The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 (A Penalty) from Allah, Lord of the Ways of Ascent. 3 On that Day (of Judgment), long as fifty thousand years, the angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him. 4 So be thou patient with a sweet patience; 5 Indeed, they see it [as] distant, 6 but We see it near. 7 The Day that the sky will be like molten brass, 8 and the mountains shall be as plucked wool-tufts, 9 And no familiar friend will ask a question of his 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 wife and his brother, 12 And his nearest kindred who shelter him 13 And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him. 14 By no means! It will be the fierce flame 15 That would skin the scalp. 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 collected [wealth] and hoarded. 18 ۞ Surely man was created fretful, 19 when misfortune touches him he starts lamenting, 20 And, when good befalleth him, grudging; 21 except those that pray, 22 and constant in their prayers. 23 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right. 24 to those who ask [for help] and to the destitute; 25 And those who believe the Day of Judgement to be true. 26 and go in fear of the chastisement of their Lord 27 Indeed the punishment of their Lord is not a thing to be unafraid of! 28 And those who protect their private organs (from adultery). 29 Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed, 30 whereas such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are truly transgressors; 31 and who preserve their trusts and their covenant, 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 and who guard their prayers [from all worldly intent]. 34 such people will receive due honor in Paradise. 35