The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall 1 (a chastisement meant) for the unbelievers, one which none can avert; 2 a chastisement from Allah, the Lord of the ascending steps, 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 Therefore patiently endure, in the best manner. 5 they see it as being far off; 6 but We see it near at hand. 7 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper 8 and the mountains will be like tufts of wool, 9 And no friend will ask [anything of] a friend, 10 Though they shall be made to see one another [(i.e. on the Day of Resurrection), there will be none but see his father, children and relatives, but he will neither speak to them nor will ask them for any help)], - the Mujrim, (criminal, sinner, disbeliever, etc.) would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children. 11 And his spouse and his brother 12 his kinsmen who gave him refuge (from hardship) 13 And all, all that is on earth,- so it could deliver him: 14 But never. It is pure white flame 15 that will strip off 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 ۞ Indeed man is created very impatient, greedy. 19 When evil touches him, impatient, 20 And refraining, when good reaches him. 21 Not so, however, those who consciously turn towards God in prayer. 22 Who persevere in devotion, 23 And those in whose wealth there is a known right, 24 for such as ask [for help] and such as are deprived [of what is good in life]; 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 And those who fear the torment of their Lord, 27 Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure - 28 And those who guard their private parts, 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 goes beyond this is a transgressor; 31 And those who are to their trusts and promises attentive 32 and who stand firm whenever they bear witness; 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 Those shall be in Gardens, high-honoured. 35