The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 which will inevitably seize the disbelievers. 2 From Allah, the Lord of all pinnacles. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit mount up, in a day whereof the measure 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 (quite) near. 7 The Day that the sky will be like molten brass, 8 and the mountains shall be as plucked wool-tufts, 9 and no friend will ask about his friend, 10 although they shall be within sight of one another. The guilty one would fain ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his children, 11 and his spouse and his brother, 12 and of all the kinsfolk who ever sheltered him, 13 And all those that are in the earth, (wishing) then (that) this might deliver him. 14 By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire 15 tearing away his skin! 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 who amassed and hoarded. 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 When evil touches him, impatient, 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 except those that pray, 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right. 24 For the beggar and the destitute; 25 and who accept as true the [coming of the] Day of Judgment; 26 And those who are fearful of their Lord's torment 27 Verily the torment of their Lord is not a thing to feel secure from. 28 And those who protect their private organs (from adultery). 29 except from their spouses and those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock], for which they incur no blame -- 30 So those who desire more than this – it is they who are the transgressors. 31 And those who protect the property entrusted to them, and their agreements. 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 And those who are attentive at their worship. 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35