The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert, 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 The angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years, 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 Verily they behold it afar off. 6 but We see it is nigh. 7 The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). 8 The mountains like the tufts of (carded) wool, 9 And no friend will ask [anything of] a friend, 10 They will be shown each other. The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children 11 his companion wife, his brother, 12 His kindred who sheltered him, 13 and all the people of the earth, if that could deliver him. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 stripping away his skin, 16 It calls out to him who reverted and turned away. 17 And collected [wealth] and hoarded. 18 ۞ Indeed, the human was created grudging and impatient. 19 When evil touches him, impatient, 20 but when good comes upon him, he is grudging 21 except those that pray 22 Those who are constant at their prayer 23 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged 24 For those who beg, and for the needy who cannot even ask. 25 And those who believe the Day of Judgement to be true. 26 who are afraid of the torment of their Lord, 27 For their Lord's displeasure is the opposite of Peace and Tranquillity;- 28 And those who guard their sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 29 except from their spouses and those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock], for which they incur no blame -- 30 But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits-- 31 and those who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges; 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 and who are constant in their prayers. 34 Those shall be in Gardens, high-honoured. 35