The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 Upon the disbelievers – the punishment that none can avert. 2 (A punishment) from Allah, the Owner of the Elevated Passages. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 So be thou patient with a sweet patience; 5 Verily! They see it (the torment) afar off, 6 But We see it very near. 7 [It will take place] on a Day when the sky will be like molten lead, 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 even intimate friends will not inquire about their friends, 10 Though within sight of one another. The sinner would like to ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his sons, 11 And his spouse and his brother. 12 and his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 and all those on earth. 14 But no! There is a raging blaze 15 A remover of exteriors. 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 who accumulated wealth without spending it for a good purpose. 18 ۞ Verily man is formed impatient. 19 when misfortune touches him he starts lamenting, 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he grows niggardly. 21 Not so are the prayerful. 22 Who are constant at their worship 23 In whose wealth a due share is included 24 For the beggar and the destitute. 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense 26 And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord - 27 Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure, 28 And those who preserve their chastity 29 Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed, 30 But whoso seeketh more than that, those are they who are transgressors; 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 and perform their witnessings, 33 And those who guard (the sacredness) of their worship;- 34 These it is who in the gardens [of paradise] shall be honoured! 35