The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
One demanding, demanded the chastisement which must befall 1 The Unbelievers, the which there is none to ward off,- 2 (A Penalty) from Allah, Lord of the Ways of Ascent. 3 by which the angels and the Spirit will ascend to Him in one Day which will last for fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore endure with a goodly patience. 5 They see the (Day) indeed as a far-off (event): 6 But We see it (quite) near. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the sky will become like molten brass, 8 The mountains like the tufts of (carded) wool, 9 and no bosom friend will enquire about any of his bosom friends 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 the nearest of his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 and of whoever [else] lives on earth, all of them - so that he could but save himself. 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 It snatches away by the scalps, 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 and amassed wealth and covetously hoarded it. 18 ۞ Truly man was created very impatient;- 19 Fretful when evil befalleth him 20 but when they are fortunate, they become niggardly 21 except those who are steadfast 22 and constant in their prayers. 23 And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion. 24 For the beggar and the destitute; 25 who acknowledge the Day of Judgment, 26 who are afraid of the torment of their Lord, 27 for none may ever feel secure from the punishment of their Lord; 28 those who preserve their chastity 29 Are free of blame, 30 whereas such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are truly transgressors; 31 and those who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges; 32 and standby their witnessing, 33 And those who are attentive at their worship. 34 It is these who will be honoured in Gardens. 35