The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 to those who deny the truth. No power can hinder God 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore endure with a goodly patience. 5 they see it as being far off; 6 Whereas We see it impending. 7 On that Day the heavens shall become like molten brass, 8 And the mountains shall be as tufts of wool 9 And no friend will ask concerning his friend. 10 though they may be in one another's sight: [for,] everyone who was lost in sin will on that Day but desire to ransom himself from suffering at the price of his own children, 11 his wife, his brother, 12 And his family who had stood by him, 13 And all those that are in the earth, (wishing) then (that) this might deliver him. 14 No! Indeed, it is the Flame [of Hell], 15 stripping away his skin, 16 calling him who drew back and turned away, 17 Who amasses and then hoards. 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; 20 And when good toucheth him he is begrudging. 21 except those that pray 22 [and] who incessantly persevere in their prayer 23 those in whose wealth is a right known 24 For the beggar and the destitute; 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 and who stand in dread of their Sustainer's chastisement 27 Surely no one can be secure from the punishment of his Lord, -- 28 And those who of their private parts are guards. 29 except from their wives and slave girls, in which case they are not to be blamed, 30 but those who go beyond that limit are transgressors; 31 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant 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