The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
ONE who is minded to ask might ask about the suffering which [in the hereafter] is bound to befall 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert, 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore be patient, with a beautiful patience; 5 They deem it to be remote. 6 But We see it very near. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the heaven shall become like unto dregs of oil. 8 And the hills become as flakes of wool, 9 And friend shall not ask of friend 10 as they are given sight of them. The sinner will wish that he might ransom himself from the chastisement of that day even by his sons, 11 His wife and his brother, 12 And his nearest kindred who shelter him 13 And all those who are on the earth, to save himself. 14 By no means! It will be the fierce flame 15 that will strip off the scalp. 16 It calleth him who turned and fled (from truth), 17 And masseth and then hoardeth. 18 ۞ Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient; 19 when misfortune touches him he starts lamenting, 20 And when good toucheth him he is begrudging. 21 Except the observers of prayer - 22 Those who are constant at their prayer 23 They are those who assign a certain share of their property 24 For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened); 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 and go in fear of the punishment of their Lord, 27 For their Lord's displeasure is the opposite of Peace and Tranquillity;- 28 And those who guard their chastity, 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 he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits-- 31 who honor their trust and promises, 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 and (finally) those who do not miss their ritual - prayers at the prescribed times; 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35