The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen 1 for the unbelievers, which none may 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 But be patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see. 5 behold, men look upon that [reckoning] as something far away 6 While we behold it nigh: 7 The Day that the sky will be like the boiling filth of oil, (or molten copper or silver or lead, etc.). 8 The mountains like the tufts of (carded) wool, 9 even intimate friends will not inquire about their friends, 10 Though they shall be made to see one another [(i.e. on the Day of Resurrection), there will be none but see his father, children and relatives, but he will neither speak to them nor will ask them for any help)], - the Mujrim, (criminal, sinner, disbeliever, etc.) would desire to ransom himself from the punishment of that Day by his children. 11 his wife, his brother, 12 And the family in which he was. 13 And all, all that is on earth,- so it could deliver him: 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 Plucking out (his being) right to the skull!- 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 Who amasses and then hoards. 18 ۞ Surely man is created of a hasty temperament 19 Fretful when evil befalleth him 20 when good visits him, grudging, 21 Save worshippers. 22 Those who are constant in their prayer 23 And those in whose wealth there is a known right, 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense, 26 and go in fear of the punishment 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 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy; 30 But those who trespass beyond this are transgressors;- 31 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant 32 who testify to what they have witnessed, 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 such people will receive due honor in Paradise. 35