The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
A beseecher besought the visitation of chastisement, 1 the unbelievers which none can prevent. 2 (A punishment) from Allah, the Owner of the Elevated Passages. 3 The angels and the Ruh [Jibrael (Gabriel)] ascend to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years, 4 But be patient (O Muhammad) with a patience fair to see. 5 Verily! They see it (the torment) afar off, 6 And We behold it nigh. 7 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper 8 And the hills become as flakes of wool, 9 even intimate friends will not inquire about their 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 spouse and his brother 12 and his kinsfolk who had stood by him, 13 and all persons of the earth, if only he could thus save himself. 14 But nay! for lo! it is the fire of hell 15 stripping away his skin, 16 It will claim all such as turn their backs [on what is right,] and turn away [from the truth,] 17 And accumulated wealth and hoarded it. 18 ۞ Indeed, man is born impatient: 19 When evil toucheth him, he is bewailing. 20 but when they are fortunate, they become niggardly 21 Except those who closely follow (the Book of God), 22 and are constant in their Prayer; 23 And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion. 24 For the beggar who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth, (and his means of living has been straitened); 25 And those who believe in the Day of Recompense 26 who are afraid of the torment of their Lord, 27 Surely no one can be secure from the punishment of his Lord, -- 28 And those who guard their chastity (i.e. private parts from illegal sexual acts). 29 Are free of blame, 30 But whoso seeketh more than that, those are they who are transgressors; 31 and those who fulfil their trusts and their covenants, 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 and are steadfast in their prayers. 34 Such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens (of Bliss). 35