The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
A beseecher besought the visitation of chastisement, 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 all the angels and all the inspiration [ever granted to man] ascend unto Him [daily,] in a day the length whereof is [like] fifty thousand years… 4 So be thou patient with a sweet patience; 5 They see it [the Day of Judgement] to be far off, 6 while We think that it is near at hand. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the sky will become like molten brass, 8 and the mountains will become like tufts of wool, 9 and [when] no friend will ask about his friend, 10 though they shall be within sight of each other. The guilty one will gladly ransom himself from the torment of that Day by sacrificing his own children, 11 his companion (wife), his brother, 12 And the family in which he was. 13 And all, all that is on earth,- so it could deliver him: 14 No! Indeed, it is the Flame [of Hell], 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 ۞ Indeed, the human was created grudging and impatient. 19 If evil befalls him he is perturbed; 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 except those that pray 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 And those within whose wealth is a known right 24 for such as ask [for help] and such as are deprived [of what is good in life]; 25 who acknowledge the Day of Judgment, 26 And those who fear the displeasure of their Lord,- 27 Indeed the punishment of their Lord is not a thing to be unafraid of! 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 (but whoso seeks after more than that, they are the transgressors), 31 and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 and those who stand by their testimony 33 And those who are attentive at their worship. 34 These it is who in the gardens [of paradise] shall be honoured! 35