The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 which will inevitably seize the disbelievers. 2 From Allah, Owner of the ascending steps. 3 The angels and Jibreel, ascend towards Him – the punishment will befall on a day which spans fifty thousand years. 4 (Muhammad), exercise patience with no complaints. 5 Lo! they behold it afar off 6 But We see it very near. 7 The Day that the sky will be like molten brass, 8 and the mountains will become like tufts of wool, 9 And no friend will ask after a friend, 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 his wife, his brother, 12 and his kinsfolk who had stood by him, 13 And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 will strip-off the flesh 16 Inviting (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from the Right). 17 and amass [wealth] and thereupon withhold [it from their fellow-men]. 18 ۞ Indeed, man is born impatient: 19 bewailing when evil befalls him, 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he grows niggardly. 21 save those that pray 22 Those who are constant in their prayer 23 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right. 24 For him who begs and for him who is denied (good) 25 and those who believe in the Day of Judgement 26 And those who fear the torment of their Lord, 27 the punishment of their Lord is not something for them to feel secure of, 28 And those who guard their sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 29 except from their wives and slave girls, in which case they are not to be blamed, 30 but whoever goes beyond this is a transgressor; 31 and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 And those who stand by their testimony 33 And those who are mindful of their moral obligations. 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35