The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
A questioner asked of a chastisement about to fall 1 To the disbelievers; of it there is no preventer. 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of Ascent. 3 The angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him during a Day the extent of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Wherefore be thou patient with a becoming patience. 5 behold, they see it as if far off; 6 But We see it [as] near. 7 On the Day the sky will be like murky oil, 8 and the mountains shall be as plucked wool-tufts, 9 And no friend inquires after friend 10 though they may see each other. A sinner will wish that he could save himself from the torment of that day by sacrificing his children, 11 his companion wife, his brother, 12 And his kin that harboured him 13 and of whoever [else] lives on earth, all of them - so that he could but save himself. 14 But nay! for lo! it is the fire of hell 15 stripping away his skin, 16 It will claim all such as turn their backs [on what is right,] and turn away [from the truth,] 17 who amassed and hoarded. 18 ۞ Surely man was created fretful, 19 When they are afflicted, they complain, 20 And, when good befalleth him, grudging; 21 Not so are the prayerful. 22 Those who remain constant in their Salat (prayers); 23 And in whose wealth there is a right acknowledged 24 For the needy and those dispossessed, 25 And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment; 26 and go in fear of the punishment of their Lord, 27 For their Lord's displeasure is the opposite of Peace and Tranquillity;- 28 And those who of their private parts are guards. 29 Except in the case of their wives or those whom their right hands possess-- for these surely are not to be blamed, 30 But whoever seeks beyond that, then they are the transgressors - 31 And those who fulfil their trusts and covenants, 32 and perform their witnessings, 33 And those who guard their Salat (prayers) well. 34 Those shall be in Gardens, high-honoured. 35