The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can avert, 2 From Allah, Owner of the ascending steps. 3 To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience: 5 behold, they see it as if far off; 6 but We see it to be very near. 7 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper 8 and the mountains will become like dyed tufts of wool, 9 And friend shall not ask of 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 his kinsfolk who had stood by him, 13 and whosoever is in the earth, altogether, so that it might save him. 14 But never. It is pure white flame 15 Eager to roast; 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 masseth and then hoardeth. 18 ۞ Indeed, the human was created grudging and impatient. 19 When evil touches him, impatient, 20 and tight-fisted when good fortune visits him, 21 except those that pray 22 Those who are regular in their prayers. 23 And those in whose wealth exists a recognised right, 24 for those that ask and those that are dispossessed, 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 And those who are fearful of the punishment of their Lord - 27 Lo! the doom of their Lord is that before which none can feel secure - 28 And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts). 29 Save with their wives and those whom their right hands possess, for thus they are not blameworthy; 30 but those who go beyond that limit are transgressors; 31 (Those) who keep their trusts and their covenant, 32 Who uphold their testimonies, 33 And those who of their prayer are observant. 34 such people will receive due honor in Paradise. 35