The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A questioner asked concerning a torment about to befall 1 for the unbelievers, which none may avert, 2 From Allah, Owner of the ascending steps. 3 The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years: 4 Therefore do thou hold Patience,- a Patience of beautiful (contentment). 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 but We see it is nigh. 7 [It will take place] on a Day when the sky will be like molten lead, 8 And the mountains shall be as tufts of wool 9 and no bosom friend will enquire about any of his bosom friends 10 Though they will be given sight of them. The guilty man will long to be able to ransom himself from the punishment of that day at the price of his children 11 His wife and his brother, 12 his kinsmen who gave him refuge (from hardship) 13 And all that are in the earth, so that it might save him. 14 By no means! Verily, it will be the Fire of Hell! 15 That would skin the scalp. 16 and it will claim all those who turned their backs [on the true faith] and turned away [from the truth], 17 and amassed wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Verily man is impatient by nature: 19 [As a rule,] whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity; 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 Except the observers of prayer - 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 And those within whose wealth is a known right 24 for the beggar and the outcast, 25 and those who believe in the Day of Judgement 26 and fear the chastisement of their Lord – 27 Surely the chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure of-- 28 and guard their private parts 29 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy; 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 and who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges: 32 And those who are in their testimonies upright 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35