The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 to those who deny the truth. No power can hinder God 2 from God, the Lord of the Stairways. 3 The angels and Jibreel, ascend towards Him – the punishment will befall on a day which spans fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore, [O believer,] endure all adversity with goodly patience: 5 Verily they think that the chastisement is far off, 6 but We see it near at hand. 7 It shall befall on a Day whereon the heaven shall become like unto dregs of oil. 8 And the mountains will be like flakes of wool, 9 And no friend will ask concerning his friend. 10 Though they will be put in sight of each other,- the sinner's desire will be: Would that he could redeem himself from the Penalty of that Day by (sacrificing) his children, 11 And his wife and his brother, 12 and his kinsfolk who gave him shelter, 13 And all those who are in the earth – then only if the redemption saves him! 14 By no means! Verily it is a Flame. 15 Flaying off the scalp-skin. 16 It will summon whoever turns his back and flees, 17 And collected [wealth] and hoarded. 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 If evil befalls him he is perturbed; 20 but when they are fortunate, they become niggardly 21 But not so the worshippers 22 Those who are constant at their prayer 23 And those in whose wealth is a recognised right. 24 For those who beg, and for the needy who cannot even ask. 25 And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment; 26 And those who fear the punishment of their Lord. 27 the punishment of their Lord is not something for them to feel secure of, 28 who guard their carnal desires 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 are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges; 32 And those who stand by their testimony 33 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: 34 Those shall dwell in Gardens, honoured. 35