The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 Upon the disbelievers – the punishment that none can avert. 2 No one can defend him against God, the Lord of the exalted positions. 3 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 Verily they think that the chastisement is far off, 6 but We see it to be very near. 7 The day when the sky will be like molten silver. 8 and the mountains shall be as plucked wool-tufts, 9 And no friend will ask after a 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 And his wife and his brother 12 And his kin that sheltered him. 13 And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 Plucking out (his being) right to the skull!- 16 and drag into it anyone who has turned away (from obeying God), 17 and amassed (riches) and hoarded. 18 ۞ Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient; 19 When evil comes upon him he is impatient; 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 Except the observers of prayer - 22 Who persevere in devotion, 23 And those in whose riches is a known right. 24 for the needy and the deprived, 25 And those who believe the Day of Judgement to be true. 26 and are fearful of the punishment of their Lord; 27 Surely no one can be secure from the punishment of his Lord, -- 28 and guard their private parts 29 [not giving way to their desires] with any but their spouses - that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock]: for then, behold, they are free of all blame, 30 (but whoso seeks after more than that, they are the transgressors), 31 and those who fulfil their trusts and their covenants, 32 who testify to what they have witnessed, 33 And those who are attentive at their worship. 34 These it is who in the gardens [of paradise] shall be honoured! 35