The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 for the unbelievers, which none may avert, 2 [since it will come] from God, unto whom there are many ways of ascent: 3 by which the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in one Day the duration of which is fifty thousand years. 4 So, (O Prophet), persevere with gracious perseverance. 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 And We see it nigh. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the heaven shall become like unto dregs of oil. 8 and the mountains will be like tufts of wool, 9 even intimate friends will not inquire about their friends, 10 Though they shall be made to see one another. Fain would the guilty ransom himself from the torment of that Day by his children. 11 And his wife and his brother 12 And his nearest kindred who shelter him 13 and whosoever is in the earth, altogether, so that it might save him. 14 By no means! For the raging flames of the fire 15 Plucking out (his being) right to the skull!- 16 It shall call him who turneth back and backslideth. 17 Who amasses and then hoards. 18 ۞ Surely man was created fretful, 19 Fretful when evil touches him; 20 And niggardly when good touches him; 21 But not so the worshippers 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 And those in whose wealth exists a recognised right, 24 For the beggar and the destitute; 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 not a thing to feel secure from. 28 And those who preserve their chastity 29 except in regard to their spouses and those whom their right hands possess, for in regard to them they are not reproachable, 30 (but whoso seeks after more than that, they are the transgressors), 31 And those who respect their trusts and covenants; 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35