The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
A beseecher besought the visitation of chastisement, 1 The infidels, of which there is no averter. 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 (Whereby) the angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day whereof the span is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience: 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 but We see it near. 7 On the Day the sky will be like murky oil, 8 and the mountains become like wool, 9 And friend shall not ask of friend 10 (Though) they shall be made to see each other. The guilty one would fain redeem himself from the chastisement of that day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 his wife, his brother, 12 And his family who had stood by him, 13 And all those who are in the earth – then only if the redemption saves him! 14 By no means! It will be the fierce flame 15 Dragging by the head, 16 It shall call him who turneth back and backslideth. 17 And collect (wealth) and hide it (from use)! 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 When evil comes upon him he is impatient; 20 And when good touches him, withholding [of it], 21 except those who are steadfast 22 who are steadfast in prayer; 23 They are those who assign a certain share of their property 24 for those that ask and those that are dispossessed, 25 And those who believe in the Day of Judgment, 26 And those who are fearful of their Lord's torment 27 Surely no one can be secure from the punishment of his Lord, -- 28 who guard their privates 29 Except with their wives and the (women slaves and captives) whom their right hands possess, for (then) they are not to be blamed, 30 So those who desire more than this – it is they who are the transgressors. 31 And those who are faithful to their trusts and their covenant 32 Who uphold their testimonies, 33 and are steadfast in their prayers. 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35