The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert, 2 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways 3 The angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years, 4 So, (O Prophet), persevere with gracious perseverance. 5 They see the (Day) indeed as a far-off (event): 6 but We see it near at hand. 7 The day when the sky will be like molten silver. 8 And the hills will be light as wool. 9 and no bosom friend will enquire about any of his bosom friends 10 (Though) they shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 And his wife and his brother 12 and his kinsfolk who had stood by him, 13 and all persons of the earth, if only he could thus save himself. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 That would skin the scalp. 16 It shall insistently summon him who turned his back and retreated, 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 When evil toucheth him, he is bewailing. 20 And refraining, when good reaches him. 21 Not so those devoted to Prayer;- 22 Who are at their prayer constant. 23 those in whose wealth is a right known 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense, 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 and who are mindful of their chastity, 29 except from their spouses and those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock], for which they incur no blame -- 30 whereas such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are truly transgressors; 31 and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 who testify to what they have witnessed, 33 And those who protect their prayers. 34 These it is who in the gardens [of paradise] shall be honoured! 35