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 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believers] behave with seemly patience. 5 They deem it to be remote. 6 but We see it to be very near. 7 The day the sky becomes like molten brass, 8 And the mountains will be like wool, 9 And not a friend shall ask a friend, 10 They will be seeing them; the guilty will wish if only he could redeem himself from the punishment of that day, by offering his sons. 11 his companion (wife), his brother, 12 and his kinsfolk who had stood by him, 13 and of whoever [else] lives on earth, all of them - so that he could but save himself. 14 No, in truth, it is a Furnace! 15 tearing away his skin! 16 It will claim all such as turn their backs [on what is right,] and turn away [from the truth,] 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Truly man was created very impatient;- 19 Fretful when evil befalleth him 20 but when good comes upon him, he is grudging 21 except those that pray, 22 and are constant in their Prayer; 23 They are those who assign a certain share of their property 24 For those who beg, and for the needy who cannot even ask. 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense 26 and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement 27 surely the chastisement of their Lord is a thing none can feel secure from – 28 And those who of their private parts are guards. 29 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy; 30 And whosoever seeketh beyond that, then it is those who are the trespassers 31 And those who keep their pledges and their covenant, 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 and who take due care of their Prayer: 34 These it is who in the gardens [of paradise] shall be honoured! 35