The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, most benevolent, ever-merciful
A questioner questioned concerning the doom about to fall 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 From Allah, Owner of the ascending steps. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit mount up, in a day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 So be patient with gracious patience. 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 but We see it near at hand. 7 [It will take place] on a Day when the sky will be like molten lead, 8 And the mountains will be like flakes of wool, 9 and [when] no friend will ask about his friend, 10 Though they will be given sight of them. The guilty man will long to be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children 11 And his spouse and his brother. 12 his kinsmen who gave him refuge (from hardship) 13 And all who are on the earth; so that this might deliver him. 14 By no means! Verily, it will be the Fire of Hell! 15 snatching away 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 amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient; 19 Very nervous when touched by misfortune. 20 And niggardly when good touches him; 21 except those that pray 22 Those who are constant at their prayer 23 And those within whose wealth is a known right 24 for the needy and the deprived, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 And those who fear the torment of their Lord, 27 Indeed, the punishment of their Lord is not that from which one is safe - 28 who guard their privates 29 [not giving way to their desires] with any but their spouses - that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock]: for then, behold, they are free of all blame, 30 But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits-- 31 And those who are to their trusts and promises attentive 32 and those who are upright in their testimonies; 33 and who guard their prayers [from all worldly intent]. 34 They will live in gardens with honour. 35