The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
ONE who is minded to ask might ask about the suffering which [in the hereafter] is bound to befall 1 To the disbelievers; of it there is no preventer. 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend in a day, the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 Lo! they behold it afar off 6 but We see it is nigh. 7 On the day when the heavens become like molten metal. 8 and the mountains will become like tufts of wool, 9 And no friend will ask of a friend, 10 Though they will be put in sight of each other,- the sinner's desire will be: Would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 his companion wife, his brother, 12 his kin who sheltered him, 13 And all those who are on the earth, to save himself. 14 But nay! for lo! it is the fire of hell 15 It snatches away by the scalps, 16 It shall insistently summon him who turned his back and retreated, 17 And masseth and then hoardeth. 18 ۞ Indeed man is created very impatient, greedy. 19 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 except those who are steadfast 22 Those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers); 23 And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion. 24 For the beggar and the destitute; 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord, -- 27 surely the chastisement of their Lord is a thing none can feel secure from – 28 who guard their carnal desires 29 except from their wives and what their right hands own, for these they are not blameworthy. 30 But he who seeks to go beyond this, these it is that go beyond the limits-- 31 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 And those who protect their prayers. 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35