The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
ONE who is minded to ask might ask about the suffering which [in the hereafter] is bound to befall 1 The unbelievers-- there is none to avert it-- 2 From God, the Lord of the steps (of progression), 3 To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience: 5 behold, they see it as if far off; 6 but, We see it as near! 7 The day the sky becomes like molten brass, 8 and the mountains shall be as plucked wool-tufts, 9 And friend shall not ask of 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 And his wife and his brother, 12 And the family in which he was. 13 And all those who are in the earth – then only if the redemption saves him! 14 But never. It is pure white flame 15 Flaying off the scalp-skin. 16 It calleth him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 And hoarded (wealth) and withheld it. 18 ۞ VERILY, man is born with a restless disposition. 19 Fretful when evil touches him; 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 Not so those devoted to Prayer;- 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 And those in whose wealth there is a known right, 24 For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened); 25 And those who believe the Day of Judgement to be true. 26 And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,- 27 Indeed the punishment of their Lord is not a thing to be unafraid of! 28 and guard their private parts 29 Are free of blame, 30 But whosoever seeks beyond that, then it is those who are trespassers. 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 and (finally) those who do not miss their ritual - prayers at the prescribed times; 34 all these shall live honourably in the Gardens. 35