The Heights (Al-Ma'aarej)
Allah - beginning with the name of - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
AN INQUIRER ASKED for the affliction that is to come 1 To the disbelievers; of it there is no preventer. 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 (Muhammad), exercise patience with no complaints. 5 behold, they see it as if far off; 6 While we behold it nigh: 7 On the day when the heaven shall be as molten copper 8 and the mountains become like wool, 9 And no friend will ask concerning his friend. 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 His wife and his brother, 12 And his kin that sheltered him. 13 And all those who are in the earth – then only if the redemption saves him! 14 But nay! Verily, all [that awaits him] is a raging flame, 15 Plucking out (his being) right to the skull!- 16 and it will claim all those who turned their backs [on the true faith] and turned away [from the truth], 17 And collect (wealth) and hide it (from spending it in the Cause of Allah). 18 ۞ Surely man is greedy by nature. 19 Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him 20 And, when good befalleth him, grudging; 21 Except those who closely follow (the Book of God), 22 Who are at their prayer constant. 23 who, from their wealth is a known right 24 for the impoverished nonrequester and the requester, 25 And those who hold to the truth of the Day of Judgment; 26 And those who are fearful of the chastisement of their Lord-- 27 surely the chastisement of their Lord is a thing none can feel secure from – 28 And those who guard their chastity, 29 except in regard to their spouses and those whom their right hands possess, for in regard to them they are not reproachable, 30 whereas such as seek to go beyond that [limit] are truly transgressors; 31 and those who are faithful to their trusts and to their pledges; 32 And those who stand firm in their testimonies; 33 And those who [carefully] maintain their prayer: 34 It is these who will be honoured in Gardens. 35