The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
A questioner asked about a Penalty to 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 The angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years, 4 But be patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see. 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 And We see it nigh. 7 The day when the sky will become as molten copper, 8 and the mountains will become like dyed tufts of wool, 9 even intimate friends will not inquire about their friends, 10 Though they will be given sight of them. The guilty man will long to be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children 11 And his spouse and his brother 12 and of all the kinsfolk who ever sheltered him, 13 and all persons of the earth, if only he could thus save himself. 14 By no means! for it would be the Fire of Hell!- 15 will strip-off the flesh 16 It invites he who turned his back [on truth] and went away [from obedience] 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Truly man was created very impatient;- 19 Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he selfishly withholds it [from others]. 21 Not so those devoted to Prayer;- 22 and continue at their prayers, 23 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged 24 For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking); 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord-- 27 Surely no one can be secure from the punishment of his Lord, -- 28 And those who guard their private parts, 29 except from their wives and what their right hands own, for these they are not blameworthy. 30 But whoso seeketh more than that, those are they who are transgressors; 31 And those who of their trusts and their covenant are keepers. 32 and who stand firm whenever they bear witness; 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35