The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of God, The Most Gracious, The Dispenser of Grace
A supplicant asked for a punishment bound to happen 1 for the unbelievers, which none may avert, 2 From Allah, the Lord of the ways of ascent. 3 To Him the angels and the Spirit mount up, in a day whereof the measure is fifty thousand years. 4 But be patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see. 5 Surely they think it to be far off, 6 but We see it near at hand. 7 The Day that the sky will be like molten brass, 8 And the mountains shall be as tufts of wool 9 No loyal friend will ask another loyal friend 10 They will be shown each other. The criminal will wish that he could be ransomed from the punishment of that Day by his children 11 and his spouse and his brother, 12 And the family in which he was. 13 And all that are in the earth, if then it might deliver him. 14 By no means! It will be the fierce flame 15 A fire that melts the hide. 16 It shall insistently summon him who turned his back and retreated, 17 And hoarded (wealth) and withheld it. 18 ۞ Human beings are created greedy. 19 Fretful when evil befalleth him 20 and whenever good fortune comes to him, he selfishly withholds it [from others]. 21 except those that pray 22 and constant in their prayers. 23 In whose wealth a due share is included 24 for such as ask [for help] and such as are deprived [of what is good in life]; 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense 26 And those who are fearful of their Lord's doom - 27 Surely the chastisement of their Lord is (a thing) not to be felt secure of-- 28 And those who guard their sex except from their wives and women slaves of old 29 except from their wives and slave girls, in which case they are not to be blamed, 30 And whosoever seeketh beyond that, then it is those who are the trespassers 31 And those who of their trusts and their covenant are keepers. 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 And those who keep a guard on their prayer, 34 These it is who in the gardens [of paradise] shall be honoured! 35