The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
A requester seeks the punishment that will take place – 1 to those who deny the truth. No power can hinder God 2 From Allah, Owner of the ascending steps. 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore patiently endure, in the best manner (O dear Prophet Mohammed – peace and blessings be upon him). 5 Verily they think that the chastisement is far off, 6 but We see it near. 7 The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). 8 And the mountains will be like flakes of wool, 9 No loyal friend will ask another loyal 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 wife and his brother, 12 and of all the kinsfolk who ever sheltered him, 13 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. 14 By no means! Verily it is a Flame. 15 stripping away his skin, 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 amasses (wealth) then shuts it up. 18 ۞ Truly man was created very impatient;- 19 If evil befalls him he is perturbed; 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he selfishly withholds it [from others]. 21 Not so those devoted to Prayer;- 22 [and] who incessantly persevere in their prayer 23 In whose wealth a due share is included 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 those who firmly believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 And those who are fearful of their Lord's torment 27 Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure, 28 And those who guard their private parts 29 Except with their wives and the bondwomen in their possession, for there is no reproach on them. 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 And those who are in their testimonies upright 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 They will be honoured in the Gardens of Bliss. 35