The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 The unbelievers-- there is none to avert it-- 2 From God, the Lord of the steps (of progression), 3 The angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years, 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 Verily they think that the chastisement is far off, 6 but We see it near at hand. 7 The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). 8 And the mountains will be like flakes of wool, 9 And not a friend shall ask a friend, 10 though they may be in one another's sight: [for,] everyone who was lost in sin will on that Day but desire to ransom himself from suffering at the price of his own children, 11 His wife and his brother, 12 And the family in which he was. 13 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. 14 By no means! It will be the fierce flame 15 Eager to roast; 16 It invites he who turned his back [on truth] and went away [from obedience] 17 and amassed wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Lo! man was created anxious, 19 If evil befalls him he is perturbed; 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 Except those devoted to Salat (prayers) 22 Who persevere in devotion, 23 And those in whose riches is a known right. 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 who acknowledge the Day of Judgment, 26 And those who are fearful of their Lord's torment 27 for none may ever feel secure from the punishment of their Lord; 28 who guard their privates 29 Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed, 30 So those who desire more than this – it is they who are the transgressors. 31 And those who keep their pledges and their covenant, 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 It is these who will be honoured in Gardens. 35