The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 Upon the disbelievers – the punishment that none can avert. 2 from punishing them. He is the Lord of the Ascending Stairways, 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore endure with a goodly patience. 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 And We behold it nigh. 7 On the Day the sky will be like murky oil, 8 And the hills will be light as wool. 9 no loyal friend shall question loyal friend, 10 as they are given sight of them. The sinner will wish that he might ransom himself from the chastisement of that day even by his sons, 11 his wife, his brother, 12 And the nearest of his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 and of whoever [else] lives on earth, all of them - so that he could but save himself. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 stripping away his skin, 16 and it shall call him who withdrew and turned his back 17 Who amasses and then hoards. 18 ۞ Lo! man was created anxious, 19 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him 20 And, when good befalleth him, grudging; 21 Except those who establish prayer. 22 Those who are regular in their prayers. 23 And those in whose riches is a known right. 24 to those who ask [for help] and to the destitute; 25 those who firmly believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 and go in fear of the chastisement of their Lord 27 for, behold, of their Sustainer's chastisement none may ever feel [wholly] secure; 28 who guard their privates 29 save from their wives and what their right hands own, then not being blameworthy 30 But whosoever seeks beyond that, they are the transgressors. 31 And those who fulfil their trusts and covenants, 32 and perform their witnessings, 33 and who take due care of their Prayer: 34 Those shall be in Gardens, high-honoured. 35