The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A doubter once demanded that punishment be immediately meted out, 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent. 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 They think that it (the Day of Judgment) is far away. 6 but, We see it as near! 7 On that Day the heavens shall become like molten brass, 8 and the mountains will become like dyed tufts of wool, 9 And no friend inquires after friend 10 They will be seeing them; the guilty will wish if only he could redeem himself from the punishment of that day, by offering his sons. 11 His wife and 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! for lo! it is the fire of hell 15 A fire that melts the hide. 16 and drag into it anyone who has turned away (from obeying God), 17 And amasses (wealth) then shuts it up. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 Irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; 20 when good visits him, grudging, 21 Except those devoted to Salat (prayers) 22 Who persevere in devotion, 23 They are those who assign a certain share of their property 24 for the beggar and the outcast, 25 who confirm the Day of Doom 26 who are afraid of the torment of their Lord, 27 for, behold, of their Sustainer's chastisement none may ever feel [wholly] secure; 28 those who preserve their chastity 29 Except from their wives or those their right hands possess, for indeed, they are not to be blamed - 30 And whosoever seeketh beyond that, then it is those who are the trespassers 31 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant 32 and those who stand by their testimony 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 Those shall be in gardens, honored. 35