The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
A beseecher besought the visitation of chastisement, 1 Upon the disbelievers, which none can repel, 2 From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways 3 To whom the angels and the soul take a day to ascend, whose length is fifty thousand years. 4 Therefore be patient, with a beautiful patience; 5 They surely take it to be far away, 6 but, We see it as near! 7 On the day when the heavens become like molten metal. 8 and the mountains shall be like puffs of wool. 9 And no friend will ask concerning his 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 wife and his brother. 12 And the nearest of 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! Surely it is a flaming fire 15 It snatches away by the scalps, 16 and it will claim all those who turned their backs [on the true faith] and turned away [from the truth], 17 and amassed (riches) and hoarded. 18 ۞ Indeed, mankind was created anxious: 19 When evil toucheth him, he is bewailing. 20 And when good toucheth him he is begrudging. 21 But not so the worshippers 22 who are constant in prayer; 23 and those in whose wealth there is a known right 24 For the (needy) who asks and him who is prevented (for some reason from asking); 25 And those who accept the truth of the judgment day 26 and go in fear of the chastisement of their Lord 27 for none may ever feel secure from the punishment of their Lord; 28 And those who guard their sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 29 [not giving way to their desires] with any but their spouses - that is, those whom they rightfully possess [through wedlock]: for then, behold, they are free of all blame, 30 But those who trespass beyond this are transgressors;- 31 (Those) who keep their trusts and their covenant, 32 And those who are upright in their testimonies, 33 and who are constant in their prayers. 34 These it is who in the gardens [of paradise] shall be honoured! 35