The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 for the unbelievers, which none may avert, 2 (A Penalty) from Allah, Lord of the Ways of Ascent. 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believers] behave with seemly patience. 5 They see it [the Day of Judgement] to be far off, 6 And We see it nigh. 7 On that Day the heavens shall become like molten brass, 8 And the hills become as flakes of wool, 9 and no friend will ask about his friend, 10 though they are in sight of each other. To ransom himself from the punishment of that Day, the sinner will wish that he might even ransom himself by his sons, 11 His wife and his brother, 12 the kinsmen who gave him shelter, 13 And all those who are on the earth, to save himself. 14 By no means! Verily it is a Flame. 15 that will strip off the scalp. 16 and it will claim all those who turned their backs [on the true faith] and turned away [from the truth], 17 And collected [wealth] and hoarded. 18 ۞ Lo! man was created anxious, 19 when evil visits him, impatient, 20 but when they are fortunate, they become niggardly 21 save those that pray 22 Who persevere in devotion, 23 And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion. 24 For the beggar and the destitute; 25 who confirm the Day of Reckoning 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 And those who preserve their chastity 29 save from their wives and what their right hands own, then not being blameworthy 30 but whoever goes beyond this is a transgressor; 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 and those who are upright in their testimonies; 33 and (finally) those who do not miss their ritual - prayers at the prescribed times; 34 They will be in gardens, honored. 35