The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall 1 for the unbelievers, which none may avert, 2 (A Penalty) from Allah, Lord of the Ways of Ascent. 3 The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years. 4 (Muhammad), exercise patience with no complaints. 5 behold, they see it as if far off; 6 but We see it is nigh. 7 The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). 8 and the mountains shall be like puffs of wool. 9 And no friend inquires after friend 10 (Though) they shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 and of his spouse, and of his brother, 12 And his kin that harboured him 13 And all, all that is on earth,- so it could deliver him: 14 But no! There is a raging blaze 15 Dragging by the head, 16 Calling: "[O Kafir (O disbeliever in Allah, His angels, His Book, His Messengers, Day of Resurrection and in Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments), O Mushrik (O polytheist, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allah)] (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from Faith) [picking and swallowing them up from that great gathering of mankind (on the Day of Resurrection) just as a bird picks up a food-grain from the earth with its beak and swallows it up] [Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 18, Page 289] 17 and who accumulated wealth without spending it for a good purpose. 18 ۞ VERILY, man is born with a restless disposition. 19 when evil visits him, impatient, 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 Not so are the prayerful. 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 those in whose wealth is a right known 24 for those that ask and those that are dispossessed, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 and are fearful of the punishment of their Lord; 27 Indeed the punishment of their Lord is not a thing to be unafraid of! 28 who guard their privates 29 Except with their wives and the bondwomen in their possession, for there is no reproach on them. 30 (but whoso seeks after more than that, they are the transgressors), 31 who honor their trust and promises, 32 And those who are upright in their testimonies, 33 And those who of their prayer are observant. 34 These will dwell in Gardens, honoured. 35