The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
A caller supplicated about a punishment to fall on 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 (A Penalty) from Allah, Lord of the Ways of Ascent. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience: 5 They think that it (the Day of Judgment) is far away. 6 but We see it to be very near. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the sky will become like molten brass, 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 And no familiar friend will ask a question of his friend 10 Though they shall be made to see one another [(i.e. on the Day of Resurrection), there will be none but see his father, children and relatives, but he will neither speak to them nor will ask them for any help)], - the Mujrim, (criminal, sinner, disbeliever, etc.) would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children. 11 His wife and his brother, 12 And his kin that harboured him 13 And whoever is on earth entirely [so] then it could save him. 14 By no means! It will be the fierce flame 15 That would skin the scalp. 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 amasses (wealth) then shuts it up. 18 ۞ Verily man is formed impatient. 19 When evil touches him, impatient, 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 Except the observers of prayer - 22 Who are constant at their worship 23 And those in whose riches is a known right. 24 for the needy and the deprived, 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 And those who are fearful of their Lord's doom - 27 Surely no one can be secure from the punishment of his Lord, -- 28 and guard their private parts 29 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy; 30 And whosoever seeketh beyond that, then it is those who are the trespassers 31 and those who fulfil their trusts and their covenants, 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 and who are constant in their prayers. 34 They will be honoured in the Gardens of Bliss. 35