The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 Upon the disbelievers – the punishment that none can avert. 2 [It is] from Allah, owner of the ways of ascent. 3 The angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years, 4 Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience: 5 They see the (Day) indeed as a far-off (event): 6 but We see it is nigh. 7 The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). 8 and the mountains become like wool, 9 And not a friend shall ask a friend, 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 his companion (wife), his brother, 12 And his kindred who sheltered him, 13 And all, all that is on earth,- so it could deliver him: 14 By no means! Surely it is a flaming fire 15 A fire that melts the hide. 16 Calling: "[O Kafir (O disbeliever in Allah, His angels, His Book, His Messengers, Day of Resurrection and in Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments), O Mushrik (O polytheist, disbeliever in the Oneness of Allah)] (all) such as turn their backs and turn away their faces (from Faith) [picking and swallowing them up from that great gathering of mankind (on the Day of Resurrection) just as a bird picks up a food-grain from the earth with its beak and swallows it up] [Tafsir Al-Qurtubi, Vol. 18, Page 289] 17 and amassed wealth and covetously hoarded it. 18 ۞ Lo! man was created anxious, 19 When evil comes upon him he is impatient; 20 but when good comes upon him, he is grudging 21 Except the observers of prayer - 22 Those who are regular in their prayers. 23 And those within whose wealth is a known right 24 For those who beg, and for the needy who cannot even ask. 25 and who accept as true the [coming of the] Day of Judgment; 26 and fear the chastisement of their Lord – 27 Indeed the punishment of their Lord is not a thing to be unafraid of! 28 who guard their privates 29 save from their wives and what their right hands own, then not being blameworthy 30 But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors - 31 And those who protect the property entrusted to them, and their agreements. 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 They will be honoured in the Gardens of Bliss. 35