The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert, 2 [since it will come] from God, unto whom there are many ways of ascent: 3 The angels and the spirit ascend unto him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years: 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 Lo! they behold it afar off 6 But We see it (quite) near. 7 On the day when the heavens become like molten metal. 8 And then the mountains shall become like unto wool dyed. 9 And no friend will ask [anything of] a friend, 10 Though within sight of one another. The sinner would like to ransom himself from the torment of that Day by offering his sons, 11 And his spouse and his brother 12 and of all the kinsfolk who ever sheltered 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 A fire that melts the hide. 16 It shall insistently summon him who turned his back and retreated, 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Truly man was created very impatient;- 19 [As a rule,] whenever misfortune touches him, he is filled with self-pity; 20 And niggardly when good befalls him 21 Except those devoted to Salat (prayers) 22 Who are constant at their worship 23 They are those who assign a certain share of their property 24 For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking); 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord, -- 27 Verily! The torment of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure, 28 and guard their private parts 29 Save in regard to their spouses or those whom their right hands own; so verily they are not blameworthy 30 but any who seeks to go beyond that, it is indeed they who are the transgressors, 31 And those who keep their trusts and covenants; 32 and those who stand by their testimony 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 Such shall dwell in the Gardens (i.e. Paradise) honoured. 35