The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall 1 which will inevitably seize the disbelievers. 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of Ascent. 3 The angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years, 4 Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment). 5 They think that it (the Day of Judgment) is far away. 6 Whereas We see it impending. 7 On the Day the sky will be like murky oil, 8 And the mountains shall be as tufts of wool 9 And not a friend shall ask a friend, 10 Though they shall be made to see one another. Fain would the guilty ransom himself from the torment of that Day by his children. 11 and of his spouse, and of his brother, 12 And the family in which he was. 13 and whosoever is in the earth, altogether, so that it might save him. 14 Nay, verily it is a furnace 15 It snatches away by the scalps, 16 It shall claim him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 and amassed wealth and covetously hoarded it. 18 ۞ Indeed, man is born impatient: 19 [As a rule,] whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity; 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he grows niggardly. 21 Except the observers of prayer - 22 Those who are constant in their prayer 23 and in whose possessions there is a due share, acknowledged [by them,] 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who believe the Day of Judgement to be true. 26 and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement 27 surely the chastisement of their Lord is a thing none can feel secure from – 28 And those who guard their sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 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 And whosoever seeketh beyond that, then it is those who are the trespassers 31 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant 32 who testify to what they have witnessed, 33 And those who of their prayer are observant. 34 such people will receive due honor in Paradise. 35