The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 to those who deny the truth. No power can hinder God 2 [It is] from Allah, owner of the ways of ascent. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 They see it [the Day of Judgement] to be far off, 6 And We behold it nigh. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the heaven shall become like unto dregs of oil. 8 and the mountains shall be like puffs of wool. 9 And no friend will ask after a 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 And his wife and his brother 12 and his kinsfolk who had stood by him, 13 and all the people of the earth, if that could deliver him. 14 Nay, verily it is a furnace 15 Taking away (burning completely) the head skin! 16 and it will claim all those who turned their backs [on the true faith] and turned away [from the truth], 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man is created of a hasty temperament 19 When evil comes upon him he is impatient; 20 If good comes to him he holds back his hand, 21 Except those devoted to Salat (prayers) 22 Those who are constant in their prayer 23 And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion. 24 For the petitioner and the deprived - 25 and those who believe in the Day of Judgement 26 And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord - 27 for, behold, of their Sustainer's chastisement none may ever feel [wholly] secure; 28 And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts). 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 who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 and those who are upright in their testimonies; 33 And those who of their prayer are observant. 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35