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 infidels, of which there is no averter. 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment). 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 but, We see it as near! 7 [It will take place] on a Day when the sky will be like molten lead, 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 And no friend will ask [anything of] a 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 his kin who sheltered him, 13 and all those on earth. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 That would skin the scalp. 16 It calleth him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 And amasses (wealth) then shuts it up. 18 ۞ Surely man was created fretful, 19 When evil comes upon him he is impatient; 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 Except those who pray, 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 And those in whose riches is a known right. 24 for those that ask and those that are dispossessed, 25 those who firmly believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,- 27 Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe - 28 And those who guard their sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 29 Except with their wives and the (women slaves and captives) whom their right hands possess, for (then) they are not to be blamed, 30 but those who go beyond that limit are transgressors; 31 And those who of their trusts and their covenant are keepers. 32 And those who are in their testimonies upright 33 And those who are attentive at their worship. 34 all these shall live honourably in the Gardens. 35