The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall 1 Upon the disbelievers – the punishment that none can avert. 2 From Allah, Owner of the ascending steps. 3 The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years: 4 So be patient with gracious patience. 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 But We see it (quite) near. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the heaven shall become like unto dregs of oil. 8 And the mountains will be like flakes of wool, 9 and no bosom friend will enquire about any of his bosom friends 10 though they may see each other. A sinner will wish that he could save himself from the torment of that day by sacrificing his children, 11 And his wife and his brother. 12 And his family who had stood by him, 13 and all persons of the earth, if only he could thus save himself. 14 By no means! Verily, it will be the Fire of Hell! 15 Dragging by the head, 16 and it shall call him who withdrew and turned his back 17 And hoarded (wealth) and withheld it. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 When evil comes upon him he is impatient; 20 And niggardly when good reaches him;- 21 Except those who pray, 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 And those within whose wealth is a known right 24 For the needy and those dispossessed, 25 and who accept as true the [coming of the] Day of Judgment; 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord. 27 for none is secure from the punishment of their Lord, 28 who guard their privates 29 Save in regard to their spouses or those whom their right hands own; so verily they are not blameworthy 30 And whosoever seeketh beyond that, then it is those who are the trespassers 31 and those who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges; 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 and who observe their prayers. 34 Those shall dwell in Gardens, honoured. 35