The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways 3 Whereby the angels ascend unto Him and also the spirit, On a Day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 They think that it (the Day of Judgment) is far away. 6 but, We see it as near! 7 On the Day the sky will be like murky oil, 8 and the mountains become like wool, 9 and no friend will ask about his friend, 10 as they are given sight of them. The sinner will wish that he might ransom himself from the chastisement of that day even by his sons, 11 his companion wife, his brother, 12 his kin who sheltered him, 13 and all persons of the earth, if only he could thus save himself. 14 No, in truth, it is a Furnace! 15 A remover of exteriors. 16 It calls out to him who reverted and turned away. 17 And collect (wealth) and hide it (from spending it in the Cause of Allah). 18 ۞ Indeed, mankind was created anxious: 19 When evil comes upon him he is impatient; 20 And refraining, when good reaches him. 21 except those who are steadfast 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged 24 for the needy and the deprived, 25 those who firmly believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord - 27 surely the chastisement of their Lord is a thing none can feel secure from – 28 And those who guard their private parts, 29 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy; 30 But whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers. 31 And those who protect the property entrusted to them, and their agreements. 32 And those who are upright in their testimonies, 33 and are steadfast in their prayers. 34 Those shall be in gardens, honored. 35