The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 From Allah, the Lord of all pinnacles. 3 To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 So be thou patient with a sweet patience; 5 They deem it to be remote. 6 while We think that it is near at hand. 7 The day the sky becomes like molten brass, 8 and the mountains will be like tufts of wool, 9 And no friend will ask [anything of] a friend, 10 though they are in sight of each other. To ransom himself from the punishment of that Day, the sinner will wish that he might even ransom himself by his sons, 11 His wife and his brother, 12 and of all the kinsfolk who ever sheltered him, 13 And all who are on the earth; so that this might deliver him. 14 By no means! Verily it is a Flame. 15 A remover of exteriors. 16 It shall claim him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 And collect (wealth) and hide it (from spending it in the Cause of Allah). 18 ۞ Truly man was created very impatient;- 19 [As a rule,] whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity; 20 but when they are fortunate, they become niggardly 21 save those that pray 22 and continue at their prayers, 23 and those in whose wealth there is a known right 24 For the petitioner and the deprived - 25 and who accept as true the [coming of the] Day of Judgment; 26 and fear the chastisement of their Lord – 27 Surely no one can be secure from the punishment of his Lord, -- 28 And those who guard their sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 29 except in regard to their spouses and those whom their right hands possess, for in regard to them they are not reproachable, 30 But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors - 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 and who stand firm whenever they bear witness; 33 And those who protect their prayers. 34 Those shall be in gardens, honored. 35