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking); 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 and go in fear of the punishment of their Lord, 27 Indeed the punishment of their Lord is not a thing to be unafraid of! 28 And those who guard their private parts 29 [not giving way to their desires] with any but their spouses - that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock]: for then, behold, they are free of all blame, 30 But whoso seeketh more than that, those are they who are transgressors; 31 and who preserve their trusts and their covenant, 32 And those who are in their testimonies upright 33 and are steadfast in their prayers. 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35