The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A beseecher besought the visitation of chastisement, 1 which will inevitably seize the disbelievers. 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 Whereby the angels ascend unto Him and also the spirit, On a Day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 Indeed, they see it [as] distant, 6 but We see it is nigh. 7 The day when the sky will be like molten silver. 8 and the mountains will become like tufts of wool, 9 And no friend will ask [anything of] a friend, 10 Though they will be put in sight of each other,- the sinner's desire will be: Would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 And his spouse and his brother 12 And the nearest of his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 and whosoever is in the earth, altogether, so that it might save him. 14 By no means! For the raging flames of the fire 15 will strip-off the flesh 16 and it will claim all those who turned their backs [on the true faith] and turned away [from the truth], 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Indeed man is created very impatient, greedy. 19 Very nervous when touched by misfortune. 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 except those who are steadfast 22 Who are constant at their worship 23 and in whose possessions there is a due share, acknowledged [by them,] 24 for the needy and the deprived, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,- 27 Surely the chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure of-- 28 And those who of their private parts are guards. 29 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy; 30 (but whoso seeks after more than that, they are the transgressors), 31 And those who fulfil their trusts and covenants, 32 And those who are upright in their testimonies, 33 and who are constant in their prayers. 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35